Former state prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney Tom Grieve has seen both sides of the courtroom – and more importantly, he’s spoken directly with criminals about why they choose their victims. In a recent video, Grieve lays out five common traits that make you a target. These aren’t guesses or theories. These are insights gathered from years of listening to criminals explain exactly what they look for.
Grieve’s background lends serious credibility to his message. He’s worked as a prosecutor, defended thousands of clients, and built one of Wisconsin’s largest criminal defense firms. What he’s offering in this video isn’t fluff – it’s a survival guide.
1. Low Situational Awareness
Grieve starts with the most obvious, yet most ignored factor: low situational awareness. If you’re walking with your head in your phone, earbuds in, and oblivious to your surroundings, you’re a dream come true for a predator.
“Criminals are hunting people who have no idea what’s going on around them,” Grieve warns. “No time to react means no defense.” According to Grieve, the window for escaping, drawing a self-defense weapon, or even making eye contact closes instantly when you’re not alert. He stresses that about 94% of defensive gun uses don’t involve firing a shot – just producing the weapon is often enough to scare off an attacker.
He backs this up with Department of Justice data: women are 400% more likely to be seriously injured if they resist without a gun versus using one. For men, that number is 150%. The lesson? Be aware, look confident, and don’t broadcast that you’re lost in thought – or in TikTok.
2. Isolation
“Bad guys don’t want witnesses,” Grieve says. “They want space to act and time to get away.” Isolation is your second biggest vulnerability. Whether it’s walking alone at night, parking far from a store, or hanging back in an empty garage after a game, criminals look for people who are away from the crowd.
Grieve offers practical tips: avoid dark corners of parking lots, don’t park on the far side of the building, and try not to be the last one out. If you’re stuck in a parking garage, wait for a group or call someone to walk with you. The fewer people around you, the higher your chances of being selected as the next victim.
This isn’t about paranoia – it’s about math. More isolation equals less chance a criminal gets caught.
3. Predictable Patterns
If you always do the same thing, take the same routes, or go to the same store at the same time, you’re easier to stalk. “When you leave your car to go into a store, any criminal watching knows with a high degree of certainty that you’ll be back in 30 to 60 minutes, probably carrying groceries or distracted,” says Grieve.
He encourages people to break patterns when possible. Vary your parking spots. If you get a bad feeling, walk back into the store and observe from inside. Most importantly, keep your dominant hand free – especially if that’s where your concealed firearm is.
Grieve emphasizes one key concept: “Understand when you’re walking to your watering hole, your car, your door, your garage, because that’s where the predators are watching.”
4. High Reward, Low Risk
Grieve explains that most criminals aren’t looking for violence – they’re looking for profit. And the average person walking around with a phone, a wallet, and car keys represents thousands of dollars in value.
Think about it. That smartphone alone can be resold. Add in a purse, credit cards, or a nice watch, and suddenly you look like a jackpot. “You are carrying thousands of dollars to a criminal who knows how to leverage it,” Grieve warns.
He recommends adopting the “gray man” strategy: avoid flashy jewelry, luxury logos, or high-end electronics on display. Criminals look for targets who are worth the risk. If you blend in and look less rewarding, you automatically reduce your threat level.
5. No Immediate Consequences
This last point might be the most disturbing. “Criminals know the law,” Grieve says. “They’ve been in the system. They know how long it takes for police to arrive – and often know it better than the police themselves.”
According to a study Grieve cited, 57% of felons admitted they feared armed citizens more than law enforcement. Why? Because an armed citizen poses an immediate threat of self-defense. Police take minutes; a gun owner takes seconds.
He shares a story of a career criminal who wandered the city looking for the “right” victim, not the first one he saw, but the one who looked isolated, distracted, and unlikely to fight back. “He was just waiting for someone who checked all the wrong boxes,” Grieve explained. “And eventually, he found them.”
Lessons From a Life in Law
What makes this breakdown so valuable is that it’s rooted in experience. Grieve has interrogated, cross-examined, and defended criminals. He’s had those quiet conversations in jail where someone tells him why they picked Target A over Target B. These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re patterns.
“This isn’t stuff I read out of a book,” Grieve says. “It’s real, it’s ugly, and it’s how the world works.”
Data-Backed Warnings, Not Fear Tactics
Grieve isn’t fear-mongering. He’s giving practical, fact-backed advice. He cites studies from the CDC, DOJ, and crime surveys. Up to 3 million defensive gun uses happen each year, according to a CDC-commissioned study ordered under President Obama. That’s not a small number – it’s a staggering one.
Even more telling, over 30% of gun owners report having used their firearm defensively at some point in their lives. “This happens more than you think,” Grieve insists. “Being prepared isn’t paranoia. It’s self-respect.”
Don’t Be the Watering Hole Prey
Grieve uses a powerful metaphor: watering holes. Just like lions know where gazelles gather, criminals know where people linger: parking lots, garages, ATMs, and gas stations. That’s where the ambush happens.
Recognize your own watering holes and treat them with caution. Scan your surroundings, trust your gut, and keep your hands free. “Preparedness stacks the deck in your favor,” Grieve says.
A Final Thought on Change
To close his video, Grieve quotes the Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “You cannot step twice into the same river, for it’s not the same river and you are not the same man.”
Every time you walk out your door, your environment changes. So must your mindset. Stay alert. Stay flexible. And most of all, stay ready.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just advice for gun owners. It’s advice for anyone who wants to reduce their chances of becoming a victim. You don’t need a black belt or a Glock to avoid danger – you just need awareness, preparation, and a willingness to do the little things right.
Tom Grieve’s message is clear: Don’t give predators the opening they’re looking for. Because when criminals go shopping for victims, they’re not looking for the toughest fight. They’re looking for the easiest win. Don’t make it easy.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.
