Whether you live in a crime-plagued, inner-city neighborhood; on a serene, countryside farm; or in a posh, well-to-do housing addition in suburbia; crime affects your life. Somewhere in the world crime is happening every minute of every hour of every day. It is literally a 24-hour operation.
About 31 million total crimes are reported
in the United States annually.
That's about one crime per second!
The Crime Beat Gazette is a bimonthly newsletter that was created as a forum to facilitate the exchange of ideas, tips and general information related to public safety, crime and violence prevention, personal security and like matters. Its purpose is to educate, motivate, enlighten and inspire readers.
Across the United States schools, once considered sanctuaries, experience about three million crimes on their grounds each year. On any given school day it is estimated that upwards of 100,000 kids are armed with guns while at school and some 160,000 additional students are absent as a result of being bullied.
There are armed police officers roaming the hallways to protect the teachers from the students, to protect the good kids from the bad ones, and to protect them all from internal and external threats to their well-being and disruptions to the pristine educational environment.
Crime is big business and an equal opportunity offender that transcends a person's educational level or economic status. It is likely that you know someone -- friend or foe -- who has been assaulted, burglarized, raped, robbed, swindled or even murdered. No security system is infallible, but crime doesn't have to be a fact of life. Communication is a major component to preventing crime. Therefore, knowledge and reliable information is your only true weapon to combat crime and violence.
"On average, American families spend more than $4,000 each year to
participate in criminal justice systems, install private security measures,
replace stolen property, or repair harm to victims."
United States Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance
"Investing Wisely In Crime Prevention"
Victim rates of violent crime have increased. Without warning a situation can turn from safe to sorry; turning you not only into a victim but the top news story of the day. And, most people who are victimized never imagined that crime would happen to them. It always happens to the other person. |
