Good day, class. Today’s block of instruction is over the humble zip-tie.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that zip-ties are replacing duct tape as the restraint of choice for those critters who choose kidnapping as their vocation of choice.
Further evidence shows that not only does kidnapping befall several thousand citizens per year in America alone, that number is growing.
With that in mind, it behooves a prepared citizen to have a working idea on the ways of by-passing a zip-tie in order to escape — or to enable you go Dr Seuss* on your Personal Chew Toy.
The folks over at Imminent Threat Solutions have gone to the effort to put together a nice little course entitled “How To Escape From Zip Ties“.
Before we get to the guest lecture, we here at The LawDog Files would like to pre-emptively answer complaints that have been forwarded to us by fellow Peace Officer types:
One. The chance of a critter reading my blog and learning how to defeat zip-ties is slim at best, and is more than off-set by the chance of that same critter is going to learn how to defeat zip-ties during his next extended stay at The Greybar Hotel. Remember: what one inmate knows, he’ll teach other inmates for a box of honey-buns or a pack of smokes.
Two. Even if — by some slim chance — a critter does stumble across my blog and learn how to defeat zip-ties … so what? We — as officers — are too damned comfortable with zip-ties as it is. Just because your suspects are zip-tied doesn’t mean you can relax — but that’s what happens. I see way too many officers standing over a zip-tied critter or three with relaxed body language and an expression that strongly hints that the officer is thinking, “Beige, beige, I think I’ll paint the ceiling beige”.
If you read this and worry that your next zip-tied critter may know how to slip those ties — GOOD! You should be keeping a closer eye on your detained suspects.
Three. Knowledge is good. Remember that several thousand Americans per year are kidnapped. Just because they’re not wearing a badge doesn’t mean we get to deny them knowledge that may save their butts. Not to mention that one of the several thousand victims next year … might be you.
You officers down on the US/Mex border, or with family out in Iraq/Afghanistan, might want to think long and hard about that for a bit.
Now. On the the guest lecture:
ITS Tactical “How To Escape From Zip Ties”.
LawDog
*”Locks in Socks put Skells in Hells.” Alternatively: “One Thunk, Two Thunk, Red Punk, Catatonic Punk.”
9 thoughts on “Professor LawDog’s School of Survival and Mayhem”
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I had to bring my computer in from outside to watch the video's..So I don't think any of the "critters" learned anything new..Thanks for the info..
Once during one of those county-wide warrant sweeps, I was unloading a van full of mostly low-threat people we had just picked up to put them on the bus. The third or fourth one out the door sheepishly apologized and handed me his ziptie, saying it was loose and fell off, and when he crabbed it the thing tightened just enough that he could not get his hand in. (no, I was not the guy that put it on him).
He then calmly turned around and I put a new zip tie on him, and went about my business.
And that's why I carried about a dozen sets of actual handcuffs in my patrol bag til the day I left law enforcement. Don't trust zip ties. They take up as much room, take more time to apply, are way less effective and can't be reused so they are more costly. Throw the damn things out.
nice videos, but i noticed that they did not use police flexi-cuffs i hope those hold up better.
I was going to say that I figured cop grade zips would be a little more resistant than those meant to secure inanimate objects. Given the cases of people who have either escaped from, or committed mayhem with handcuffs on, I'd say vigilance would be recommended no matter what the restraint method.
The blog deals with someone being illegally held. If I was doing that I'd use steel wire drawn taught behind the back with addional loops around the ankles and neck all linked together so the least bit of struggle tightens the neck loop.
DAMN it's good to have ya back with us again 'dog. I was having a serious case of the DT's going cold turkey without your wit and charm…
*"Locks in Socks put Skells in Hells." Alternatively: "One Thunk, Two Thunk, Red Punk, Catatonic Punk."
1) Thank you for this type of information.
B) "One Thunk, Two Thunk, Red Punk, Catatonic Punk." Hysterical!
tweaker
Be aware that zip ties, especially the white ones degrade in strength when exposed to sunlight. Looped around the rear view mirror might be convenient for use but might not be a good thing in the long run. My experience in the industrial use of them shows that the colored ones, especially the black ones retain their strength better than the white ones. YMMV.
Any chance someone can compile all the lectures from the school so far?