Pepper Spray Use, Practical Self-Defense
Using Pepper Spray and Mace:
Below you will find several practical examples of incidents where pepper spray and similar self-defense weapons have been put to good use.
These incidents should come in handy as a reference if you’re considering purchasing pepper spray in the form of canisters, the pepper spray key chain, pens, special spray rings or similar items.
Sisters fend off attacker:
A local garment merchant was taught a lesson when a girl sprayed pepper in his eyes after he allegedly tried to molest her at Sarojini Nagar market in New Delhi (India).
Robbery thwarted:
In May 2010, a man who attempted to rob a West Hazleton (Pennsylvania) convenience store was stopped.
When the masked man entered the store demanding money from a clerk Sunday night, he was cut short by a doze of clerk’s can of pepper spray at about 9 p.m.
Several customers then chased the would-be robber from the scene, according to reports.
A morning walk attack:
In July 2010, a teenager was able to ward off two attackers with pepper spray as he was walking his dog on the South Side in Billings, Montana.
The teenager was walking at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday when three young men began threatening him from inside a car. Two of the suspects got out of the vehicle, one of them holding a 4-foot shovel handle and the other a plastic jug with some kind of liquid.
The teenager sprayed one of the attackers in the face with the self-defense spray and ran off.
Female shoplifter gets sprayed:
Seattle, Washington police said a suspected female shoplifter at a gas station assaulted a clerk in late June 2010. However, the employee managed to defend herself with pepper spray.
Reportedly, police officers were later able to arrest the 24-year-old suspected woman.
Spray and knife:
Police in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina said a man entered a residence and attempted to sexually assault a woman in February 2010.
Officers found a woman holding a knife, hiding in a room. She stated that she heard a door open to her home, and when she went to find out who it was, she was approached by an unknown male intruder.
The intruder attempted to sexually assault her, and a struggle ensued, according to police.
The woman was able to pepper spray the man. The attacker was possibly also cut or stabbed by the woman.
A-macing pizza:
A 22-year-old resident at an apartment complex in Lincoln, Nebraska told police someone knocked on his door about 6 p.m. The resident said he opened the door to find a man holding a pizza box outside.
When the resident tried to close the door, someone kicked it in and four men forced their way in. The resident told police he sprayed mace into the hall and the suspects left.
Robber sprayed:
Police in Boston, Massachusetts said a would-be robber who attempted to rob a South Boston woman on Tuesday got a well-deserved shot of pepper spray in the face when he produced a knife and demanded the woman’s pocketbook.
After being sprayed by the intended victim, bolted from the scene, according to reports.
Postal worker fought back:
Massachusetts — A 41-year-old female U.S. postal mail carrier was assaulted in Dorchester, Boston on Wednesday afternoon. The woman said a man attacked her from behind around 2:20 p.m. The man allegedly knocked her down and threatened her with a knife.
"I felt him pinching the back of my neck and shoulder area and he asked for money. I told him we’re not allowed to carry money."
The postal carrier kicked the suspect and used pepper spray on him to fend him off. "As soon as he shifted his weight, I turned around and had my dog spray. I started kicking him and spraying him. He swore at me and that’s when he went after me and got me with the knife. I grabbed the knife and I just kept spraying and kicking. And then, he pushed me backwards and he just ran over me and took off," the woman said.
Chasing intruders:
Police say a 23-year-old man blasted two intruders with pepper spray after they chased him inside and kicked down the door of his Gastonia, North Carolina home. The intruders left after the resident used pepper spray on them, according to reports.
Student fights off attacker:
A young woman fought off her attacker in downtown Springfield, Missouri with a self-defense spray in November 2009.
When three men followed her and one tried to snatch her bag, the student was prepared with spray in hand.
She sensed him:
A man reportedly approached a 15-year-old girl on her way to high school in Detroit, Michigan, around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Police said the teen sensed the man’s presence behind her and sprayed him with Mace. She was able to get away unharmed.
Retired officer fought back:
A 55-year-old retired police officer, was subjected to an attempted robbery in Linda, California.
The would-be victim was walking his dog shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday when two men on mountain bikes approached. One of the men asked him if he had a cigarette. The retired officer said "no," and one of the suspect’s pulled a knife and demanded the victim’s wallet.
The intended victim sprayed the suspect with pepper spray containing an ultraviolet dye, and both men rode away.
Fighting off intruders:
Alaska — Even with a broken ankle, a man fought off three suspected burglars, 22, 23 and 25, when they broke into his girlfriend’s home.
The intruders were hit with mace when they came up the stairs at the Ninilchik home.
