The first was an Oakland Raider Cheerleader named Linda Sobek. She was also a model and our paths crossed circa 1992 when she came into the company for which I was working to be hired on as a model for a trade show. As a model, she had gone to countless photo shoots including several with one of her favorite photographers. Tragically, because she had trusted him before, she did so again...and it cost her her life. She ended up raped with foreign objects on a photo shoot out in the desert, murdered and buried in a shallow grave. Her killer was caught, confessed and was convicted. That doesn't bring Linda back, though.
Another more recent one was Jasmine Fiore. If you read the story about her, she was murdered and butchered by a boyfriend she met at a club. Both victims knew their killers for years and both stories made national headlines.
Since you never really know about someone you think you know, why would you get in the car with someone you just met?
While no one can protect themselves from every threat, you can mitigate some threats by being smart. With that said, here are some simple precautions you can take before you get in the car with someone whether it's your first date or or your tenth.
For starters, you should get the person's first and last name. This will allow you to Google the person, check their LinkedIn page, possibly find them on Facebook and in theory, run a free background check. You can also search court records for marriages, convictions, etc. if you know the county(ies) in which they've lived. At the VERY least, you should be doing these simple checks.
Another great one is the free mobile phone apps that let you search for sex offenders. Get it and check it.
On the day of your date, you should pick a "safety" buddy, one to whom you can set pictures of the guy, his full name, estimated time of return and arrange for a call confirming you're alright at the conclusion of the date. Before you actually get in the car, get the year, make, model and license plate number. This is as simple as the innocent question that you can word like this "oh, my friend has a car like this. What kind of car is it? What year?" He'll never suspect you're gathering information.
Once you get to your first destination, excuse yourself to use the bathroom and text your safety buddy. Let them know you've arrived and so far, things are ok. Make sure to stick to your arranged call and if you're getting home later than planned, use a fake bathroom break again to text your friend that you're running late. No matter what, make that arranged call, even if it has been rescheduled.
In some cases, you can tell your date that you have an arranged call with a parent or friend as an excuse to end the date earlier. Be sure to tell him that you're supposed to call from your HOME number, not your cell.
Make sure your cell phone battery is fully charged before you leave the house. In the event something bad happens, the longer your battery has power, the more likely you can be tracked by law enforcement in an emergency.
It's also not a bad idea to pick up a stun gun or a can of Bear spray (like Mace, only it sprays further).
Together, these tips could make a big difference in the outcome of the evening. I hate to make you paranoid, but the simple fact is that there are predators out....and they're very good at what they do.
Situational awareness is the key to survival, whether you're hiking, driving, flying fighter jets...or our on a date. And since I can't afford to lose a single reader of my blog, please be careful.
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