How to spot people carrying

[cgbills]

Found this on another site. Very interesting

If you know how to read the subtle cues that indicate a concealed carry, can you anticipate that you're dealing with an armed subject and gain a preventive edge of timing and positioning?

Sgt.-Technician Jeffrey Kleinsmith, an academy instructor for the U.S. Secret Service uniformed division, thinks so, and at the recent annual training conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Assn. (ILEETA) he shared techniques used by agents who protect the president to spot gun-totters before they strike.

"This training works great on the street," Kleinsmith says. As part of a multi-agency gun recovery unit that patrolled tough neighborhoods of Washington, DC, he used these observation methods to help detect more than 300 hidden firearms on suspects in the first six months of his assignment, resulting in a 15% decrease in violent crimes in the targeted areas.

Early discovery is critical, he stressed, because if you wait until you actually see a weapon you may be too far behind the reactionary curve to thwart an attack.

Here are common characteristics and indicators of armed individuals that Kleinsmith suggests you keep in mind:

1. As you observe a potential suspect, try first to determine his strong side . Wristwatches typically are worn on the weak arm and first steps are usually taken with the weak leg, but generally people will use their strong hand for most actions, such as lighting cigarettes, shoving someone, holding or moving objects, and rolling dice in a craps game.

Even in the absence of confirming cues, you can count on "85 to 90% of people in the world being right handed," Kleinsmith says.

2. The overwhelming majority of offenders who carry a gun tuck it into their right front waistband , between their navel and hip. "They must keep the gun accessible," Kleinsmith says. "Also they see guns put there in the movies, it's 'cool,' and they can easily show their buddies that they're armed."

The second most common hiding place is the small of the back , Kleinsmith says, "but this is relatively rare because it tends to be very uncomfortable."

In practically all cases, any hidden gun will be unholstered . This works to your advantage from an observation standpoint, but to the bad guy's "extreme disadvantage because the gun's uneven weight can cause it to move on its own" and require adjustment.

3. "As suspects move, watch for a 'security feel,'" Kleinsmith advises. "Because the gun is loose, they're constantly in fear it will slip, and they'll periodically touch it, consciously or unconsciously ," to be sure it's still there and in place. You can often see this done on surveillance tapes when armed robbers are approaching a target, and "cops do it, too, for reassurance when they're in plainclothes," even though they usually have holsters.

Across his experience, Kleinsmith says he has seen "only one bad guy on the street with a holster." An NYPD detective, Robert Gallagher, who was especially skilled at detecting hidden weapons with observational techniques, reportedly found only about 100 holsters with some 1,200 recovered guns.

"If you find someone with an empty holster," Kleinsmith predicts, "there will be a gun within a 20-ft. radius."

4. Closely related to the security feel is what Kleinsmith calls "protective body movement." This is particularly noticeable when an armed subject is running or moving abruptly; he holds his arm against the concealed weapon, either stiffly or with a very restrained swing.

"Even if the suspect is just walking, you may see that he takes a full stride with his opposite-side foot but the gun-side stride will be shorter, almost like a limp in some cases" because he's trying to clamp the gun in place and minimize its slipping or its risk of falling out.

The arm may also come in against the gun "as a protective movement when people start getting close to the suspect." Like you do when approached, armed offenders may turn their gun side away when you come up to them.

"Craps games offer good chances to spot people with guns," Kleinsmith noted. "They're squatting down, standing up, rolling dice, passing money. Movement helps you pinpoint hidden weapons."

5. Of course, look for telltale bulges. "A gun is not flexible and doesn't conform well to the shape of the human body, so it may reveal itself in the form of a protrusion," Kleinsmith reminds. The whole gun may not be outlined, but tight clothing may reveal bumps that relate to a hammer, a grip, or a muzzle.

6. As you study a subject's clothing, ask yourself: Does it fit the season? In cold weather, is a coat unzipped or unbuttoned? Is the subject wearing only one glove, leaving his shooting hand bare? Is he wearing a belt that's not through his pants loops and thereby capable of cinching tighter against a hidden gun? Is a coat weighted down lower on one side? When he walks or runs, does a coat or jacket bounce off his leg as if something heavy is in the pocket? Does a loose-hanging hood seem weighted down, causing the drawstring to pucker? If a subject seems to have a wallet in his pocket but is wearing a fanny pack, then what's in the fanny pack? Is footwear mismatched, with one shoe larger than the other to possibly conceal a small handgun?