Team work:
Washington — Seattle police said at about 11:17 p.m., a woman and a friend were walking when they passed a man. After the women walked by, the man attacked her, knocking her to the ground. The suspect tried to grab her purse, snapping the shoulder strap.
Nearby nightclub security staff saw the incident and used OC spray on the man. Another witness followed the fleeing thug until police bicycle officers arrived and arrested him.
Assaulted at home:
Michigan — State Police responded to a call around 1 p.m. of a woman being assaulted in Paw Paw Township. The 52-year-old victim said the suspect jumped a fence, came onto her property and began assaulting her.
The woman fought back by spraying Mace at the attacker. The woman’s landlord, who also lived on the property, scared off the suspect who fled on foot to a wooded area.
Jogging:
Georgia — Police said a man attacked a female jogger at Suwanee Creek Park between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The victim reportedly felt someone grab her and put her against a tree. Her hands were held behind her back and a knife was held to the side of her neck."
The woman was able to elbow the man and spray him with pepper spray. She escaped without injury.
No candy:
California — A clerk at a candy shop in City Heights, San Diego sent a would-be robber fleeing. The employee doused the suspect with pepper spray, and the alleged bandit was arrested a short time later, according to reports.
In Philly:
Pennsylvania — A 21-year-old woman was coming home from a local pizza shop in Philadelphia, when suddenly a man grabbed her from behind right in the entranceway of her apartment building.
He told the victim he had a knife, but she screamed for help and fought back. As the man threw punches and threatened her, the young woman sprayed him in the face with pepper spray, and he finally gave up.
Cab Driver fought back:
A 21-year-old driver told police he picked up a fare in Perth Amboy New Jersey. The would-be robber directed him to a dead end street in Woodbridge, police said.
When the cab pulled up to the last house on the street, the passenger put on hand around the driver’s body and used his other hand to press an object against his head. The robber, who now had a bandanna covering his face, demanded cash.
However, the taxi driver grabbed a pepper spray he had held between his legs and sprayed the man in the face, causing the bandit to jump out of the car and flee.
Assault in parking garage:
In Austin, Texas, a man attempted to sexually assault a woman in a downtown parking garage.
Police said a man followed a woman into the parking garage at 3:30 a.m. Saturday. He approached her with a knife and knocked her down, according to police. He attempted to sexually assault her, but the woman sprayed Mace at the suspect. After a struggle, he ran away.
She fought off robber:
A 21-year-old University of Wisconsin, Madison student fought off a would-be robber downtown on Friday evening, with pepper spray.
Police said the young woman told them that a man riding a bicycle tried to steal her purse at around 8:30 p.m. When she refused to hand it over, they struggled and both fell down.
The student scraped her elbow, knee and ankle but was reportedly able to hold on to her purse and sprayed him with pepper spray attached to her keys.
Attacked at home:
According to a Fayettville 911 call, the accuser was letting her dog out when she was attacked by a male suspect wearing a black ski mask as she was opening the door.
The woman said the man grabbed her by the throat and began choking her. She said she sprayed the man with Mace, at which point he fled the scene.
Fended off assault:
A 37-year old man told Omaha Police he has been helping the suspect out financially for a while. June 17 he went to the person’s home, to collect a part of the debt.
He knocked on the door but there was no answer. Hearing noise coming from the house he then went around to a window and looked into the home.
There he saw the 43-year old man who became enraged. The resident allegedly picked up a tire iron and knife and went after the 37-year-old man.
Luckily, the victim was carrying mace and managed to spray the suspect in the face and keep him at bay, while he made his escape.
Needed to "talk":
On May 11, a man grabbed a 28-year-old woman by the hair in the Cambridge Oaks subdivision of Columbia, South Carolina as she took garbage outside, a Richland County sheriff’s spokesman said.
The man said he needed to "talk to her" before forcing her to the ground about 11 p.m. The intended victim pulled out a mace and sprayed him. The attacker ran off.
Taking out the trash:
In Staten Island, N.Y.C a man pushed his way into the woman’s home as she opened the door to throw away trash at about 5 a.m., police said.
Inside the home, the attacker forced the woman to the floor and punched her in the face. When he attempted to sexually assault the woman, she sprayed the suspect with mace after which he fled.
Incident near campus:
An 18-year-old female used pepper spray at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday night (March 24) to fend off an attacker in the Oregon Hill area of Richmond, Virginia.
The incident allegedly happened near Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus. Police said the teenager was a little scraped and that she refused medical treatment.
Texas woman:
"I was attacked by a large dog a few months ago and do not think a big stick would have been enough," a San Angelo woman wrote March 24.
