Serial killers have a tendency to:
- Plan their crime carefully, giving thought to escape routes and body disposal
- Carefully select and stalk their victims
- Prefer strangers as victims
- Engage in controlled conversation with the victim
- Capture their victims, kill them, and dispose of their bodies at separate locations
- Use restraints, often bringing them to the crime scene
- Come prepared with weapons
- Commit sexual offences with a living victim
- Attempt to extensively control the victim through manipulation or threats, and desire a show of fear from their victim
- Use a vehicle
- Commit their crimes far away from their residence
- Study police investigation techniques
- Become more proficient in the commission of their crime with time
