A woman on vacation was very lucky when sharp eyed police caught the burglars that raided her home while she was away. They ransacked her home and stole her car. Luckily the police noticed something odd about the car and its driver, the 24 year old burglar. When they followed up on the registration on the car and went to the address listed, they found that the owner was away and that the house had been burglarized.
Think about what your home will look like while you are gone. Will it be obvious that you are away? Have the mail delivery held for you at the post office and stop the newspaper delivery. Have someone that you trust check out the place periodically. Make sure that the lawn gets mowed. Put some lights and a radio or TV on a timer so that they come on every once in a while. Make sure all doors and windows are locked and secured. And get an alarm system, one that will make a lot of noise if someone tries to break in.
www.mytravelsafety.com has more information, guides and products for securing your home before you leave.
June 12, 2003
Kesq.com
Desert Hot Springs Police apprehend burglar while owner was on vacation
You may not think about it once you leave your house, but when you're gone police say your home can become a target for burglars and that's what happened to one Desert Hot Springs woman.
Thanks to quick thinking from Desert Hot Springs Police, the burglar didn't get too far.
Call it intuition, but one Desert Hot Springs police officer says he acted on instinct and caught a suspected burglar before the victim could even report the crime. She was on vacation and had no idea that her home had been burglarized.
Vacations should be fun...sand, surf, and sunshine. Have fun and stay out of the hospital. This article reminds us about knowing your environment and staying safe from accidents. This student from Alabama fell four stories from a hotel balcony.
Thankfully, he was not seriously hurt, but he did spend two days of his short vacation in the local hospital. He did admit that he had been drinking at a party with friends and may not remember the entire incident. Don't let this happen to you or your family! Don’t let the kids climb on the railings or the balconies at the hotel, restaurants or other outings.
We put together a series of guides for safe traveling. Check out our Student Travel Safety Guide for details on safe student travel.
Teen suffers only bruises in Panhandle balcony fall
Herald Tribune
March 27, 2003
AP
PANAMA CITY, FL
A spring break visitor who fell four stories from a balcony suffered only
bruises and has been released from a hospital after a two-day stay.
Joshua Berger, 18, of Phenix City, Ala., fell Monday onto a poolside chair
at the Mariner East Condominium. He was released Wednesday from Bay Medical Center in Panama City.
If you are planning a road trip, then you defiantly need to check out the tips in this article. Written by a member of the Hillsboro Police Department, it is full of real world safety and crime prevention tips. Read this if you want to avoid problems on your next trip. Also check out the guides and links at www.mytravelsafety.com for more safety tips and information.
06/05/03
By Doreen Kyle
Hillsboro Police Department
Safety steps to make your vacation memorable for the right reasons
If your family is like many typical families, you probably have a vacation planned for this summer. Whether you are leaving for a week or just a day, you'll want to remember some vacation safety guidelines while you're gone.
Most people don't give a thought to taking precautions while on vacation. This time is just as important if not more to remember your safety. By following some of these tips you may minimize the chances of being a victim of crime and ruining you well deserved time off.
South America offers beautiful vacation spots, but there are many treacherous routes between major cities. Keep this in mind as you plan your travel around different countries. This crime occured in Guatemala during a bus ride. Gunmen took over the bus of U.S. tourists and killed one of them.
Before travelling, do the research to find the most dependable and safest method of transportation. This will vary greatly from country to country.
January 08, 2004
Seattle Times
Seattle, WA
Utah man shot to death in Guatemalan bus robbery
RETALHULEU, Guatemala - Gunmen stopped a bus carrying 13 U.S. tourists in
southwestern Guatemala yesterday, killing one passenger during a robbery,
police said.
Five attackers in a pickup intercepted the bus carrying the tourists, all
Mormons from Utah, near Colomba, 125 miles southwest of the capital,
Guatemala City. The Americans were traveling from the mountain city of
Quetzaltenango to the Mexican border.