"Luckily, I carry pepper spray with me when I walk and I was able to access it and spray the dog in the eyes. I feel like the pepper spray saved me from serious injury or even my life", she added.
Mail carrier:
Iowa — Des Moines animal control officers said an American bulldog attacked a female mail carrier Thursday, March 19. The dog approached her, growling and snapping about 1.p.m. "It crossed the street and kept coming at me," she said.
The carrier was not bitten. She delayed the attack by using her pepper spray and then was rescued by a neighbor who was able to take control of the animal.
Home invasion:
In Mauston, Wisconsin, police said a man was scared off with pepper spray during a home invasion on Friday (February 20, 2008).
Police were told the resident confronted a man in the home at around 1:45 p.m. and sprayed him with pepper spray. The man then ran from the home to a car waiting outside and took off.
The pepper spray reportedly contained a red dye, which marked the man’s face and/or clothing.
Teenager:
A Georgetown (Kentucky) middle school student fought off a man who attempted to drag her into his car as she was heading to school in February, 2009. The 13-year-old girl said the man came up and grabbed her as she was crossing a street.
The girl said she fought back, kicking and spraying him with pepper spray. The attacker reportedly let go of her and took off.
He grabbed a woman:
Sunday morning, a perpetrator reportedly grabbed a woman’s buttocks in Normal, Illinois in February 2009: The man then left. He ran around the building and returned – attempting to tackle her, police said.
Another woman who was walking together with the intended victim then sprayed the attacker with pepper spray. The man fled, officials said.
A female customer:
In January 2009, a 77-year-old female customer used her key chain pepper spray against a 20-year-old robber at a store in Jacksonville, Florida.
Police was able to pick the robber up a short distance away – linking him to several robberies.
Stupid robber:
A robber reportedly walked into a cell phone store In Council Bluffs, Iowa in January 2009. He then demanded money from the clerk.
The female clerk was able to give him a few dollars, and he became angry. The bright man whipped out a can of pepper spray … and gave himself a solid dose to his own face.
Lesson: Learn to use the product. Knowing how to aim could also come in handy…
42-year-old woman:
A 42-year-old woman fought off an attacker with pepper spray Friday night in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, police said.
The woman used the pepper spray to stop a knife-wielding attacker at 8:43 p.m. Friday night, according to police.
Awareness:
December 2008, a man and his wife were leaving a grocery store: The man was in an electric cart a few feet ahead of his wife.
Looking back, the man caught eye of a suspicious young man walking directly towards his wife. Looking straight at the man he told his wife to get her pepper spray ready.
The young guy immediately turned around and took off. The man emphasized the importance of being aware of ones surroundings and being prepared with some means of selfdefense.
Female jogger:
A female jogger said that a man tried to pull her into his vehicle about 9:30 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio.
The 40-year-old woman was jogging on a residential street in October, 2008, when car pulled alongside her. The driver rolled down his window as if he needed assistance.
When the woman approached the car, the driver grabbed the woman’s jacket and shined a flashlight in her eyes as he tried to open his door. She grabbed the spray she carried to ward off loose dogs, sprayed the man in the face and pulled free. He drove off.
University student:
A female university student in Raleigh, North Carolina was walking from her car, through a tunnel at around 11 p.m. in April 2008.
A male grabbed her from behind and threw her toward a fence by the railroad tracks.
She was carrying her pepper spray in her hand. She unlocked the safety and was able to use pepper spray. She then ran toward a student hall and the suspect ran back toward the tunnel.
Attempted rape:
A student at a Santa Barbara, California college said that her sister was almost raped late 2007. The victim was pushed into some bushes by a middle-aged man while walking up a steep hill on campus.
"If it weren’t for a can of mace, and her taking kick-boxing courses, she would have probably been raped," her sister said.
Attempted robbery:
In October 2007, three men attempted to rob a female Illinois university student around 2 a.m. while she was walking along the road.
The woman sprayed one of the men with pepper spray and was able to escape unharmed, a DeKalb police spokesman said after the incident.
A family incident:
Police said that on June 2, 2007, a 19-year-old male was at a family gathering in Houston, Texas when he began arguing with some family members.
The teenager was pulled away from the argument, but, police said, he got a large kitchen knife, returned to the home and chased the victim – attempting to stab her. The woman was able to get away by spraying mace in his face.
South Africa:
A South African student was assaulted in her apartment in May 2007. The incident happened in broad daylight, in a residential area, opposite a police station.
The young woman was working in her home on Saturday at about 10:00, when a man came asking for food.
The man had gained entry to the premises through a broken gate. Being afraid because the tenants of the house were away for the weekend, she went inside to cut him some bread, closing the sliding door behind her.
