Most crimes can generally be categorized into two groups: property crimes and crimes against a person, and they occur when criminals are given the opportunity to commit them. Citizens can help prevent being victims of crimes by removing the opportunities.

Crime Stoppers Atlanta has compiled some helpful tips on reducing the risk of being victimized.

Help keep your friends and family protected by sharing these articles freely!

GA's 13th Annual "Stop Violence against Women" Day

Today (February 2^nd), the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV) hosted a discussion and rally at the state capitol. GCADV urged the state to work actively against domestic abuse and to continue funding essential services for victims (1). Domestic violence is an important issue: Georgia has the 6th highest rate of men killing women (2) and the 15^th for domestic violence in the nation (3). Violence against women is not only a problem for women. Domestic violence hurts entire families and communities. Womenshealth.org suggests these ways you can help:

• Call the police if you see or hear evidence of domestic violence.
• Support a friend or family member who may be in an abusive relationship. Learn more about how to help.
• Volunteer at a local domestic violence shelter or other organization that helps survivors or works to prevent violence.
• Raise children to respect others. Teach children to treat others as they would like to be treated.
• Lead by example. Work to create a culture that rejects violence as a way to deal with problems. Speak up against messages that say violence or mistreating women is okay.
• Become an activist. Participate in an anti-violence event like a local Take Back the Night march. Tell your congressional representatives that you want them to support domestic violence services and violence prevention programs.
• Volunteer in youth programs. Become a mentor. Get involved in programs that teach young people to solve problems without violence. Get involved with Choose Respect or other programs that teach teens about healthy relationships.
• Ask about anti-violence policies and programs at work and school. At work, ask about policies that deal with sexual harassment, for example. On campus, ask about services to escort students to dorms safely at night and other safety measures.

Domestic abuse can be physical and emotional, and should never be underestimated or ignored.

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Help Stop Bullying and Harassment

Although this is No Name-Calling Week, we should work toward ending child and adult harassment every week of the year. Bullies target nearly half of all children and are far more prevalent in the workplace than is typically estimated (1). The worst response to this problem is to brush it off as a life-stage or trial that will “toughen up” our children and colleagues. In fact, the detrimental effects of such emotional and physical abuse include: low self-esteem, humiliation, helplessness, and even depression and suicide. Even more troublesome is how modern bullying is spreading. Before, people could escape harassment when they left school and work, but thanks to easy internet access and wide-spread texting, such abuse can follow them at home, too. If you are a parent or teacher, consider these tips:

• Refer to www.nonamecallingweek.org for lesson plans and ideas for teaching children that harassment is hurtful and unacceptable.
• Keep an eye out for signs that your children or students are being bullied: is the quality of their work greatly diminished? Are they more withdrawn? Do they fear going to school?
• If you suspect bullying, make sure they know it’s not their fault and that they may talk to you openly about it. Take it a step further and contact the school’s authorities.
• Likewise, watch for indications that your children are bullies: Do they show aggression, violence, or a need to dominate others? Do they fail to empathize with other children?  If so, you need to address these problems immediately.

If you are an adult, remember these guidelines:

• Be aware that bullying is not just a school-yard problem. Bullies grow up and don’t always grow out of their abusive natures.
• Don’t participate as an audience. Stand up for your colleagues. Also, realize that malicious gossip can damage someone’s self-esteem and reputation.
• If you are being bullied, talk to a supervisor. Consider documenting the behavior in case you must take legal action.

Bullying is most often not about the victim, but the aggressor’s low self-esteem, and consequent need for power and self-aggrandizement. To end harassment, we must never underestimate its effects or fail to take action. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.

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Does Cold Weather Affect Crime Rates?

After several blissfully warm days during the New Year holidays, Atlanta has been hit by a bitter cold front leaving daytime temperatures in the 30’s and evening temperatures in the 20’s. Besides dampening enthusiasm for the new year, such cold weather may affect crime rates as well. Crime is affected by weather in many ways. The elements influence our behaviors and emotions by inducing stress, causing depression, anger or agitation, or by creating environments in which crime flourishes. In extreme heat people also tend to drink more alcohol and get together more often, creating favorable circumstances for conflict. Consequently, violent crimes during summer greatly increase. Criminologists have long accepted that blistering temperatures contribute to the rise of crime, but the connections between frigid conditions and illegal activities are less documented. While cold weather also augments anger and aggression, studies have shown that the resulting actions are less random than those committed in heat. Therefore, premeditated crimes such as property crimes and robberies increase. What can you do to protect yourself from winter crimes?

