Prevention Works

Crime is soaring in Airports

With last minute vacations before school starts and business trips, there’s been crime soaring at airports. The New York Post states: “Larcenies are up nearly 30 percent from the first half of 2010 and the arrest rate is a pathetic 9 percent.” Included in the figures are thefts from baggage carousels, swiped property left unattended, and thefts by baggage handlers and other employees. The most frequently stolen items are laptops and iPads.

In order to prevent this from happening to your personal belongings there are some crime prevention tips to follow:

• Carry your purse close to your body, or your wallet in an inside front pocket. Consider wearing a money pouch under your clothes.
• Never leave your bags unattended or behind your back where you cannot see them.
• Avoid displaying expensive items such as laptops, cameras, jewelry, and luggage that might draw attention. Your aim should be to blend in with the crowd, Not Stand Out.
• Stay especially alert and watch your bags carefully at all times. Don’t let anyone but uniformed airline personnel handle or watch your bags.

By following these few crime prevention tips, you can lower your chance of getting your belongings stolen. For more information on traveling tips please visit www.ncpc.org .

Danger Could Be Lurking in the Dark

A fitness buddy of mine had been missing from our Zumba classes for about a month.  When she reappeared this week I asked what happened to her.  She told me that she had been mugged in the parking lot near her home one night after class.

Fortunately, she was okay but had been terrified to go anywhere at night since the incident.  As she shared the particulars from that terrifying night, one thing stuck out in my mind.  She said they snuck up on her because they were lurking in the dark.  “It wasn’t hard for them to hide since all but one light was burned out in my parking lot,” she said.  Then she elaborated, “Several of my neighbors and I talked about how the homeowners’ association needed to fix the burned out lights but none of us ever followed up.  I wish I had now.”

I thought about that statement in the context of our slogan, “Take A Bite Out Of Crime^®.”  It’s meant to remind us that each one of us can (and should) do something to help prevent crime.  In this case I couldn’t help but wonder if just one of those neighbors or my fitness buddy had followed up on the lights problem, the thugs might not have been able to attack so easily.  In one of our PSAs McGruff said, “All crime needs is a chance.  Don’t give it the chance.”  Those are good words to live by. 

We’ll never know if the lighting would have deterred the opportunistic criminals but lighting up the night might have reduced their chance to pounce on an unwitting victim.  Please remember this story the next time you see lights out in your neighborhood.  Don’t give criminals a chance to claim another victim.

Download home and personal safety tips from NCPC in the resources section of our website.

Note:  Thanks to great work by our local police department, the muggers were apprehended recently.

Back to the Carefree College Life

Though it is hard to think about, summer is almost over. Students return to school soon. And in a matter of weeks, thousands of our young adults will be off to colleges all over the country, either for the first time, or to embark on another semester. While the new semester brings opportunities for newfound freedom and excitement, there is still the potential to be a victim of crime.

“Based on the NCVS (National Crime Victimization Survey) from 1995 to 2005, college students between the ages of 18 and 24 experienced an estimated 4.6 million violent victimizations” (Hart, 2007, as cited in Hart & Miethe, 2011). Hart & Miethe (2011) state that this number results in an approximate annual rate of 56 violent victimizations per 100,000 college students (p. 158). Moreover, these numbers only represent violent victimization. That means that the overall victimization levels of college students are higher because it is possible to fall victim to more than just violent crimes.

Female college students often have concerns around victimization, focusing on sexual assault and stalking. But young men also should be serious about protecting themselves against crime. Hart & Miethe’s (2011) study supported “the position that most acts of interpersonal violence against college students are relatively minor assaults among males that occur outside the confines of campus” (p. 175).  This illuminates the vulnerabilities of predominately young men, both on and off campus.

These reports aren’t meant to be scare tactics but instead to serve as a reminder that young adults are susceptible to crime.  But there are steps that can be taken to lessen the likelihood of victimization. Sometimes young adults feel invincible, which can result in a lackluster approach to personal safety. While we always want to empower our youth to be strong and independent, our main priority is make sure they are taking precautions to protect themselves. As parents, teachers, and other authority figures, it is our responsibility to remind our youth to be cautious during their care-free days at school.   

Below are some tips for young adults while they are spending time, both on and off campus:

• Use the buddy system. Don’t walk alone if possible, especially at night.
• Lock your dorm room or apartment. We always hope we can trust our neighbors, but we shouldn’t give them the opportunity to test our trust.
• Report any suspicious activity observed on campus to the campus or local police. It may turn out to be nothing, but why risk it?
• Stay in well-lighted areas while walking at night, and entering and exiting buildings.
• Use the campus police. If an area feels unsafe, chances are that others feel the same way. Inform the police and let them help make things safer on your campus.
• Be alert to what goes on around campus. The email notifications of criminal activity around campus may seem annoying, but being aware of what is going on out there is the first step in making sure that you don’t get caught in the middle of it.

For more information on the research cited in this article, email kbenson@ncpc.org.

