Loss of Freedoms and Liberties is a news and information topic monitored and covered by: Prepper Watch – Security and Safety
Introduction – Rising Crime in a Shifting World
In a world marked by increasing instability, preppers face more than just natural disasters and supply shortages. One of the most insidious threats is the rise of personal crimes—kidnapping, assault, home invasions, and attacks spurred by social unrest or opportunistic criminals.
As law enforcement resources stretch thin and public services become less reliable, self-reliance in personal safety is no longer optional. Preppers must assume full responsibility for the protection of themselves, their families, and their shelters. This guide outlines practical strategies for minimizing the risks of kidnapping and attacks, and what to do before, during, and after an incident to stay alive, safe, and prepared.
Understanding the Threat Landscape
Crimes against individuals rise sharply during times of:
- Economic collapse or inflation surges
- Natural disasters disrupting police and emergency services
- Mass migrations or urban unrest
- Civil war, riots, or martial law scenarios
- Blackouts and prolonged power outages
Preppers must recognize that crime thrives in chaos. During such times, even good people can become desperate, and professional criminals take advantage of reduced law enforcement presence. Vulnerable targets include isolated individuals, supply-rich homesteads, families with children, and those visibly prepared.
Threat categories include:
- Kidnapping for ransom or coercion
- Violent assault or robbery
- Sexual violence
- Home invasion and targeted attacks
Prevention – Situational Awareness and Behavioral Habits
The first and most effective defense is not being targeted in the first place. Preppers must adopt a lifestyle of gray man tactics, vigilance, and proactive situational awareness.
Core Preventative Habits:
- Don’t flaunt your preps.
Keep your supplies, capabilities, and assets low-key. - Avoid predictable routines.
Change your routes, travel times, and habits. Predictability makes planning attacks easier for criminals. - Stay off the radar.
Avoid broadcasting locations or prepper status on social media or online forums. - Read the room.
In crowds or public places, scan for exit routes, suspicious behavior, and blind spots. - Travel in numbers.
There’s strength in numbers—especially in uncertain environments.
Hardening the Home Base – Secure Shelter Tactics
A hardened home can deter or delay attackers, giving you time to respond or escape.
Physical Security Measures:
- Reinforced doors and strike plates
- Security film or bars on windows
- Motion-activated lights and cameras
- Silent alarm systems or alerts to off-site allies
- Hidden safe rooms or panic rooms
Defensive Landscaping:
- Thorny bushes under windows
- Fences that restrict access but don’t provide cover for attackers
- Gravel driveways or paths to make silent approach difficult
Perimeter Awareness:
- Install motion sensors and cameras with night vision
- Maintain clear sight lines—cut back trees or overgrown shrubs
- Use dogs or livestock like geese for early warning
Self-Defense Skills and Tools
A prepper must have the will and the skill to defend themselves.
Training Focus Areas:
- Hand-to-hand combat
Learn simple, effective martial arts (Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). - Weapons training
Firearms proficiency (handguns, shotguns, rifles), tactical reloads, target identification, and malfunctions. - Improvised weapons
Learn to use knives, batons, even belts or pens as weapons. - Disarmament and escape
Practice breaking grips, resisting being dragged, and escaping holds. - Tactical mindset
Develop mental preparedness to act under pressure, make snap decisions, and control fear.
Family Safety and Group Defense Protocols
The more people you need to protect, the more complex your defensive strategy must be.
For Families and Small Groups:
- Drill emergency plans for lockdowns, escapes, and defensive positions.
- Create safe words to silently communicate danger.
- Train children in what to do during a kidnapping attempt—yelling, running, creating a scene.
- Assign defense roles in the group: lookout, communicator, defender, etc.
- Store non-lethal options (pepper spray, tasers) for less trained or physically weaker members.
Communication Protocols:
- Use encrypted radios or walkie-talkies with coded language.
- Establish check-in schedules if family members leave the property.
Bug-Out or Stay Put – Decision Under Threat
If your area becomes unsafe, preppers must decide: defend your ground or get out.
Bug-Out Triggers:
- Local unrest within a mile radius
- Gunfire or reports of targeted attacks
- Compromised neighbors or outposts
- Direct threats to your family or resources
Bug-Out Tips:
- Pre-packed gear including self-defense tools
- Routes planned and rehearsed
- Silent movement strategies (avoid roads, travel at night)
- Know safe houses or allied locations
If staying put:
- Implement silent defense systems (tripwires, early-warning alarms)
- Activate lockdown mode: blackout windows, silent operations, limited movement
- Use deception: fake signs of occupancy elsewhere, misdirection trails
Responding to an Attack – Real-Time Tactics
When an attack begins, time is your enemy. Here’s what to do:
If Attacked in Public:
- Make noise. Draw attention.
- Escape, evade, or engage. Depending on your skills and the scenario.
- Don’t get in a vehicle unless it’s yours. Avoid being taken to a second location.
If Attacked at Home:
- Execute your drill. Go dark or defend.
- Use pre-established code words to direct family movement.
- Call allies or emergency services only if safe to do so.
- Engage with lethal force if trained and necessary—this is survival.
If Kidnapped:
- Stay alert. Note smells, textures, voice patterns.
- Gather data for escape or post-rescue intel.
- Look for escape windows—transitions, handoffs, moments of distraction.
- Play compliant if resistance would get you killed, but wait for your moment.
Recovery, Aftermath, and Legal Protection
Surviving the attack is only the beginning.
Aftermath Steps:
- Secure your property immediately afterward in case of return.
- Document the incident: time, method, suspects, weapons, outcomes.
- Seek medical and psychological care. Trauma is real.
- Notify mutual aid networks—alert other preppers or community members.
- Adjust security. Upgrade anything that failed: locks, habits, routes, plans.
Legal Preparedness:
- Know your local self-defense laws—castle doctrine, stand-your-ground, etc.
- Consider legal insurance or retainer for self-defense cases.
- Document all training—can help in court.
Final Thoughts – Resilience Through Preparedness
While many focus on food storage and bug-out bags, true prepping also means defending life and liberty in moments of extreme threat. Personal crime is no longer something that only happens “to other people”—it’s a very real possibility in a destabilized society.
By combining:
- Proactive awareness
- Physical security
- Defensive skills
- Group coordination
- Mental resilience
…you become a hardened target, far less likely to fall victim to kidnapping or personal attacks. In a world that may soon reward predators, make sure you are not the prey.