With bikers, the favored hiding place for guns is inside boots , Kleinsmith says. Some may also use special pockets sewn into their colors. "Watch females who are with bikers," he cautions. "Most of the time they carry for the males," capitalizing on the tendency of too many officers to dismiss females as a threat.

7. On a vehicle stop, closely observe the occupants as soon as you begin contemplating a pullover . "Watch their shoulders," Kleinsmith says. A shoulder moving up can indicate a gun being drawn from a waistband; a shoulder dipping down may mean drugs, booze, weapons, or other contraband being shoved under a seat or between seats.

If you decide to use indications such as Kleinsmith enumerates as justification for a stop-and-frisk, "you must be able to articulate your observations," he warns. Ideally, you'll be able to identify a cluster of several cues. "Write down all the characteristics you observed, all the facts as to why the stop was conducted. Never go just on a hunch ."

Also, use these give-aways to make you conscious of your own actions while wearing a concealed weapon off-duty. An armed criminal's body language "may be more magnified" regarding a hidden weapon , Kleinsmith says, but officers tend to share many of the same nervous habits and mode of dress. To a knowing individual watching you, you may unconsciously telegraph your armed status in situations where you don't want it known.

Kleinsmith concludes: "Trying to increase your awareness of possibly armed individuals can enhance your observation skills"—and your safety. "If you know what you're looking for, you can't believe what armed suspects show you."

[Bruxley]

Thank you. Good post. I appreciate it.

[j-framer]

Whew! After reading that, I feel quite a bit better.

Upon first seeing the title, I thought the jig was up and all of us responsible, well-equipped, long-time carriers were subject to being "made" at a glance through some newly discovered, magic method of detection. Now I realize that they are talking about callow, inept punks who stuff a "gat" in their waistband and think they're good to go.

Just as a side note, I would be intrigued to know just how refined the art and science of spotting concealed carriers has become among law enforcement personnel and protection details. Are there techniques that consistently work in detecting hidden weapons being carried not by punks, but by people who carefully research and implement their concealment strategies, as some of us here do?

The amount of scrutiny applied to the average person would vary widely depending on the situation, of course--after all, people around the First Lady are going to be screened far more than those trotting through Penn Station--but are there officers/agents so well trained that, having directed their attention to a small group of moving people, they can pick out a belly band that's protruding a bit too much, or the minor asymmetry in one's torso caused by a thin auto carried IWB? To me, it seems that all the "give-aways" mentioned in the cited article constitute outright blunders on the part of the carrier, and would be easily avoided by a thinking individual.

It would be interesting to hear about, if this is true. Of course, I'm not hopeful of this ever happening, because if such refined methods do exist, those who have developed them aren't going to spill the beans to the general public and thereby give up their edge.

[restlessnomad]

Informative, Thanks. I'm a bit surprised at the low number of holsters found on those carrying.

[grey sky]

I bet, a practiced pickpocket uses similar techniques. Are there how to books on that subject?

[DonR101395]

Wow, I break everyone of his sterotypes. I'm left handed, wear my watch on my left hand, begin my stride with my left leg, carry in neither of the "common" places to carry, and square off in a fight right handed.

[JoeBlackSpade]

grey sky, pickpockets practice a whole different art.

I met a guy who told me some of the techniques his "friends" used in Paris to pickpocket.

He described using razorblades on back pockets, to split seams and get wallets, bumping into someone on the train several times, and using the hands and conversations to distract people. Basic redirection.

That razor blade thing was a little scary.

[ragwd]

Razor blade worked on my cousin, in a busy downtown street he was bumped, thinking nothing of since the sidewalk was busy. Short time later he noticed a breeziness to his posterior when he checked his wallet was gone and a nice clean cut along the pocket. Lucky for him he had a minimal amount.

[papabr]

I bet, a practiced pickpocket uses similar techniques. Are there how to books on that subject?

Actually there are books on this topic. I worked as a magican for quite a while and I incorporated these techniques into my act.

[grey sky]

Being "made " while armed is not something I've expierienced yet, as far as I know. But no one has mentioned it. Oh! One time in 24 years a pinkerton guard noticed my Bowen buckle. That count?

[workinwifdakids]

1) Regarding pickpockets, this is why every time I walk into a bar, a casino, or any other place where cash is carried and everyone is in my personal space, I immediately move my wallet from my left rear pocket to my left front pocket. It's not impossible to pickpocket from there, of course, it's just a lot harder.

