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Prepping for Being a Victim of Crime

By The SHTF App Team

Being the victim of a crime—whether it’s a home burglary, a financial scam, harassment, or a violent act—is a sudden, personal SHTF event. It can shatter your sense of safety and leave you feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. In the chaotic and emotional aftermath, knowing what steps to take can feel impossible, yet the actions you take in the first few hours and days are critical for your safety, your finances, and your long-term recovery.

Key Takeaways

For those short on time, here are the most important things to know:

  • Prioritize Your Safety: Before you do anything else, get yourself to a safe location. Everything else can wait until you are out of immediate danger.
  • Go to the Hospital Immediately: If the crime was physical in any way. You need a professional to take samples or photos, and receive medical care.
  • File a Police Report Immediately: A police report is the official record you will need for insurance claims, banking disputes, and accessing victim services. Always get the report number.
  • Document Everything: Take photos of damage, write down a detailed account of what happened as soon as you can, and keep a dedicated file for all related documents.
  • Recovery Steps Vary by Crime: The actions you take after a burglary are different from those after identity theft. Follow the specific steps for your situation.
  • You Are Not Alone: There are specific victim assistance programs designed to help you. Use them.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as, and should not be considered, legal or medical advice.

Part 1: The Hard Target — How to Make Yourself “Invisible” to Criminals

Criminals are rarely looking for a challenge; they are looking for an opportunity. They operate on a “Risk vs. Reward” calculation.

⚠️ Complacency is a beacon. If you walk with your head down, leave your porch dark, and use “Password123,” you are broadcasting a signal that says: “I am an easy mark.” By becoming a “Hard Target,” you disrupt their risk calculation, forcing them to bypass you and look for an easier option.

Read the full guide on The Hard Target: How to Make Yourself “Invisible” to Criminals (Coming Soon)

Part 2: Immediate Tactical Actions After a Crime Occurs

The first 60 minutes after a crime—“The Golden Hour”—are defined by chaos. Your body dumps a massive amount of adrenaline into your bloodstream.

⚠️ Instincts can be wrong. The natural urge is to “clean up the mess” or run into your home to see what was stolen. These actions can destroy critical forensic evidence or put you back in the line of fire. By following a strict “Safety & Preservation” protocol, you survive the physical event and preserve the legal chain of evidence needed to get justice later.

Read the full guide on Immediate Tactical Actions After a Crime Occurs (Coming Soon)

Part 3: How to Secure the Evidence You Need for Justice

In the aftermath of a crime, you are often exhausted, confused, and just want to go home and forget it happened.

⚠️ Documentation is power. Without a medical record, your injuries “didn’t happen” in the eyes of an insurance adjuster. Without a police report number, you cannot freeze your credit or access victim compensation funds. By systematically documenting the event, you turn your trauma into tangible evidence.

Read the full guide on How to Secure the Evidence You Need for Justice (Coming Soon)

Part 4: Targeted Recovery Protocols — Specific Actions for Violent, Property, and Cyber Crimes

Recovery is not a “one size fits all” process. The steps you take to recover from a stolen laptop are vastly different from the steps you take after a physical assault.

⚠️ Misdirected energy causes burnout. If you spend your energy calling the police about a hacked email instead of the FBI, you lose time. Specialized protocols prevent wasted effort—you stop spinning your wheels and start taking the exact, proven steps needed to close the breach and begin healing.

Read the full guide on Targeted Recovery Protocols (Coming Soon)

Part 5: You Are Not Alone — Rebuilding After a Crime

The aftermath of a crime is expensive. There are ambulance bills, lock-change fees, lost wages from missing work, and the cost of therapy.

⚠️ The “Second Wound.” If you ignore the financial cost, you go into debt. If you ignore the emotional cost, you develop chronic PTSD. You do not have to pay for your own victimization. There are billions of dollars in government funds and armies of professionals dedicated to helping you.

Read the full guide on You Are Not Alone: Rebuilding After a Crime (Coming Soon)

Actionable Checklist

For Any Crime

  • Get to a safe location
  • Call 911 or the non-emergency police line
  • Get the police report number

If Violent Crime

  • Seek medical attention immediately
  • Call a victim advocate or a specialized hotline

If Property Crime

  • Call your insurance company to start a claim
  • Change the locks on your home

If Financial/Cybercrime

  • Call your bank’s fraud department
  • Place a credit freeze with all three credit bureaus
  • Report the incident at IdentityTheft.gov and IC3.gov

For All Victims

  • Write down a detailed account of what happened
  • Look up and save the number for your local Victim Witness Assistance Program

Important Resources

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
  • RAINN (Sexual Assault): 800-656-HOPE
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
  • Identity Theft: IdentityTheft.gov
  • Cybercrime: IC3.gov
  • MADD (DUI Victims): madd.org

Your resilience is your greatest asset. By taking these steps, you are not just responding to a crisis; you are actively rebuilding your safety and peace of mind.