Do you know the crime statistics of your home, neighborhood, and city? This information can help you stay safe and aware.

1. To learn about crime nationally, check out the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. You can compare crime rates across decades.

2. To track crime in your area, refer to websites such as mylocalcrime.com and neighborhoodscout.com.  

Create an alert or update for your community so you can quickly learn about nearby crime reports.

3. Your municipal and county law enforcement agencies also provide information on their own websites, such as The Atlanta Police Department.

4. News stations are other important souces. For example, the AJC has a search engine connected to the police department’s crime reports.

 Although crime statistics can be valuable information, remember that not every crime is reported to police. Also, if you use this date to compare areas, keep in mind that because each location is unique, this method might be unreliable (1).

Finally, remember to follow Crime Stoppers Atlanta on twitter and facebook to keep updated about crime in Metro Atlanta!

How will you celebrate St.Patrick’s Day? Some revelers do so by wearing green clothes and extolling their Irish heritage. Others honor the saint by attending church. Many commemorate the day by attending parades and by visiting bars.

 If drinking is apart of your St. Patty’s Day festivities, please keep in mind the dangers of driving while intoxicated.

 Consider these sobering statistics:

• “This year 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes—one every 50 minutes.”
• “Every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash.”
• “Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and one out of three of those are alcohol-related.”
• “An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before his or her first arrest.” (1)

 If you do drive drunk, you risk embarrassment, legal fees and fines, losing your license, court and jail time, as well as injury and death for yourself and innocent people. Remember that an average DUI will cost between $5,000-$20,000!

Here are some important tips for remaining safe while celebrating:

•  Only drink if it is legal for you to do so. Do not allow anyone under the age of 21 to drink.
• Make sure that you either have a Designated Driver or a number and cash for a taxi.
• Never allow anyone to drive while intoxicated. If they are your friends, take away their keys without embarrassing or confronting them. Otherwise, alert party hosts or bar staff to the situation.
• Stick within your limits. A 12 oz. bottle of beer, 5 oz glass of wine, and 1.5 oz of liquor equal the same amount of alcohol. And a pint is often more! (2)
• Pace yourself by having only one drink per hour so your body can metabolize the alcohol. Likewise, alternate each drink with water to remain hydrated.
• If you suspect that another driver on the road is driving drunk (look for weaving and dangerous or slow driving) do not drive near them and make sure to report them to the authorities. This could save lives! (3)

This holiday, ensure that you toast St. Patrick while remaining legal and safe!

One of Crime Stoppers’ initiatives has been to broaden the reach of our program by working to catch more types of criminals. For example, we started Fugitive Stoppers, a partnership with the U.S.Marshals’ Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force to get wanted criminals off Atlanta streets.

Fugitive Stoppers supports Crime Stoppers’ mission to capture criminals by connecting communities, law enforcement, and the media. If you consider how many additional crimes a fugitive commits while on the run—the average is 10-13—it becomes essential to catch them as soon as possible (1).

We have also partnered with media networks to get the word out to communities. For example, Crime Stoppers works with 11 Alive News to broadcast a “Fugitive of the Week” segment that encourages viewers to submit anonymous tips. Two recent captures of fugitives featured on this program highlight the success of this alliance:

• U.S.Marshals caught Lenny Jones in Stockbridge. Jones was wanted for aggravated assault, robbery, and theft. He allegedly drugged and robbed a man in a midtown hotel, burning his genitals with lit cigarettes to enforce cooperation (2).

• Likewise, the Dekalb City Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad arrested Reginald Stone, an armed and dangerous carjacker and kidnapper. Holding up an Emory medical student, Alison Watt, with a gun, he drove her around to ATMs forcing her to withdraw money (3).

It is impossible to guess how many more crimes these fugitives might have committed while fleeing authorities. Crime Stoppers would like to thank everyone who contributed to these efforts!

You can contribute to Fugitive Stoppers by following our social media on facebook or twitter. Moreover, 100% of donations go to catching criminals like Lenny Jones and Reginald Stone.

Post-midterm spring break trips are a tradition among undergraduates. Although these beach vacations are often harmless, many see such an influx of reckless college students as an easy target for crime. While having fun next week, keep these safety tips in mind to protect yourself!

Trip Planning and Research:

• Thoroughly plan your trip by researching your destination (especially travel warnings). Book a reputable hotel and find reliable transportation.
• Make sure your family knows where you’re going and when you’ll return.
• If traveling abroad, make sure you have the right documents, immunizations, and medical insurance. Don’t pack flashy valuables and try not to stand out as a tourist. 

Fun and Activities:

• Keep your hotel safe by never admitting strangers and keeping personal information, such as where you’re staying, secret from people you don’t know. Lock up valuables.
• Visit ATMs in groups and be wary of any suspicious people hanging around. Don’t carry too much cash at once, and keep smaller bills rather than larger ones.
• Avoid sun poisoning and sun stroke by remaining hydrated, lathering on SPF, and avoiding the outdoors in the hottest part of the day.
• Most importantly, do not drink if you are underage. If it is legal for you to drink, be responsible: intoxication greatly increases your risk of victimization.

Common Sense Safety:

• Trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings.
• Always look confident–even if you are lost–so you don’t resemble easy prey for criminals.

