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A famous serial killer profiler with 50 years of experience has revealed the steps women should take to avoid becoming the next victim.
Dr Ann Burgess, who spent decades studying the minds of serial killers, has found these individuals always search for women who are unprotected, appear weak and are living alone.
This has been the case in many infamous examples including the victims killed by Ted Bundy from 1974 through 1978 and the ‘Co-ed killer’ who went on a murdering spree from 1972 to 1973.
While those are decades-old cases, Burgess has warned that there are still serial killers among us and has shared four actions that will deter them from choosing you for the next horrendous crime.
Dr Ann Burgess studied the methods of 36 serial killers to understand why they committed the heinous acts and the trauma that led to it. She has now revealed what women can do to protect themselves from becoming victims
Dr Burgess joined forces with the FBI in 1978 to consult with its Behavioral Science Unit, which developed the first-of-its-kind psychological profiling for serial killers.
They studied the methods and motives of 36 serial killers including Edmund Kemper (‘The Co-Ed Killer‘) who murdered his grandparents, six young female college students, as well as his own mother and her friend in the 1970s.
The team examined how past trauma impacted the killer’s crimes and found that all serial killers had similar mental patterns from abusive mothers and absent fathers.
Burgess’s work with the FBI led to the arrest of high-profile killers including the Menendez brothers who murdered their parents Jose and Kitty at their Beverly Hills home in 1989.
She has recently shot to fame again in a new Hulu three-part docu-series titled ‘Mastermind To Think Like a Killer.’
‘There is this misogyny that develops or this acting out against women due to these mommy issues, more or less,’ the show’s director Abby Fuller told PEOPLE.
‘Oftentimes they were victimized, so it’s like there’s this idea the victim becomes a victimizer and the kind of the scene is played out, only this time they’re the one in control rather than the victim.’
1. Trust your gut
If something feels wrong, Burgess said it probably is and you should immediately remove yourself from that situation or area.
Too many times, women feel something is off and think ‘Geez, I’m just overreacting,’ Burgess told PEOPLE, but by ignoring these thoughts, ‘they found themselves in very tight positions.’
When you feel that tight, clenching feeling in your stomach, ‘that’s your limbic system reacting,’ Burgess said.
‘It’s an involuntary system that is set in us to alarm us and you should pay attention to it. I just think that’s only good sense to listen to it, and not to override the system.’
Dr Ann Burgess (pictured) joined forces with the FBI in 1978 to consult with its Behavioral Science Unit where they were developing the first-of-its-kind psychological profiling for serial killers
2. Get a German Shepherd
Protection dogs, especially larger breeds like German Shepherds, have an intimidating appearance that could deter people from invading your home, Dr Burgess explained.
In particular, German Shepherds are naturally protective because they’re born with a gene that makes them form a strong bond with their owner.
They are also the most loyal, intelligent and courageous dogs in the canine family and have a sense of alertness that allows them to keep watch over the home for hours and can quickly notice any changes in their environment.
German Shepherds are very vocal and often whine, growl and bark – making themselves known to a possible serial killer and alerting you to the invader’s presence.
‘Get a German Shepherd. That’s the one thing I always say — get a German Shepherd,’ Dr Burgess said.
3. Put a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign outside your house
Dr Burgess advised that a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign could stop serial killers from entering your home out of fear that they could be attacked.
They’re looking for an easy victim, someone that is alone and vulnerable, and this type of sign could stop serial killers from targeting you.
However, homeowners should be warned that ‘Beware of Dog’ signs can entice burglars to enter the residence out of curiosity over what valuables might be inside, according to researches at the University of Pennsylvania.
4. Put workman’s boots outside your door
Dr Burgess said she often puts workman’s boots outside her front door if she’s home alone to make it look like her husband is there.
Having these masculine boots outside the house could scare off serial killers who don’t want to fight someone to execute their plans.
‘A lot of killers seize opportunity,’ Dr Burgess said. ‘So if they … think that a man is there who could possibly fight them, they’re going to move to the next house for the easier victim.’
