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A renowned serial killer profiler with 50 years’ 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, discovered that these individuals always seek out women who are unprotected, appear weak and live alone.
This has been the case in many infamous examples, including the victims murdered by Ted Bundy between 1974 and 1978 and the “College Killer” who went on a murder spree between 1972 and 1973.
While these are decades-old cases, Burgess warned that there are still serial killers among us and shared four actions that will deter them from choosing you for their next heinous 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 them. Now she has revealed what women can do to protect themselves from becoming victims.
Dr. Burgess joined forces with the FBI in 1978 to advise its Behavioral Sciences Unit, which developed the first psychological profile of its kind for serial killers.
They studied the methods and motives of 36 serial killers, including Edmund Kemper (‘The College Girl Killer’), who murdered his grandparents, six young 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 of abusive mothers and absent fathers.
Burgess’ work with the FBI led to the arrest of high-profile killers, including the Menendez brothers who murdered their parents Jose and Kitty in their Beverly Hills home in 1989.
He recently rose to fame again in a new three-part Hulu documentary series titled ‘Mastermind To Think Like a Killer.’
“There’s this misogyny that develops or this acting out against women because of these mommy issues, sort of,” said show director Abby Fuller. PEOPLE.
‘They were often victimized, so it’s like there’s this idea that the victim becomes the victimizer and the same kind of scene is played out, only this time they’re the ones in control instead of the victim.’
1. Trust your instinct
If you feel like something is wrong, Burgess said it probably is and you should immediately remove yourself from that situation or area.
Too often, women sense that something is not right and think, “Gee, I’m overreacting,” Burgess told PEOPLE, but by ignoring these thoughts, “they found themselves in very difficult positions.”
When you feel that tight, tense feeling in your stomach, “that’s your limbic system reacting,” Burgess said.
“It’s an involuntary system that is activated in us to alarm us and we should pay attention to it. I think the best thing is to listen to it and not ignore it.”
Dr Ann Burgess (pictured) joined forces with the FBI in 1978 to advise its Behavioral Sciences Unit, where they were developing the first-of-its-kind psychological profile of 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 their home, Dr. Burgess explained.
In particular, German Shepherds are naturally protective because they are born with a gene that causes them to 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 watch over the home for hours and can quickly notice any changes in their surroundings.
German Shepherds are very vocal and will often whine, growl and bark, making themselves known to a potential serial killer and alerting them to the presence of the invader.
“Get a German shepherd. That’s what I always say: Get a German shepherd,” Dr. Burgess said.
3. Put a “Beware of Dog” sign outside your house
Dr Burgess warned that a “Beware of Dog” sign could prevent serial killers from entering your home for fear of being attacked.
They are looking for an easy victim, someone who is alone and vulnerable, and this type of signal could prevent serial killers from targeting you.
However, homeowners should be aware that “Beware of Dog” signs can tempt burglars to enter the home out of curiosity about valuables inside, according to research from the University of Pennsylvania.
4. Place worker boots outside your door.
Dr. Burgess said she often places work boots outside her front door when she is 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 take advantage of the opportunity,” Burgess said. “So if they think there’s a man who might fight them off, they’ll move next door to find the easiest victim.”