Recognising Erratic Behaviour as an Attack Setup

Victor Cato, 63, was struck multiple times with a cutlass while attending to his vehicle outside a Lowlands supermarket at 10:40 p.m. in March 2026. His attacker approached from behind while behaving erratically — a deliberate cover that exploits the social instinct to disengage from people who appear disturbed. Because Cato was focused on his vehicle and the attacker’s behaviour provided no obvious threat signal, there was no warning before the assault began. This tactic — using conspicuous, disorganised behaviour to mask a deliberate approach — removes the normal pre-attack indicators that allow potential victims to create distance. At night in a car park or outside an isolated business, a person behaving erratically nearby is not merely an inconvenience; they may be using the performance as cover to close the physical gap between themselves and a target before launching a sudden attack.

Steps to follow:

• If you notice someone behaving erratically near a car park or the approach to your vehicle at night, do not proceed to your vehicle until they have moved away — wait inside the business or return inside if they remain.
• When returning to your vehicle in an isolated location after dark, scan the immediate area before committing to walking toward the car; an attacker can close distance within seconds once you are moving away from the building.
• Do not focus entirely on your vehicle — unlocking, loading, checking — while someone with unpredictable behaviour is within twenty metres; keep that person in your peripheral vision throughout.
• If someone behaving erratically is between you and your vehicle, do not attempt to pass them — re-enter the building, alert staff, and wait for them to leave or ask for an escort to your vehicle.
• Complete vehicle maintenance and checks during daylight hours where possible; attending to your vehicle alone in an isolated car park after dark creates an extended window of vulnerability.
• If attacked, move to safety and call 999 immediately; note the attacker’s clothing, direction of flight, and any vehicle involved — medical attention should be sought even for wounds that initially appear minor.