These decisions are guided by a simple calculation that rarely fails them: Which option offers the highest reward for the lowest effort, risk and resistance? The uncomfortable truth is that many people are advertising themselves as soft targets (easy opportunities) without ever realizing it. In public spaces, predators are not looking for just any target; they are looking for indicators. Then there is the matter of visible reward. Communities where neighbors are aware of each other’s patterns and notice anomalies, create an environment where predators face increased uncertainty.