You are right: Having watched the "don't talk to the police" video over a half dozen times, I unwillingly volunteered information to a cop when in the moment. It's really hard to put into practice when someone domineering and armed is implicitly threatening you with arrest/violence for not doing precisely what they want you to do.

I actually rehearse now, because police in the USA are so corrupt and unreliable.

Something along the lines of "I know you are just doing your job, but, respectfully, I must consult with my attorney before answering any questions."

Then (to their dismay and annoyance) I repeat the exact same thing over and over again when they inevitably ask me other, follow up questions, trying to work around my initial refusal. (It's so disrespectful, as well as illegal, for them to keep going at that point.)

How about the border when entering a country? What should you do in that case?

Oh, I have a long history of telling the border guards in the USA (where they have to let me in by law) "none of your business" when re-entering.

I have also semi-successfully appealed their FOIA denials covering the incident.

It has resulted in the sexual assault of some of my traveling companions by US CBP (full and thorough body search, simply as punishment for remaining silent). CBP is lousy with criminal pigs.

You can't refuse to answer questions when entering most countries you aren't a citizen of, if you wish to be permitted entry.

Well since they can lie to you and say anything they like bordering on blackmail, you need to know that. You have to be smart enough to guess what they know and have the fortitude to refuse to answer and ask for a lawyer continuously, sometimes possibly for hours. Always be respectful but resolute on getting that lawyer, no reason to piss them off any more than you are by refusing to answer their question. Police can be quite violent and volatile just like any human perhaps more so since they have almost all the power and guns in a given situation.

I recommend watching this videos on how to talk to police (hint don't):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE

I have a silly idea. Say the truth, admit you made a lapse of judgment, offer to repair your victims. Silly I know, but maybe you d be surprised this would go a long way in getting out of this shit situation eventually instead of turning everyone into predatory "we ll crush him for eternity" mode ?

It's good that you know it's a silly idea, not sure why you felt the need to share it. Essentially pleading guilty without a lawyer is one of the worse things you could possibly do. It's hard to even know what you are admitting to!

I think it’s useful to know how to handle yourself when being interrogated and also innocent. I don’t think the op was asking how if they are guilty.