• If you leave your home or business empty for several days in a row, be sure to follow these rules to reduce your risk for robbery.
• Don’t leave your car unattended when it’s warming up in the mornings. Thieves often search neighborhoods for these easy targets.
• Keep in mind that darkness falls much earlier in the winter months. In fact, in the Metro Atlanta area the sun sets at around 5:40 p.m. in January. Park in well-lit and safe areas, and if you feel uncertain, ask someone to walk you to your car.
• Finally, remember that just as more people remain indoors when it’s cold, there will be fewer witnesses and people to help you if you are in trouble. Remain vigilant.

In addition to bundling up against the freezing wind, be proactive in preventing crime.   Sources: National Crime Prevention Council; Ellen Cohn, "Weather and Crime;" and Peter Van Koppen and Robert Jansen, "The Time to Rob: Variations in Time and Number of Commercial Robberies."  

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Are You an Online Bargain Hunter?

Well Black Friday and Cyber Monday have kicked off the holiday shopping season. To avoid those long lines, large crowds, and racing for a parking space, more people have been taking advantage of the online shopping deals. But just how safe are you and your information while making an online purchase?  Online shopping can be risky with viruses and hackers waiting for an opportunity to steal your information. When you’re on the hunt for those online bargains, keep some things in mind to have a safe and secure shopping experience.   Read the fine print. Read the privacy policy carefully to find out what information the seller is gathering from you, how the information will be used, and how you can stop the process. If a site does not have a privacy policy posted, you may not want to do business with it. If it does have a privacy policy, there will probably be a link to it from the seller's home page, or it could be included with the Legal Terms. Insure the safe delivery of your item. If you're concerned you may not be home when your package is delivered and that someone may take it if it is left on the doorstep, ask whether you can specify that the shipper must receive a signature before leaving the package. Or, it may be safer to have the package delivered to your office. Security is everything!!! Instead of clicking on links, enter the website address into your browser directly. See an email pop up from your favorite beauty store saying they have a last minute deal on the face cream you've always wanted?  Are your Facebook friends posting random links on your wall telling you, "I got this great deal and so can you," it could be a scam! How do you combat these potentially hazardous links? Go to the website directly yourself instead of clicking on the link. Be knowledgeable about web-based auctions. Take special care to familiarize yourself not only with the rules and policies of the auction site itself, but with the legal terms (warranties, refund policy, etc.) of the seller's items that you wish to bid on. Check your statements. Don’t wait until the end of the month or until that bill comes in the mail. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card and checking accounts. Make sure you don't see any fraudulent charges, even originating from sites like PayPal (after all, there's more than one way to get to your money). If you do see something wrong, jump on the phone to address the matter quickly.  

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Are you Being Stalked?

Becoming a victim of a stalker can put a person in a state of fear 24 hours a day. It is important to take a stalker serious because you don’t know what that person is capable of or what their intentions are. Crime Stoppers has provided some tips if you are being stalked. Remember that every situation is different. Use your own judgment as to what actions to take. Make sure you have communicated a definite "NO" to the stalker, not just brushed them off. Then end all communication with them. Regardless if you file formal charges, report that you are a victim of stalking your local police department. Don't ever feel like you are being a "pest". Don't blow off contacting law enforcement about each and every contact from your stalker, whether in person, by phone, by mail, by instant message or any other means. Consider filing a restraining order. If you know who the stalker is, the cop will check out their criminal background. This can be important information to help make your decision about getting a restraining order or not - especially if your stalker has a violent past. Keep detailed documentation of when your stalking comes into contact with you. Keeping a journal or diary is a good way of keeping track of your stalker’s activities. Keep recordings of threatening telephone calls. Have a camera handy and take pictures. Make sure to write down identifying information. (License plate number, personal appearance, etc.) Maintain your privacy. Never give out your personal information where it can be overheard. Remove your phone number and social security number from as many items as possible. Use an office box. Do not use your residential address when having things mailed or shipped to you. Let your friends, family, and co-workers be aware of your situation. The more eyes you have watching over you, the safer you will be. While going out, make sure you go with another person or group. When leaving work, ask security to escort you to your car. In the book, Understanding-and Surviving-America's Stalking Epidemic, Linden Gross identified ten common mistakes that stalking victims make.

