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Step 1
Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. It's important, especially for women, to be aware of their body language when walking in public places. Walk confidently with your head up. Always maintain eye contact. A mugger is less likely to attack someone who has gotten a good look at their face. Try not to carry a lot of bags and other items that might prevent you from fighting back in the event of an attack and minimize other distractions when walking such as listening to an iPod or talking on a cell phone. They can make you an easier target.
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Step 2
Let go. If an attacker is grabbing your purse or wallet, don't fight him for it. The contents of your pocketbook are not worth your life. Throw the wallet away from you at a 45 degree angle. When the attacker goes after it, run to safety. Seek out a place where other people are, such as a neighbor's house, a convenience store or gas station. Call the police as soon as possible.
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Step 3
Conceal your belongings by carrying a slim purse with a strap that goes across the body or hiding your purse inside your jacket if the weather is cold. Some self-defense experts even suggest wearing a fanny pack to foil would be robbers.
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Step 4
Carry additional cash or an additional wallet. Another option is to carry cash and give it to your attacker at the first sign of danger. This may avoid a more prolonged ordeal of the attacker forcing you to an ATM. Another option is to carry a fake wallet with cash. Throw it in the opposite direction if you are mugged and yell, "That's all that I've got," and make it believable. Run for safety.
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Step 5
Take an inventory of your wallet and purse just in case it is stolen so that you will be able to cancel credit cards quickly. Keep a list of a credit card customer service numbers in a safe place where you can access them quickly.
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Step 6
Be careful if you carry mace or pepper spray. Experts agree that people who carry one of the former are more likely to be attacked because they feel less vulnerable. This false sense of security can play right into the hands of a would-be attacker. A determined mugger is expecting an attack from pepper spray and will be prepared for it. The spray may also get in your eyes and affect you too, not quite the result you're looking for. Also if you're struggling with the latch or pointing the spray in the wrong direction because you've never used it before, it's going to be pretty ineffective anyway.
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Step 7
If you're being followed, use verbal self-defense. Physical self-defense should be a last resort. State loudly and clearly what you want the person to do, like, "Go away! Leave me alone!" This may surprise the attacker as they would not expect it.
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Step 8
For women, if you are attacked physically, in an attempt to harm, rape or abduct you be prepared to fight back only in this case. Keep your keys handy. Most attacks take place as women are attempting to enter their cars or homes while fumbling for keys. Keep your keys out and have them ready before you approach the door. Pressed between the thumb and forefinger, the keys can be used as a weapon to jab an attacker's face.
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Step 9
For women, also in the case of a physical attack, aim for the attacker's eyes nose, throat, groin, knees or feet. Use your palm to strike your attacker in the face and throat area. This type of strike is just as powerful as a punch, but reduces the injury to your fingers and hand.
If you are close to your attacker, use a knee to the target the attacker's groin or head. If attacked from behind, break your attacker's hold and create space between yourself and the attacker. Then stomp on the closest foot that you can. If you can't get away, try to lull your assailant into thinking he's in control, as soon as he let's go try to run, escape, yell for help, fight back or do anything you can to get away.
