Armed robbery is one of the most serious and potentially dangerous crimes committed in the United States today. A robber commits a holdup because he or she believes that their profit will be worth the risk. By decreasing the possible profit and increasing the risk of apprehension, potential victims can reduce their chance of becoming a target. Personal safety is always the most important consideration when planning how to react to an armed robbery. This document provides basic information that can and will diminish the chance of becoming a victim.

The following are a number of ATM safety and security tips.

It is estimated that approximately one million bicycles are stolen in the United States each year. Approximately 3,000 bicycles are stolen in the U.S. each day, valued at an average of $265. The total value of approximately 1,000,000 bikes stolen annually is $265 million.

Bullying has become a tidal wave of epic proportions. Although bullying was once considered a rite of passage, bullying is now seen as a devastating form of abuse that can have long-term effects on youthful victims.

Gangs can generally be identified by their formal organizational structure; identifiable leadership (but not always); territoriality; recurrent interaction; and, most consistently, involvement in serious, criminal and/or violent behavior. Gangs can be distinguished from Groups primarily by their:

During the year-end holidays, people are often busy, excited and sometimes a little bit careless.

Because home repairs and improvements are expensive undertakings, con men and thieves have entered the industry to rip you off. Be careful if somebody mails you a brochure offering to do an expensive job for an unusually low price. This is a favorite trick of dishonest home repair firms. Once you sign the contract, you learn why the price is so low--the firm never delivers the service you paid for in advance.

Identity theft occurs when a thief uses personal information like your bank account or Social Security number to open a new account or get a new credit card in your name. By posing as a real person, the thief runs up bills but never pays, often leaving the unsuspecting victim with credit problems. Identity theft costs businesses billions of dollars each year, and it costs consumers their good names.

There are some people who use the Internet as a means to sexually exploit children. Some of these individuals are gradually able to seduce their targets through the use of attention, affection, kindness and even gifts. These individuals are often willing to devote considerable amounts of time, money and energy in the process. They listen to and emphasize with the problems of children. They will be aware of the latest music, hobbies, and interests of children. They attempt to gradually lower children’s inhibitions by slowly introducing sexual context and content into their conversations.

There are a number of strategies that may either prevent the theft of laptops or aid in their recovery if you should be unlucky enough to become victimized. Some of these are just plain common sense; while others feature a more physical or technological approach to the issues.

Letter scheme frauds have been circulating in North America since the late 1980’s. The letters target individuals, businesses, learning institutions and governments. Unsolicited fraudulent letters promote several products, services and investment opportunities such as:

One of the most persistent problems facing local law enforcement today is the increasing demand for their services for responding to false alarms. Many local governments have passed legislation to help deal with the problem, including escalating fines for continued false alarms. Businesses can help by: