Crime Wave Magazine

Spring Break is looked forward to by kids and parents alike. Some families choose to take a week off and relax at home while others prefer to take a vacation – whatever your situation, make sure you’re doing all you can to protect your home and family.
If you leave home for vacation:
Make sure to keep your house safe. This means telling neighbors you’ll be gone so they can watch for suspicious activity and setting light timers in several central areas of your house. Be sure to have someone pick up your newspapers while you’ Read more »

Your family is the most important thing in your life, which is why you are probably concerned with their security and well-being. There are many preventative steps which can be taken to ensure that your family remains safe and sound when in the privacy and sanctuary of home. Home security options are just as important if not more than home security.

Having a home security system is one of the most important things you can do to help keep Read more »

Identity theft can happen to anyone. It can occur while you’re at work or while you are at home. Here are a few ways you can prevent becoming a victim of identity theft.

1. Be careful when talking on the phone. Never give out personal information, such as your social security number, over the phone.

2. Protect your social security number. To keep your social security number safe, leave your SS card in a safe place. Your doctor and employer are perhaps the only people who Read more »

McGruff, the crime fighting dog, is the first famous face that comes to mind when I think of crime prevention. I shouldn’t be telling my age, but in the eighties McGruff was the man or “dog” should I say. I just knew he would show up if I even thought about taking a piece of candy from the local corner store and say “Don’t take a bite out of Crime.”

Smokey the bear, often compared with McGruff back in the day, you knew he Read more »

The recent National Crime Victimization Survey offers some surprising and hopeful news, while also showing what issues need our attention in the upcoming year. Many people will likely be shocked to learn that the violent crime rate was down to 17.1 per 1000 people, its lowest since 1973. Property crimes are also down to 127.4 incidents per 100 people. For comparison, in 1975 the rate was over 553 per 1000.The survey also records which crimes are reported to police, and this information is a little less hopeful. Only half of violent crimes and 40 of property crimes are reported. If you are the victim of a crime, don’t hesitate to inform your local law enforcement authorities. Also, despite the drop in crime rates, the number of actual incidents is still frightening. The lower rates translate to about 4.3 million violent crimes and 15.6 million property crimes, with 133,000 personal robberies. Read more »

Due to societal perceptions of women as fragile and vulnerable, they are more at risk for being the victim of assault and other crimes. However, most criminals are unprepared when women fight back. Alternatively, it takes only a little practice and training to become talented at self-defense.Defeating your opponent begins before actual contact is made. If you become aware that you are being followed, let the person know you see them and firmly tell them to leave. A brave attitude can be more effective than you would think. If instead you see the person coming closer, tuck your hair away to prevent your attacker from grabbing it, and then grab any weapons that you have at hand. A bottle of pepper spray or a tazer can be easily hidden in your purse. Otherwise, look for a pen, branch, or trash can lid within easy reach. Read more »

Too many times, the news sheds the spotlight on the worst parts of America’s cities. However, many metropolitan areas enjoy very high levels of safety. Here are the top 10 safest cities/metro areas, as determined by Forbes magazine.

1. Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: With a total of only 24 unnatural deaths out of every 160, the Minneapolis area holds the record for safest city. Violent crime is responsible for 9 of those deaths, with traffic deaths and natural disasters both accounting for 7. Read more »

The National Crime Prevention Council has been around since 1982 (two years after McGruff the Crime Dog first appeared). McGruff is only a part of the company’s public persona, however. In addition, the NCPC sponsors a number of programs in schools and neighborhoods around America.Project Safe Neighborhoods is a program for reducing gang and gun violence in America. Recently, the Council has been especially focused on keeping girls out of gangs, since new statistics show that the number of members is increasing. Recently, it was estimated that 60,000 to 80,000 females are gang members today, whether due to peer pressure, lack of money, drug use, abuse, or a relationship with a gang member. To combat these statistics, the Council is offering Anti-Gang Training Conferences and workshops to inform parents and teens alike of the risks. Read more »

New technology is allowing consumers more ways to customize their home security systems. With this new technology, people can access their security systems in ways once thought impossible. Even better, this technology is spreading over into other areas of life.Everybody knows what it’s like to worry about leaving the lights on or the alarm off after leaving the house. For those who actually have a reason to be nervous, there’s a number of companies that give you mobile access over your alarm system. Alarm.com offers their own security system which is connected wirelessly to GSM cell towers. This allows users to access the system from home with an Alarm.com app. If you have cameras set up, you can even watch video on your mobile device (even if you just need to see what the kids are getting up to while you’re away). iControl is a third-party developer that currently supports GE Security and Honeywell systems, but is adding ADT soon. Along with alarm system access, iControl (through their ConnectedLife software platform) also gives users remote control over their thermostat, lighting, and even electronic door locks. Read more »

ADT Home Security recognizes that successful home security requires more than just a reliable electronic system (although they offer those, too). Home security, in fact, is directly related to neighborhood security, and a Neighborhood Crime Watch can have a significant positive affect in that area. Such programs go by various names depending on your area, but ADT offers basic tips and materials for organizing one in your community.Starting a neighborhood watch works best when you network with the local law enforcement officials in your area. In most cases, they’ll be willing to help train citizens in home security and monitoring suspicious activity. On your own, ADT suggests creating a hierarchy, including a coordinator and block captains to recruit volunteers and communicate concerns to the main group. It’s important to remember that anybody can assist in a Neighborhood Watch Program, no matter what their age is. Younger children and the elderly can assist in clean-ups and block parties around the neighborhood. While this may not seem directly related to crime prevention, it helps form community in the group, and also lets people know who’s supposed to be there and who’s not. Read more »