17 Year-old Lily Burk was running errands for her mom in the afternoon when she was kidnapped in an attempted robbery then killed hours later in an alley.
Our hearts go out to Lily and her family. Please take this opportunity to learn from this tragic event and share this article with your friends and family.
How to Avoid Being a Victim in a Similar Attack
The best way to stop an attack like this is to always be aware of your surroundings. Often times when we approach our car we are distracted – fumbling for our keys, talking on the cell phone or trying to put our shopping bags in the trunk. Take the time to look around the parking lot and your car before approaching it. If you see someone suspicious, turn around and go to a safe place with other people around.
If surprised by an attacker, NEVER go with him to a second location. While it is unclear whether Lily’s attacker had a weapon, it should not affect your strategy in this situation. ALWAYS fight back and do not believe for a second when the attacker says, “If you do as I say, you won’t get hurt.” That is a way for the attacker to try and verbally control you into submission. The majority of them just want an easy target and not one that will fight for their survival.
For a woman to physically fight off a man without specific training can be difficult. That is why we recommend carrying a safety device of some kind. We personally carry and recommend the Defender safety keychain. It is high effective, easy to use and is with you at all times! We’ve put together a little preview clip with two possible scenarios of an attacker approaching a woman as she is going to her car and how the defender is able to give you an advantage over your attacker:
In a kidnap attempt even if you do not have a safety device, still fight back. Use your elbows and knees instead of your hands, repeatedly scream “Help! Help! I don’t know this man” and run away from the attacker. Yelling “Fire” may get other people’s attention but they are less likely to help if they think it is a domestic dispute.
Over 70% of attacks are committed by an unarmed assailant but even if they have a weapon statistically your odds of survival are exponentially better if you fight back and run away. Often times an attacker will say he was a weapon when he does not or will show you his weapon as a scare tactic – it could be in his belt covered by a jacket that he flashes you. Keep in mind by the time he pulls out the weapon you could have put a very good distance between the two of you. If you are screaming and drawing attention to yourself he will most likely not pursue you. Predators are looking for easy targets.
Even with a gun, the chances of the assailant being able to hit a moving target are low. Remember to keep your head down, run in a zig zag pattern and do not stop until you are in a safe location.
In Lily’s case surveillance cameras showed the attacker driving away from the kidnap spot in her car while she was in the passenger seat! If you find yourself in a car with the attacker, wait for the vehicle to slow down then quickly unlock the door and jump out of the car. You can also grab the steering wheel and force the car to crash. Whatever you do, don’t go without a fight! Statistics show that when most victims are taken to a second location they do not survive the attack.
More than ever it is necessary for women to take responsibility for their personal safety. Join the Women’s Personal Safety Network’s free online community for exclusive access to the latest safety information and resources.