2) Regarding 'spotting' concealed firearms, I'd wager the Secret Service would be strong in that area. In a survey of dozens of professions and hundreds of people who claimed to be able to spot liars, for example, only the Secret Service was able to tell the lies and truths of unknown people in a 'cold-meet' circumstance with better than guessing results.

[Hemicuda]

"If you find someone with an empty holster," Kleinsmith predicts, "there will be a gun within a 20-ft. radius."

I blow THAT one away... when I truck a load into Canada, or go into a "forbidden zone" I still leave the holster on my belt... and the gun secured at home!

Home is ALOT more than 20 feet from Canada...

[wayneinFL]

Informative, Thanks. I'm a bit surprised at the low number of holsters found on those carrying.

Criminals who carry guns tend to carry without holsters so that they can dump the gun somewhere if approached by the police. As the instructor says, the presence of an empty holster makes it obvious the suspect has a gun somewhere.

[Night Watch]

A lot of this information has already been published in FBI crime statistic reports.

Me? The first thing I look for is clothing that is open at the waist. If I can't see the other guy's belt, ALL THE WAY AROUND, then I'm immediately suspicious.

The other thing I've noticed is that people who are up to no good, tend to be more alert than most folks. A man who is thinking about attacking will tend to glance sideways or look around himself. If I see: sideways head movement, a sudden downward glance, rigid shoulders, or any form of curiously indecisive body language, again, I become instantly suspicious.

In short, I like to see slow moving people who aren't quite paying attention; and, I always want to see other people's hands. When I can't I immediately feel at a disadvantage.

I, also, don't like it whenever I think someone is deliberately attempting to approach me from behind or at an oblique angle; in this situation I'll step to the side as the person approaches me; and, then, I'll often, 'blade' him in order to see if the action were deliberate.

(Or, maybe, just to get even with him for annoying me. You'd be surprised how many people will immediately recognize when you've placed them at a sudden physical disadvantage!)

[Mannlicher]

CGBILLS,

How to spot people carrying

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Found this on another site. Very interesting

Some attribution helps with credibility.

[zeroskillz]

Interesting read. thanks.

[Gunner69]

In short, I like to see slow moving people who aren't quite paying attention; and, I always want to see other people's hands. When I can't I immediately feel at a disadvantage.

Sheeple in other words... LOL

[Night Watch]

Exactly!

[BillCA]

It's amazing the number of cues that I've picked up over the years. The article hit on the major one -- the "security touch". I'm sure we all do it at some time or another, especially when getting out of a car.

Other things I watch for;
* Someone pulling up their pants at the waist, especially with hands at unusual spots on the belt line. Folks who are "round" may do this from necessity, but a fit man in correctly sized clothing repeatedly doing it is a "sign".

* Baggy gang-banger pants with a tight belt. The tight belt on baggy pants is there to hold weight. The weight of what?

* Seeing a belt that has been "let out" a from a well-worn notch - especially if it's two notches which may indicate an IWB carry. (One notch might indicate weight gain, but skipping a notch indicates IWB to me.)

* Uneven belt-line. If the suspect's belt seems to distort to one side or another, or "dip" as it heads out of sight under a shirt/jacket, this is a giveaway that something is on that dipping side (gun, cellphone, blackberry, etc.)

* "Guarded bending" - Where someone bending down to pick up something or look at low placed items puts a hand or arm in an unusual place (like covering the 4 o'Clock area where a grip might protrude).

* "Guarded squatting" - Like bending, above, the person squats were most would just bend down. If the person turns one side away from casual observation it may be to shield his "printing" side.

* Leaning to one side - some folks lean to compensate for the gun, leaning slightly away from the carry-side. Often times this will only help the gun print. If his shoulders aren't level or his stance is awkward look to the "high" side.

* Clothing that is weather-inappropriate. It's going to be in the high 80's today and if I see someone wearing a jacket or hoodie over a shirt, that raises alarms.

[Socrates]

I hate to add this, but, a double thick belt can sort of look out of place. Mine looks kind of stiff.

Went out last night at a bowling alley, and, as I was putting stuff away, a bunch of wannabe gang bangers were walking towards the door. One tall guy, walking sort of weird, flipped something down, and then backup, like it was a razor. Looked like he was intent on something outside, but, hand went on to stream pepper spray, and he went out the door.

NOT good. Brought back bad memories. The alley was more or less deserted, and, minimal staff. Rent a robo was not around.

S J.D.

[Acosta]

It'll be easy to tell that I'm carrying. Now I walk with my head up and look more confident than ever before. I feel safe!