Rioting and looting are unfortunately not uncommon, and with many frustrations bubbling close to the surface in our society, rioting and looting is a threat that we have to be prepared for. Instances of civil unrest and rioting have become more frequent around the world over recent years.
Rioting usually stems from a group of people frustrated and angry with recent events, and is often accompanied by looting when people break in to buildings and steal items during the chaos of the rioting. Rioting isn’t limited to negative events though, as group violence, usually fuelled by alcohol, sometimes erupts during other events such as large sporting events.
Rioting usually occurs in cities or areas where a lot of people can gather, so if you live in a rural area your home is less likely to be affected by rioting than if you live in a city. Looting is usually directed at businesses in the area where rioting is happening, rather than residential properties, but it is still worth considering home security if you live in an area that has potential to be affected by rioting.
Riots are unpredictable, which makes them dangerous and difficult to control, but there are steps that you can take to make sure you are as safe as possible if you are caught up in an area where there is rioting.
Prepping For Rioting and Looting
The best way to avoid rioting and looting is to shelter at home. Unless your home is likely to be directly affected by people attempting to break in or damage it, home will be the safest place to be during rioting. In order to be able to shelter at home, you’ll need to have stocks of everything you need to survive for several days. You should assume the worst case scenario when prepping your stocks – imagine that you won’t be able to leave the house for at least 5 days, and that the power and water supplies will be interrupted. Make sure you have a well stocked first aid kit.
If you live in a city or busy area that could potentially be affected by rioting, it would be worth considering how your home security would stand up to a violent group.
Window security bars such as these from Avonstar can act as a deterrent to opportunists as they will slow down any attempt to get through the window.
Alternatively, if you don’t want bars across the window, transparent security film can be applied to window glass. This will strengthen the glass, and also stop the glass from shattering slowing down any attempt to get in to the property.
Additional door reinforcement locks can make it harder to force entry through a door.
If there is a threat of rioting in the area you live, you might decide that bugging out would be safer, but only if there is little risk of you having to travel through an area where rioting is happening. Having a well prepared bug out bag is important for so many prepping scenarios, and will make it easier for you to leave at a moment’s notice. Make sure your bug out bag contains your most important documents, and any small valuables that you can carry.
In case you get caught up in a rioting event unexpectedly (or any other emergency situation), always have your Every Day Carry (EDC) kit with you. This should include personal security items, however bear in mind that it is illegal to carry weapons in the UK – this includes anything that is intended to cause an injury to another person such as pepper spray.
Personal alarms are legal to carry, and may be useful to draw attention to yourself, or provide a distraction if you find yourself cornered.
Learning self defence techniques is an important part of prepping, and could increase your personal safety in a variety of situations. This book about self defence techniques focuses on ways to defend yourself from an attacker in the street.
Another important part of prepping is getting to know the areas around where you live, work or spend a lot of time in great detail. Explore the area, finding different routes back to or away from your home, getting to know any alleyways that might provide a safe route to get away from rioting.
What To Do If You Are Caught In A Riot
If you are caught unexpectedly in an area of rioting, try to get away as soon as possible using any safe exit route that is available, but without panicking and drawing attention to yourself. This is when knowing every detail of the area becomes important as you may be able to find a route away that is not blocked by rioting or security forces. Take note of which way the rioting crowd appears to be moving, and whether there are two parts fighting against each other or just a single crowd causing destruction. Understanding the nature of the crowd will help you to keep yourself out of danger and get away from the rioting.
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