Vary Your Morning Departure to Avoid Ambush

Criminals who target people in or around their vehicle near their own home rely almost entirely on one thing: predictability. A gunman positioned near a victim’s residence before first light has likely been watching for days — noting what time the car leaves, which direction it goes, and how long the occupant pauses at the gate or driveway. In Trinidad and Tobago, early morning commutes often follow rigid timetables driven by work start times, school drop-offs, or traffic avoidance. That rigidity, more than any other factor, makes a person a viable target. The ambush requires almost no skill if the timing is known in advance; the criminal’s only job is to arrive before you do.

Steps to follow:

• Vary the time you leave home by 15–30 minutes on different days rather than departing at the same hour every morning.
• Before opening your gate or front door, scan the street from a window or security camera; look for unfamiliar parked vehicles or people loitering on foot.
• If you notice the same person or vehicle in the vicinity of your home on multiple mornings without an obvious reason, report it to the police and alert your neighbours.
• Do not warm up your vehicle in the driveway with the engine running before you are ready to depart; this signals your departure window to anyone watching.
• If your property has a gate, reverse your car in the evening before so that the next morning’s departure requires minimal time standing in the open.
• Coordinate with a household member or trusted neighbour so someone is aware of your departure time and can raise an alarm if you do not check in.