Why Most Victims Are Selected — Not Random: The Truth About Targeting
When people think of violence, they imagine it as unpredictable — a sudden, chaotic event that happens “out of nowhere.” It’s comforting to believe that danger is random, because randomness means there was nothing we could have done and nothing we need to change.
But the uncomfortable — and empowering — truth is this:
Most victims are not chosen by accident.
They are selected.
Criminals choose who to target long before any physical contact occurs — and what they’re looking for is not what most people think.
Understanding how that selection happens gives you power — because when you know what predators look for, you can make yourself someone they skip.
Criminals Look for the Lowest-Risk Choice
Predators — whether opportunistic thieves or violent offenders — are not looking for a challenge. They are looking for the safest target for them.
They actively evaluate risk by watching:
Who is distracted
Who is alone
Who is on their phone
Who doesn’t look around
Who ignores discomfort
Who appears unlikely to speak up
Who hesitates when someone tests them
Who seems unaware of who is near them
This evaluation often happens silently — while you walk to a car, stand in line, unlock a door, or exit a store.
It’s not personal.
It’s strategic.
Target Selection Begins Before You Notice the Person
In most criminal cases, the “attack” phase is actually the third stage in the timeline — not the beginning.
A predator’s internal process often follows a pattern:
1️⃣ Scan – Who here is easiest?
2️⃣ Observe – Who would not notice me approaching?
3️⃣ Test – Can I get close without reaction?
4️⃣ Approach – If there is still no boundary, continue
5️⃣ Act – Only once opportunity and silence exist
Most victims only remember step five.
But steps one through four already happened — often right in front of them.
The Tests Most Adults Ignore
Before danger ever reaches your body, it almost always reaches your space.
Predators perform “micro-tests” to gather information:
Standing too close — do you step away?
Approaching from behind — do you turn to acknowledge?
Forcing conversation — do you apologize or shut it down?
Offering unnecessary help — do you engage or decline?
Ignoring your boundary — do you let it go?
They are not being bold — they are taking notes.
Your response tells them everything they need to know.
Hesitation Is the Data They Are Searching For
Most adults ignore early discomfort because:
They don't want to seem rude
They don’t want to misjudge someone
They don’t want to “make it weird”
They assume nothing is really wrong
This is what predators count on —
silence, self-doubt, and hesitation.
A would-be attacker does not need to overpower someone who will freeze themselves.
The Most Targeted People Are Often the Nicest Ones
Criminal behavior research shows that offenders often select victims who display:
Deference
Politeness
Nervousness
Lack of eye contact
Quick apologizing
Willingness to shrink or step aside
In other words:
Good people.
People who want to avoid conflict.
People who care about how others feel.
People who hesitate — even when they feel uncomfortable.
This is not a flaw.
It is conditioning — and training can change it.
You Can Make Yourself a “Hard Target” — Without Becoming Aggressive
The goal is not to live scared.
It is to live deliberately.
You can interrupt the targeting process long before someone reaches you by:
Looking up when you walk
Noticing who is within arm’s reach
Turning your body to acknowledge someone approaching
Using your voice early (“I’m good, thanks.”)
Leaving instead of debating discomfort
Trusting your internal warning — without needing proof
Predators don’t want confrontation.
They want silence.
Awareness alone often ends the opportunity.
What Krav Maga Does With This Knowledge
At California Defense Academy in Murrieta, students don’t just learn strikes.
They learn:
How to interrupt targeting early
How to trust intuition instead of negotiating with it
How to set physical and verbal boundaries
How to leave without apology
How to act even if you’re scared
Real-world self-defense is not only about surviving the worst moment —
it’s about never handing someone the chance to begin it.
A Final Thought
Believing attacks are random makes you powerless.
Knowing most are selected makes you capable.
Because if violence is built through choices —
it can be stopped the same way.
One choice at a time.
One moment earlier.
One decision that says:
Not me.
California Defense Academy – Murrieta, CA
Krav Maga | Self-Defense | Martial Arts | Personal Protection
Serving Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Canyon Lake
