Approach and Escape

This chapter examines the role of offender approach and escape behaviors in the identification and analysis of violent crime patterns. Approaches are categorized into manipulative, surprise, and blitz methods, each revealing different levels of planning, control, and offender-victim interaction. Escape strategies are explored through variables such as mode of travel, route selection, environmental context, temporal conditions, counter-surveillance efforts, and the involvement of accomplices. The chapter emphasizes how escape behaviors provide insight into offender knowledge, adaptability, and psychological state, particularly under stress or law enforcement pressure. A case study of John Duffy and David Mulcahy, the “railway rapists,” demonstrates how offenders can exploit transportation infrastructure for both approach and evasion. Practical exercises and critical thinking guidance encourage readers to evaluate offender tactics across multiple sources of evidence, highlighting the importance of detecting evolving strategies.