1. Not listening to your intuition.  You need to keep your internal radar tuned to pick up signals that something might be wrong.
2. Letting someone down easy, instead of saying a definitive NO if you’re not interested in a relationship. Trying to be nice can lead a potentially obsessive suitor to hear what he or she wants instead of the message that you’re not interested.
3. Ignoring the early warning signs that annoying attention might escalate into dangerous harassment and pursuit.
4. Responding to a stalker in any way, shape, or form. That means not acceding to your stalkers demands even once he or she has introduced threats.
5. Trying to reason or bargain with a stalker. Stalking is like a long rape.
6. Seeking a restraining or protective order. All too often, this one act propels stalkers to act violently. Still tempted to get that piece of paper?
7. Expecting police to solve your problem and make it go away. Victims have to take 100 percent responsibility for their dealing with the situation.
8. Taking inadequate privacy and safety precautions.
9. Neglecting to enlist the support of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, therapists and other victims. It may be tough to admit that you’re being stalked, but it’s not your fault. Learn how to gather the people who will constitute your first line of defense.
10. Ignoring their emotional needs during and after a stalking.

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How to Deal with an Intruder in Your Home

As you are about to retire for the night, you make sure that all windows and doors are secure before heading to your bedroom. Just as you head up the stairs, you stop by and check in your 5 year old son’s room. He is sound asleep so you turn off the light and leave out of the room. You are sound asleep when you startled by a loud thump coming from the kitchen. You roll over to look at the clock and it’s a little after 3 a.m. As you flip over to go back to sleep, you hear the loud thump again. There is someone in your home. What should you do? The number one thing to do is Remain Calm. Now is the time to think of a plan to ensure the safety of you and your child. Aggression and Fear can escalate the situation into violence. 1. Get to a safe room, lock and barricade the door. A chair lodged under the handle, or a heavy dresser pushed in place will be adequate. Stay put until police arrive and clear you home. 2. Contact the police. Keep a charged cell phone in your bedroom. The intruder may have cut the landline. While on the phone with the police, let dispatch know how many suspects are inside and if they are armed. Let dispatch know where you are inside the home (ex. Bedroom on west end of home). 3. Find an escape route. Make sure that the room you locked yourself in has another escape exit. If you or someone else can make it out your home through a door or window, then do so to seek help. 4. Never confront the intruder unless in self-defense. Even if the intruder appears to look weaker or smaller, you don’t know if he/she is carrying any tools that can be used as a weapon. Home invasion crimes are on the rise – especially in the metro Atlanta area. The Washington Post provided a detailed diagram of where thieves can gain entry and other statistics provided by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI Uniform Crime Report. 65.8% of burglaries are residential. Every 14.6 seconds, a burglary takes place in the United States. Although most burglaries occur during daylight hours, it can happen from time to time at night during hours that the household is expected to be asleep. Usually the first stop for a burglar is the master bedroom because most people keep their valuables there. Some of the first places a burglar will look for valuables are the dresser drawers, bedroom closet, and the freezer. Some favorite items burglars like to get their hands on are ash, jewelry, electronics, guns, and any other items that are easy to sell. To view the diagram, please use the following link. Anatomy of Burglary Waking up in the middle of the night and discovering an intruder can be your worst nightmare – especially when you and your children are home alone. The best thing to do to prepare yourself and others in the home to come up with a plan – before it happens. It is important to think about it now while you are calm and out of harms way. Once you have created a plan, it is always good to do a run-through of the plan – especially if you have children. It’s easier for children to do a physical run-through of the plan rather than just talking about it. Be prepared if you encounter this situation.

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