Keith Fowler, founder and operator of Lion Shield Protection, has released his outlook on personal, residential, and community security for the year ahead. Drawing from field operations and client feedback, Fowler identifies trends, common errors, and effective strategies, emphasizing that most security incidents stem from routine, distraction, and overconfidence rather than complex threats.
Fowler notes a sharp increase in opportunistic incidents tied to routine behavior, with people moving faster, multitasking more, and paying less attention to their surroundings. Recent data indicates 41% of home break-ins occur without forced entry, often due to unlocked doors or poor routines, while 27% of theft incidents involve vehicles, frequently from items left in plain sight. Over 60% of people admit to checking their phones while entering or exiting their homes, and nearly 70% of adults have no basic emergency plan. "People assume risk looks dramatic," Fowler says. "In reality, it looks quiet and fast."
According to Fowler, many individuals rely on tools while ignoring habits, trusting alarms, cameras, or apps but skipping basics like predictable routines, unlocked vehicles "just for a minute," and ignoring subtle warning signs. He adds that people often mistake familiarity for safety, which lowers their guard. For more information on Lion Shield Protection, visit https://www.lionshieldprotection.com.
Fowler expects three pressures to increase over the next year: response times, personal responsibility, and accountability. Key indicators include police response times increasing by 15–20% in many urban areas, property crime rates rising in over half of U.S. counties last year, and emergency services being increasingly stretched during peak hours. "Help may take longer," Fowler says. "That means individuals need to be more self-aware and prepared."
Despite these pressures, Fowler is clear that consistency wins, with simple habits done every day beating complex plans that never get used. He points to basics like locking doors every time, clearing vehicles, pausing before entry, scanning environments, and keeping emergency contacts accessible. "I've watched people avoid problems because they paused for three seconds," Fowler says. "That pause matters."
Fowler outlines three scenarios for the year ahead. In an optimistic scenario where conditions stabilize, best actions include establishing a simple daily safety checklist, reviewing home and vehicle routines weekly, and sharing emergency plans with family members. In a realistic scenario with steady incidents and stretched response times, best actions involve changing routines regularly, reducing distractions during transitions, and keeping valuables out of sight and plans written down. In a cautious scenario where incidents increase locally, best actions include heightening situational awareness in public spaces, adding redundancy to emergency contacts and meeting points, and auditing habits monthly to correct gaps immediately. "None of these steps require fear," Fowler says. "They require attention."
Fowler urges readers to choose the scenario that best fits their environment and act now, starting by identifying three daily habits to improve, applying them consistently for two weeks, and then reviewing and adjusting. "Safety doesn't come from luck," Fowler adds. "It comes from habits." This guidance highlights the growing importance of personal accountability in security, as societal pressures and resource constraints shift more responsibility onto individuals for their own safety and that of their communities.
