We’ve told you before about criminal interviews—the process by which a would-be bad guy interacts with you or assesses you from afar, judging whether or not you’ll make a good victim. Needless to say, this is an interview you want to fail, but either way, it’s important to recognize the warning signs that an interview is going poorly (for you) and the bad guy is gearing up for an attack. There is some specific body language to pay attention to.
Now, it’s important to note that no single one of these is a sure-fire indication of an imminent attack. Many of these signs can happen to non-criminal people for lots of reasons, but if you see several of them at once, particularly in someone that your intuition is warning you about, pay very close attention. Or better yet, get out.
Signs of adrenaline spike: His body is flooding with adrenalin because he knows things might be about to get physical. His face might go pale or suddenly flush red. He may begin to shake or shiver, and he might start breathing hard.
Change in demeanor: If he’s put on a charming façade to gain your trust, it might start to slip under the effects of adrenaline. His smile might fade or you might see micro-expressions—a flash of anger or confusion crosses his face before he can control it, and he quickly puts the smile back on. His voice might change or quiver from nervousness.
Preparation for a fight: When someone is preparing for a physical exertion or conflict, they tend to clench their jaws and tighten their face. Their shoulders and hands might clench, too, preparing to throw a punch. Be especially wary if he drops one side of his body back into a bladed or fighting stance. It might be go time.
Frequently checking behind him: People check behind them when they’re worried they’re being watched or followed. What kind of people worry about that? Good people with strong situational awareness, and not-so-good people who have reason to worry because they know they’ve done something or are about to do something that’s going to attract attention. You’ll probably be able to tell which kind of person you’re dealing with.
Staring: Be especially cautious if you notice someone (whether they’re interacting with you or not) who is staring at your purse or other valuable object you might have. They are hyper-fixated on their target. Likewise, if someone has not approached you but is watching you and looks away immediately when you make eye contact, pretending to be otherwise occupied, that’s worth paying attention to. He might just be a shy dude admiring you from afar, but if it happens a second time, it’s a big red flag. The good news is that for the typical petty thief, pickpocket or mugger, eye contact—making it obvious that you see him and are paying attention—is often enough to make him choose another victim.
Shifty eyes: Stress and adrenaline can cause changes in the way someone blinks, in two different ways. He might blink rapidly, or he might slow down his blinking and adopt a stare. Beware of both, and pay attention to shifty eyes in general—it’s normal for people to look at you when they’re speaking to you. If he’s glancing every which way, he could be checking for cameras, identifying his escape routes, and making sure there are no witnesses. He could also be looking at an accomplice you haven’t even noticed yet. Speaking of which…
Flanking move: Bad guys often work in pairs or groups, and the flanking or pincer move is a common tactic among attackers and pickpockets alike. This is when one person distracts you while their partner moves to your other side for an attack or steals your wallet or phone when you’re not paying attention. Keep in mind that you might have tunnel vision or hyper fixation yourself if you are interacting with someone who makes you uncomfortable, so it’s easy to completely ignore their accomplice.
Shady hand movement: Beware of anyone who hides his hands in his pockets, behind his back or in his clothing while he approaches you. Is he holding a weapon? Pay attention to anyone who is walking with one hand held close to their body, especially by their waist or leg, not swaying it as they walk like normal people do when they’re just going about their business. He might be keeping his hand close to a weapon. And if you are speaking to someone who has pinged you into condition orange, watch his hands when he asks you a question. It’s not uncommon for a criminal to draw a weapon while you are otherwise occupied answering, thinking, or checking your watch for the time he just asked you for.
Grooming and masking: Anyone excessively touching their face, head and upper body should send up a red flag. This is an outlet for nervous energy, and it’s sometimes accompanied by him flicking imaginary lint off his shirt, adjusting his hat, or otherwise superficially spiffing up his appearance. At a subconscious level, he’s trying to appear neat and trustworthy. At the same time, he’s aware that he’s not trustworthy and he’s afraid you’re going to see that in his face, so he's trying to subconsciously hide his face with his hands. This behavior, especially when combined with some of the other indicators mentioned in this article, often indicates that he’s made up his mind and an attack is imminent. It’s code red time. Get out of there!