The man kicked open a door on the side of the apartment and followed the woman inside, where he slapped her and dragged her around by her hair.
During the ensuing struggle, the glass sliding door was damaged. The assault ended when the girl was able to get hold of a can of pepper spray next to her TV, and sprayed it in her assailant’s face.
He picked the wrong victim:
A would-be robber apparently picked the wrong victim in April 2006 when he assaulted a 59-year-old woman riding a battery-powered scooter in Saveland Park, Milwaukee. The woman was feeding the birds in the afternoon when a man approached her, demanded money.
Perhaps thinking the woman was an easy target, the robber hit the woman in the face, knocking her from the scooter.
This seemed to be a bad move. The woman simply struck her attacker in the knee with her cane before she followed up with a swift knee to his groin.
According to police, she then doused the perp with pepper spray. According to reports, the man was heard screaming, "Lady, you’re nuts," while running away.
Three young women:
Two men reportedly held three young women against their will in Forest Park, Ohio in June 2005.
Police said the men attempted to rape them but that the would-be victims fought back, one of whom sprayed mace in the men’s eyes.
When the women fled in their car, one of the men allegedly pursued them in his car and opened fire at them with a gun.
Sweden:
In May 2005, a 16-year-old girl was walking along the road at 10:15 p.m. in Landskrona, Sweden. Suddenly she sensed that she was being followed, so she began to run. Her follower, a male in his twenties, ran after her.
The teenager ran into a cemetery. The attacker caught up with her and grabbed her. He wrestled her to the ground and attempted to pull her pants down.
The girl took out a sort of self-defense spray and sprayed the man. He let go. The girl then jumped to her feet and ran away, without the assailant following her.
Walking from work:
A 23-year-old woman was walking home from work about 2:45 a.m. in Santa Cruz, California. This was in May 2005. A man who walked past her with downcast eyes suddenly hit her in the head, knocking her to the ground and tried to remove her pants.
The woman fought him off. She hit and kicked him before spraying him with Mace. The perpetrator was last seen running off. The woman did not require medical care.
At a car wash:
Two men tried to rob a woman of her truck at a car wash in Kansas City, Missouri in March 2005. It was just after 9 p.m. Sunday when the woman pulled into a car wash to wash her truck.
Two men walked up to her. One pulled a gun and told her to hand over her keys. The woman however sprayed them with pepper spray that she had on her key chain.
"Thank God. This is something that saved my life, and it could save any woman’s life," the woman later told media.
Louisiana:
An abduction attempt happened in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2005, when an 18-year-old woman was approached by an unidentified male.
He accosted the young woman, after emerging from a vacant lot – covered over with tall grass and weeds.
The young woman was able to stop the assault, when she wasted no time, spraying him with a stream of pepper spray. She then ran to call 911 and get help.
More information about mace an pepper spray can be found on the following pages: Buy Pepper Spray Now – Dog Mace & Pepper Spray – Mace & Pepper Spray News – Mace & Pepper Spray Keychain – Where To Buy Mace – Buy Mace Pepper Spray & Foam – Pepper Spray Protection – Best Pepper Spray Mase – Pepper Spray Purchase – Pepper Spray Against Dogs And Wild Animals – Proper Use Of Pepper Spray & Mace – When & How to Use Your Self-Defense Spray – Purchasing Self Defense Spray: Plan Ahead – Pepper Spray Use, Practical Self-Defense – Purchase Mace Spray: Pen Or Canister – Before Buying Pepper Spray – Pepper Spray Protection & Discreet Items – Purchase Pepper Spray.
A Few Self Defense Techniques
A pepper spray can be extremely helpful in such situations. You can join the local marital arts school to obtain a good training course. Kung-fu, judo or karate are extremely good self defense techniques.
You must learn self defense tips to save yourself
When you learn self defense tips you will also be told to use the pepper spray liberally on your attackers. This is one of the most lethal sprays in case of bear defense. Some of the offenders are too scared and won’t create much harm.
Effective Self Defense For Women
Sprayed into an attacker’s face, pepper spray is an excellent self defense product – the victim will be incapacitated long enough for you to get away or get help. And the effects are not long lasting.
Often Right, Rarely Correct: You’re king of your castle
So I would put pepper spray ahead of stun guns as a useful object for self defense, with the footnote that it’s only useful if you’re fleet of foot, and stun guns are basically useless. As for knives (…)
Self Defense for Everyone: Want to buy Mace?
Before pepper spray, there was Mace: a chemical self defense product that people referred to by name. They didn’t really think about what was in it, assumed that it was some formula called "Mace".
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