There has been an increase in reports of Date Rape Drugs being used to attack unsuspecting victims. Date Rape drugs will knock you out and leave you with little or no memory of the nights events. Countless women and men have been victimized, many beaten and robbed, most raped.
In the Hillsborough Street area near North Carolina State perpetrators have been paying bartenders to slip date rape drugs into the drinks of their intended victim.
Unless you are watching the bartender the entire time your drink is prepared, the only way to know for sure your drink is OK is to test it with a test kit like the DrinkSafe drink test strips, they are available at www.collegesafe.com
March 21, 2003
North Carolina State Technician
By: Diane Cordova
Be informed about date rape drugs
Knowing about date rape drugs is becoming increasingly important as reported incidents around N.C. State are on the rise.
Heading out to the bar on a Friday night may be the ideal way to meet people, but as the presence of date rape drugs becomes a more prominent threat, it could be a dangerous way as well.
Date rape drugs, named for their ability to leave victims unconscious and easily susceptible to sexual assault, include the mixing of alcohol and other drugs like Rohypnol, GHB and Ketamine.
Kudos to the Honolulu Hawaii Police Department for proposing to post signs at tourist attractions. Thefts had been occuring at targeted hot tourist spots on the island, so the police planning to post warning signs listing those spots. This proactive involvement by the police will certainly deter thieves in those areas and increase safety awareness by the tourists.
Kudos to the Honolulu Hawaii Police Department for proposing to post signs at tourist attractions. Thefts had been occuring at targeted hot tourist spots on the island, so the police planning to post warning signs listing those spots. This proactive involvement by the police will certainly deter thieves in those areas and increase safety awareness by the tourists.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Honolulu Advertiser
Signs warning of thefts proposed for tourist sites
By Suzanne Roig
The Halona Blowhole and other scenic lookouts in East Honolulu have long
been favorite stops for tourists - and the crooks who break into rental cars
to steal purses, camcorders and other valuables.
Car break-ins in East Honolulu
Car break-ins during the past three months at tourist spots in the
East Honolulu police district:
a.. Manoa Falls: 3
b.. Diamond Head Crater/lookouts: 16
c.. Hanauma Bay: 3
d.. Moloka'i Lookout/Lana'i Lookout/Blowhole: 9
e.. Makapu'u Lighthouse: 9
Source: Honolulu Police Department
Steve and Lana found their lives turned upside down when they returned from vacation four years ago. Their home and just about everything in it was destroyed, priceless family mementos and all. Yet, when they finally faced the five juveniles that broke into their home and created such havoc, they found kids in need of help and understanding. This article is about how they were able to recognize the destruction of their property as a cry for help from troubled youths.
Jun. 16, 2003
Kristin Park
The Arizona Republic
Helping out the vandals
2 victims see 5 kids in need and aid them
Four years ago, Arizona City residents Steve Heckemeyer and Lana LaPointe returned home from a vacation to find their home vandalized.
They turned their experience into an opportunity to mentor the five youths who had entered their home several times over a period of days. "It was devastating," said Heckemeyer, 66.
The youths had trashed most everything that the couple had acquired during more than 20 years of marriage. They even destroyed Heckemeyer's computer, which ultimately cost him his job.
We all know it's fun to run around on the beach during vacation. The wind, the waves, the fun of meeting new people. That is wonderful...as long as you are looking out for cars and other vehicle on the beach. Many beaches in Florida and other states allow driving and horseback riding on the beach. Keep an eye out for hazards and let the kids know about the potential dangers. And if you are driving, keep a constant look out for people lying on the beach.
Many times when you're driving, it is very difficult to see a person on the ground nearby. In this story from March 14, 2003, the AP wire reports the 12-year old girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
If you're lying on the beach, be sure to steer clear of driving paths that may be dangerous. Set up your towels far enough away so you can hear and see any vehicles ahead of time.
March 14, 2003
The Associated Press
12-Year-Old Girl Hit by Van While Playing on Daytona-Area Beach
DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. (AP) - A 12-year-old girl was run over by a van Friday while she was playing with friends on the beach.