Saturday, March 26, 2011

Stealth Prepping - Hiding in Plain Sight During a Crisis - Part Two



Stealth is the act of proceeding furtively (i.e., secretly) and becoming almost imperceptible to others in the process.  This can be an invaluable skill in a survival situation. When attempting to avoid having your activities being noticed or attracting what may be the unwanted attention of others, people are usually motivated by a firm belief that there is a high probability that the discovery of their actions or movements will lead to the possibility of further trouble. In a survival situation, additional troubles are the last thing you will need.

The practical application of stealth in your prepping activities is going to require some effort on your part but doesn’t necessarily have to become a burden. During normal times, most people aren’t very attentive and will pay little heed to you or your activities. The exact opposite is likely to occur during a crisis. Many people will panic and start to act irrationally and will be capable of acts that they wouldn’t ever consider during a normal situation. It is important to remember, that in the majority of cases, the less people know about you and your activities; the safer you and your family will be during a crisis.

There seems to be quite a number of people who are currently interested in the different things preppers are doing to get prepared. This is especially true in light of some of the weird things going on in the world right now. And while their interest in your activities may be sincere, it may not be in your best interest to give out too many details. With a little effort and some common sense, there are several simple things you can start with to increase the amount of stealth in your prepping activities.

One of the easiest ways to incorporate stealth prepping into your lifestyle is to start paying cash for needed items. Cash transactions are extremely difficult to trace and don’t leave traces of you and your activities. Although only a partial number of your credit or debit card usually shows up on your receipt, your signature will often be quite easy to read. That credit or debit purchase will also leave a record of what, where and how much you purchased for anyone that may become interested in you or your activities.

Another simple thing you can do to maintain a little stealth in your prepping is to split big purchases into smaller ones by simply using two shopping carts instead of one. You can use one cart and another family member can use a second cart. Depending upon the number of family members available to help, you could even use additional carts. Don’t forget to go to different registers when checking out and remember to pay cash if possible. You should also shop at random times and stores whenever possible to avoid unwanted attention. You should probably avoid making large purchases at places where you may already be known.

You can also have a handy excuse available if asked about your purchases or activities. Keep the answer simple and uncomplicated so as not to arouse their curiosity and in most cases they won’t give you or your activities a second thought. The “I’m in charge of the meal for the family reunion this year.” seems to work very well in most instances.






In the words of Sun Tzu:

"Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt."



Things seem to be changing quite rapidly nowadays… 

Are you ready to practice a little "stealth" prepping?


You can read Part One here:










Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

8 comments:

Teresita Darling said...

I was buying the last 8 packages of dates on sale yesterday, $17 for 10+ lbs. I had recently read the dense nutrition they offer, and since I love them, decided to catch the sale. The lady in front of me said she "couldn't bear the curiosity- what was I buying so much for?!" I tell her what always, without fail, works at the register- that I homeschool, and that my kids homeschool club was working on a project, and I was getting the supplies for it. Whether it's a first aid kid, trail mix, or teaching baking, it always works.

riverwalker said...

To: mama4x

Sounds like a reasonable explanation. People do have a tendency to notice certain things, while being oblivious to other activities.

Way to go! You've got your "stealth" prepping at work already.

Thanks.

RW

John said...

This is great. I realy appreciate your practical suggestions.

riverwalker said...

To: John

I've got a few more practical ideas that I hope people will find useful.

Thanks John.

RW

Anonymous said...

I've been asked a few times when I stock up on items. I say either one of a few things... "donations for the food bank / women's shelter / or church."
That way, they think it's not for me and my own pantry. ;-)

riverwalker said...

To: anonymous 10:21

That's another good one! Thanks for sharing that one.

RW

Joe said...

Paying cash for your items is generally good advice in any situation but even more important if you're trying to fly under the radar so to speak. Credit card companies (and cellphone carriers) have a tremendous amount of information about us. No point in increasing that if we don't have to.

riverwalker said...

To: Joe

Paying cash is usually a smart way to handle purchases when possible.

Recent news about how much information is being collected from cell phones is beginning to have me doubt them as a viable communication alternative, since it seems that they are randomly collecting all kinds of information without the user's permission...

Thanks Joe.

RW

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