The Dangers of Life Imitating Art

The recent death of an extraordinary singer and songwriter, Amy Winehouse, has left her young fans stunned but not surprised. The 27-year-old singer was known for her harmonious sound, free spirit, and drug and alcohol abuse. Winehouse never shied away from making her use of drugs and alcohol public; in fact, her first single was titled “Rehab,” which shot to number one on the billboard charts. In the song, Winehouse discloses that the people close to her were concerned about her addiction and wanted her to go to rehab. But she refused the help. In many cases, musicians like Amy Winehouse use their music as an outlet for their emotions and the problems they face. Interviews with some of the world’s most popular musicians, who are known to have substance abuse problems, reveal that they have used their music as a way to cope.

Unfortunately, a musician’s intention of producing art and expressing his or herself can be sadly imitated by fans, especially the young impressionable ones. The danger of life imitating art is that while a musician might be telling his or her story, fans may be trying to live it. Music is so prevalent among teenagers and the most popular songs are the ones to which fans feel they can relate. Teens also often elevate musicians to role models.

While the music culture is dominant in the lives of teens, parents must take the appropriate measures to keep their teens from becoming involved in alcohol and drugs. Some parents don’t know how to start a conversation with their kids about this topic. Using the tragedy of Amy Winehouse is a way to open the communication channels with your teen and a great way to start the discussion.

Here are four easy steps to begin the conversation about substance abuse with your teen:

1. Don’t be a parent in denial. Parents often assume that their teen is aware of the dangers of substance abuse. They also expect that their teen will make the right decisions not to use drugs and alcohol. No teenager is immune to substance abuse.
2. Educate yourself on the subject. Educate yourself about alcohol, tobacco, and drug use before talking to your teen. You will lose credibility if you don’t know your facts and a clear sense of what drugs are prevalent among teens in your community.  
3. Start the conversation using a current event. The story of Amy Winehouse or another event that is in the news and relevant to your teen can be a great conversation starter. Discussing a topic that your teen is aware of will help you and your teen have a conversation about substance abuse rather than your lecturing them about drug abuse.
4. Ask questions and provide answers. Probe your teen for his or her thoughts on substance abuse. Try not to ask questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” Be prepared to answer any questions or concerns that your teen may have.

For more information and prevention tips on teens and substance abuse visit

www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com    (A website for parents)

www.justthinktwice.com             (A website for teens)

Chinatown is rolling in the classics

When music comes on at night it is usually a signal to teenagers that a party is beginning but on the streets of Chinatown, classical music is the new call to curfew. New strategies are being implemented to use music as an instrument to prevent loitering and the potential for crime and violence.

Last month, My Fox D.C. published an article about using the symphonic sounds to deter teenagers from hanging out around Chinatown during the late night. Visitors in the area had been complaining about the overcrowding from teenagers during the summer months and trash on the steps of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.

The move is not only a stroke of genius, but a great use of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). While the lights of restaurants are beaming into the night sky, classical music is definitely an oddity—but an effective oddity.

I was a teenager once and not too long ago in fact. During the summer, the places that were not too far from home were where we always went to avoid the heat as much as possible. As a summer intern and part-time tourist here in D.C., I can understand the attraction to Chinatown. The amazing restaurants, the theatres and museums—it is a wonderful place to spend some free time. Why wouldn’t it get overcrowded?  

Albeit random, classical music is a great way to minimize those crowds during the late nights.  Lancaster, PA has gone the music route too. Music is a quick and cost effective way to get the job done but there are other ways to keep communities safe by using CPTED. Law enforcement and the community business owners need help to control the crowds.

In the print edition of Washington Post last Thursday, readers gave feedback about their feelings of the police crackdown on teenagers causing trouble in Chinatown. One writer said, “Chinatown is a hangout spot for ALL residents of D.C. This is city life, not the suburbs, and it is the summer—get used to it. I do admit that during my lunch break it is annoying to go downtown and a bunch of kids are blocking my entrance to Chipotle.”

That’s why using CPTED to minimize overcrowding and the potential for crime and violence is the way to go. Some cities have cleaned up their neighborhoods with CPTED concepts. Here’s how to bring it to your community by using these four Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.

Access Control. This element of CPTED involves designing streets, sidewalks and entrances to buildings that draw clear lines between private, semi-private and public areas.

Territorial Reinforcement. Similar to access control, territorial enforcement also helps residents put up signs that send “hands off” messages to potential offenders.

Maintenance. Keeping up the area lets potential criminals know that the area is well cared for and no place for criminal activity. Maintenance includes keeping up with landscaping, repairing broken windows and painting over graffiti. Proper upkeep lets criminals know that there are people watching out for the property and will report illegal activity.

Surveillance. We are watching. But not in the way that you think. This principle emphasizes designing the area in a way that maximizes the visibility of people in parking areas, vehicles and site activities. Windows should be placed strategically, as well as doors, walkways and parking lots.

Summer is sure to bring out the crowds to popular hot spots in an area like Chinatown. Just don’t be surprised if you suddenly hear classical music playing in your favorite hangout.