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Muggings are becoming more common on our streets

Have you ever walked down a dark street by yourself with your shoulders hunched from the cold? You may not realise it but your body language could make you more susceptible to being attacked.

Inside Out discovers how changing your body language could lower your risk of becoming a victim of street crime.

The latest British crime survey reported that mugging accounts for three per cent of total crime.

Alarmingly, the Yorkshire and the Humber region has the third highest rate in the country, with one mugging taking place every 13 minutes.

It's a frightening statistic, but new evidence shows that there might be something you can do to lower your risk of being attacked - walk tall.

It might sound silly but research has shown that you are more likely to be targeted by a mugger if you look anxious, so the best thing to do is walk with your head held high.

The advice isn't as obvious as you might think - staying safe isn't just about keeping your valuables well-hidden.

It's all about attitude, and changing yours could make the difference between getting home safely or being attacked.

Stand up for safety

The police are targeting those most at risk for safety advice

A survey of muggers revealed that you are more likely to be a victim if you have negative body language.

So adopting a more positive stance and exercising mind over matter could keep you from becoming a statistic.

Police Officer Sean Morley explains, "People who don't portray themselves as confident, who perhaps walk with their head down and look timid, are more likely to be victims and more likely to attract potential robbers and offenders."

In other words, if you feel vulnerable, you become vulnerable, and put yourself at more of a risk.

And surprisingly it's not always women who are perceived as most vulnerable - in fact, it's young men like Martin who are the most common targets.

Martin was mugged twice in the space of one week, and is now too frightened to go back to the scene of the crime.

He recalls, "There was this rush behind me, I just collapsed."

And he's not alone. Despite claims that older women like Pat are off-limits to most potential muggers, she was still the victim of a vicious attack.

She remembers, "I took one step off the kerb and the next thing I knew I was being dragged across the street.

"My keys went out of my hand and my head hit the street with quite a bump," she says.

"I finished up with a big black eye and I thought I'd broken my wrist.

"By the time I'd picked myself up all I could see was a grey shape disappearing."

It's often the case - most people are too shocked at what is happening to get a good look at their attacker.

But fortunately there's a team of police on the case.

Plan of action

Officer Mark Wortley is on the lookout - not just for muggers, but also potential victims.

His presence on the street is just part of a new police initiative in Sheffield to advise people most at risk of an attack.

Mark explains, "Anybody walking on their own is making themselves a vulnerable target.

"Here's someone with an i-pod - he's vulnerable because he isn't fully aware of his environment.

"Here's someone else - they look nervous, not confident at all."

With the police analysing body language to determine who is most at risk, Inside Out decided to get a second opinion.

Dr Lovegrove analyses body language for signs of unease

Appearance expert Dr Emily Lovegrove has dedicated her career to researching how body language affects your chances of becoming a victim of crime.

And she's on hand to give Inside Out her expert analysis.

Emily says, "One of the things we imagine is that our circumstances dictate our emotions.

"What we forget is that our emotions can dictate our circumstances."

Dr Lovegrove asks Martin to describe how he felt at the time of his attack, and his explanation is very revealing.

He says, "I felt disbelief, that an attack could happen so soon after one had already happened.

"The second was fear, that I'd come away with a serious injury, and another feeling was embarrassment and powerlessness."

Emily watches Martin speak and points out the visible change in his body language while he was talking about the attack.

"It's interesting - his posture changed and he became physically smaller.

"I could see it changing his stance and demeanour."

Emily believes that even a small change in body language could determine whether or not you become a victim of crime.

"Body posture shows how nervous they feel, and they may look more victim-like," she explains.

And here's Emily's top tip for staying safer on the streets:

"If you can constantly remind yourself of the mantra 'I am confident, I am strong,' the whole body language will change."

Whether or not you are one of the usual targets, following practical safety tips and employing a strong mindset could be your most effective weapons again the perpetrators of street crime.

Read our Inside Out guide to staying safe on the streets.