Well, I would use Situational Awareness(ie.know your surroundings), and do intelligence work aka who are your enemies/allies(ie.when do these peep are that locale, what is their background, religous, ex cons, gangmembers, bad/mediocre neighborhood, education, et al.) and where is your safety net/zones(ie.friends/police stations/crowds of people/your car/schools/colleges, et al).
The terrorist cycle goes a bit further, and generally is used to thwart terrorist attacks, sounds like you are possibly being terrorized, and people who like to terrorize generally follow a plan like this:
1. Broad target selection-who and where is the target generally?
2.Intelligence Surveillance-Where are they at, at what times, and watch them/you.
3. Specific Target Selection-You have been targeted and they know your home/where you work/drive/hang out.
4. Pre-Attack Surveillance and planning-Where you normally go, how they will attack you.
5. Attack rehearsal-Even if done mentally, some do it, what they intend to do, with what weapons or backups.
6. Actions on the Objective-Casing you, and where you will be to committ violence.
7. Escape and Exploitation-How they plan on getting away.
Educate yourself on your enemies and what their strengths and weaknesses are and your strength and weaknesses are.
What are the consequences on using a gun, taser, pepper/cs gas spray, knife, pens/pencils, how do they work and how effective are they in real life? protective barriers/armor, How will you been seen by law enforcement, when can you use deadly force?, who can you ask for help or ask for help to prevent violence. How prepared are you in a physical confrontration?, running away, cornered?, moving away?, using different avenues of approach and leaving(ie.ingresses and egresses), disguises, et al.
I know some of this is military in nature sounding, but hey, it works for me. Know some of this basic stuff and you will be ahead of the game. Note: All of this stuff is defensive in nature, with no counter-offensive strategies mentioned, now getting into counter offensive strategies, a whole other ball of wax.
Lucia,
Former USMC MP
Like Lao Tze said eons ago.
Know your enemy, you got half the battle won.
Know yourself and not the enemy, you got half the battle won.
Know yourself and the enemy and you will not lose any battles