December
2005
Put
a Kink in Christmas Crime
Test
your holiday safety savvy by taking this short quiz.
1.
True or False: The majority of criminal acts are well thought
out.
2.
When does criminal activity peak?
A.
When winter weather breaks
B.
Summer vacation season
C.
Beginning of new school year
D.
Thanksgiving to after Christmas
3.
Chances of being approached by a criminal in public go down _____
percent by having another adult with you.
A.
21
B.
44
C.
63
D. 75
4.
True or False: It's a good idea to take purchases to your car
trunk periodically during long shopping trips.
5. True
or False: The best defense is to put up a good fight if you're
being robbed.
 |
Ronnie
Cline shows that a simple rubber band can keep you from
becoming a crime victim this holiday season. The band
will make the wallet catch on your pocket, alerting you
that someone's trying to steal it.
Women
should not carry a purse unless it's absolutely necessary.
A fanny pack is better and the pouch should be
positioned in the front, not the side.
|
See
how you scored
1.False.
“Less than 10 percent of all crimes are premeditated,” says Ronnie
Cline, a crime prevention expert. “Ninety percent of crime these
days is related in some way to drugs. We also see more gang activity
moving out of the big city into the suburbs.”
2. D.
Thanksgiving to after Christmas is when crime peaks. It corresponds
to the holiday shopping season, running from the day after Thanksgiving
until mid-January when shoppers are finished with returns and
exchanges.
3.
C. You're 63 percent less likely to be approached if you have
another adult with you. “If there are at least three in the group,
chances go down more than 90 percent,” says Cline.
4.
Both true and false. It's a good idea to put items in the trunk
if you then drive to another parking spot before you re-enter
the store. The answer is false if you don't move your car. “Criminals
watch for shoppers loading their trunks with gifts. When you leave,
they can pop your trunk in a matter of seconds with a tire tool
and steal what's inside,” says Cline.
5.
False. Chances are good that you'll be hurt if you intervene.
“Let them have what they want,” says Cline. “In most cases, criminals
and not looking to harm you. But if you back them into a corner
they will do irrational things.”
When
it comes to crime, Ronnie Cline knows the answers.
As CEO
and founder of Southeast Crime Prevention located in Gwinnett
County, Cline travels the Southeast teaching people how to avoid
becoming a crime victim. His 15 years of law enforcement experience
let him see firsthand what works and what doesn't. It also allowed
him to build an extensive network of friends and contacts so he
can keep up with the latest trends.
More
holiday safety smarts from Cline:
