If It Happens to You...

You are walking alone on a deserted street late at night. Suddenly a stranger steps from the shadows and jabs a sharp object in your ribs. "Gimme your wallet," he demands.

What should you do?

Do not resist. Immediately hand over your wallet, your watch, your jewelry and anything else the mugger wants. That is the primary survival tip given by law-enforcement officials across the nation to potential victims of armed street criminals. Says officer Michael Sansky of the Los Angeles police department: "If he's got a weapon, you go along with whatever he says. You're not going to gouge out an eye or kick out a knee if he's armed."

Even if you are carrying a gun or a can of Mace, advise police officials, don't try to use them. By the time you have reached for your pocket, an armed robber will have had time to kill you. For much the same reason, do not attempt to use karate or judo against the mugger. Even expert fighters are not skilled enough to disarm a mugger unless the element of surprise is on their side. Admits Gerry Armstrong, 31, of Miramar, Fla., a martial-arts instructor with 19 years of experience: "If someone pulls a gun and tells me to hand up my wallet, he can have it. A bullet travels faster than my foot."

Do not attempt to negotiate for some of your belongings: the longer you delay the mugger, the more impatient, and more violent, he is likely to become. If you are held up in an isolated area, do not scream. Chances are that no one will hear your cries for help, and they will only enrage--or perhaps even worse, frighten--the mugger. Do not make any sudden moves when reaching for your wallet or purse; a jittery mugger may misunderstand and attack you. Instead, tell him in advance what you plan to do and then move slowly. Always carry some cash with you. If your pockets are empty, some muggers will turn violent out of sheer frustration. Says Detective Ray Southerland of the Dade County public safety department: "Never give an armed robber the excuse he is looking for to work you over."

Dealing with a rapist requires a different strategy. Some police officials suggest that a woman should first try to talk her way out of the assault. "Get as close to him as you can and start talking," says Shilah Johnson, a Los Angeles police officer who lectures on rape-defense techniques. "Say anything you like, but don't put him down." Some women have escaped rape by pleading that they are pregnant, menstruating or have a venereal disease. Other experts contend that talk is useless; Patsy Klaus, a researcher at the Justice Department's National Institute of Justice, believes "a sudden violent scream" is better. Tears, however, are likely to heighten a rapist's sadistic impulses. One possible deterrent is for the victim to try to disgust the attacker by putting a finger down her throat to induce vomiting, or by urinating or defecating. Finally, however, a woman may have no choice. Says Klaus: "If I saw it was hopeless, I'd submit rather than be brutally injured."

The best defense against muggers and rapists is to avoid places where they might lurk. Common sense says never to walk alone at night or to pick up hitchhikers. If, however, you do suddenly feel a gun or cold knife against your neck, stay as calm as possible. "Try not to panic," says Captain Ephirne F. Leija of the Houston police department. "Do the best you can under a difficult situation. Above all, don't try to be a hero."

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