Local expert shares safety tips when in large crowds

Yahoo

29-04-2025

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – We've already seen a few large outdoor events in southwestern Virginia this year, but as the spring and summer roll on, there will be even more.
However, sometimes these events don't normally go as planned, and that can lead to disaster.
'If you have large crowds, that's what brings in bad guys unfortunately,' Marko Galbreath, the owner of T4 Tactics, a self-defense class in Lynchburg, said. 'Even if we're talking about something like as simple as a purse snatching or a theft, large crowds bring in bad people.'
Galbreath said now is tougher than ever for law enforcement to keep large crowds safe because of the different methods bad guys use.
He also said the most harmful situations can be avoided with proper awareness of your surroundings.
'There's a reason we have hairs on the back of our neck, and there's a reason why we have gut feelings,' Galbreath said. 'If you get a gut feeling that something's not right, it's time to leave.'
Having an emergency plan can also help.
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'If you're set up at a parade or festival, think about where your outs are,' Galbreath said. 'If you're set up at a parade, maybe try to set up on an avenue where there's an ally right behind you, so if something was to happen, there's my escape route.'
If something ever breaks out, Galbreath said people should distance themselves from the problem immediately.
'By doing that, we're getting ourselves to safety,' he said. 'We're also clearing the path for law enforcement and first responders to get in and do what they need to do.'
Coming up with a plan should take less than five minutes, and Galbreath urges people not to let these harmful situations discourage them from going out.
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