 That said, you don’t have to be paranoid during your trip. It’s a vacation after all! If you remain aware and informed, it should be a trip to remember (in a good way).

In the late hours of February 22^nd and the early morning of February 23^rd, an unknown gunman robbed two businesses in the Atlanta Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.

In the first incident, the suspect robbed and killed shop owner Suhrid Das as he closed up The Banna Grocery. The victim was well-respected in his community for his generosity and kindness (1).

The next morning another small business in the same building was broken into, as the suspect barged into the apartment of The Sugar-Coated Radical’s owner, Taria Camerino, and threatened her family. He made off with $400 of their profits, but thankfully hurt no one else. The connection between the two crimes is still being investigated by police (2).

This violence shook their community, but the way people have responded is inspiring.  By organizing a “cash mob,” an event in which people are encouraged to buy from local businesses, The Sugar-Coated Radical received much-need support and publicity. The candy shop quickly sold out, and friends have started to help clean up the area by planning a nearby community garden.

Such gestures demonstrate solidarity and proclaim that the neighborhood is banding together against crime.

Crime Stoppers would like to commend this effort, as well as underscore the importance of community. Our non-profit strives to empower neighborhoods and victims by engaging them in the fight against crime. Looking out for one another is best means of preventing, and in this case, recovering from crime!

Finally, if you have any information about these crimes, please submit an anonymous tip to our organization by visiting our website.

In the last month, there have been two well-publicized attempted child abductions in Georgia. In the first, a viral video showed the young Brittany Baxter fight off and escape her abductor in a Wal-Mart in Bremen (1). Today, after a 10 year-old girl ran away from an inquisitive stranger in a minivan, Dunwoody neighborhoods have been alerted that an attempted kidnapper is prowling their streets (2).

 Crime Stoppers applauds these girls’ quick-thinking and urges parents to ensure that their own children know what to do in similar situations. Here are some safety tips:

1. Empower your community through the Neighborhood Watch. Keep an eye out for the safety of your neighbors and their children. Especially look out for suspicious people on your streets (3).
2. Although it is important to teach your children not to trust strangers—especially unknown people in cars—remember that most abductions and abuse comes from relatives and acquaintances.
3. Children aren’t only in danger outside. Many child predators hunt for victims using social media and the internet. Monitor your children and teach them how to stay safe online.
4. Identify times and activities where your children are most vulnerable and teach them about the dangers. For example, when they walk to school or wait for the bus. Click here for ideas: “Safety Tips While Walking.”
5. Check out these links for how to teach children to recognize and avoid abduction and abuse: “Wal-Mart Kidnapping: How Can I Keep My Child Safe from Unkind Strangers?” and “Safety Tips for Children Grades K-5.”
6. Make a note of Amber Alerts. Over 554 children in the U.S.have been saved by this program that empowers communities to work with law enforcement.

Over 2,185 children go missing each day (4). The best way to prevent these abductions is to educate yourself and your children.

People either love or hate Valentine’s Day. They can be uplifted or isolated by the explosion of red and pink decorations and gifts plastered with roses and cupids.

One way to recreate this holiday is to make it less about chocolates, jewelry, and admirers, and more about spreading love. Today, Crime Stoppers Atlanta hopes to raise awareness for the sinister side of relationships: domestic violence.

Domestic violence is defined as “the establishment of control or fear in a relationship through physical, sexual, emotional, and/or financial abuse” (1). Such abuse can happen to anyone–no matter his or her background–and does not have to include physical abuse.

Too many men and women are affected by domestic violence: over one hundred Georgians every year are killed in domestic violence-related incidents; 30% of all women in Georgia from the ages of 14 to 44 are assaulted; and the FBI reports that a woman is beaten every 9 seconds.

There are ways you can help:

• You can donate your time and money to local shelters, hot lines, and legal advocacy groups. Your generosity can provide a second chance for a victim.
• Be respectful and kind in all your relationships.
• Never turn a blind eye to a friend or family member’s abuse. Check out this link for signs and steps to take.

Spend this Valentine’s Day thankful for those you love, as well as mindful that healthy relationships don’t hurt.

The viral video of an Atlanta gang beating a teenager they accused of being gay has instigated a public outcry (1). This incident is a disturbing reminder that prejudice and discrimination remain major—and often violent—issues for communities.

Hate crimes are crimes—especially violence, vandalism, and arson—that are motivated by bias. There are separate hate crime laws that reassign these violations to federal jurisdiction and ensure harsher penalties (2).

Hate crimes reverberate throughout communities. They isolate people and increase antagonism and friction between groups.

Such infractions have been rising. The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics break down the 6,624 incidents according to motivation: 47% based on race, 20% based on religion, and 19% based on sexual orientation (4). It is important to note that many hate crimes remain unreported.

Refer to these tips from the National Crime Prevention Council on how to help put a stop to hate crimes.

Today (February 2^nd), the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV) hosted a discussion and rally at the state capitol. GCADV urged the state to work actively against domestic abuse and to continue funding essential services for victims (1).

Domestic violence is an important issue: Georgia has the 6th highest rate of men killing women (2) and the 15^th for domestic violence in the nation (3).

Violence against women is not only a problem for women. Domestic violence hurts entire families and communities.

Womenshealth.org suggests these ways you can help:

• Call the police if you see or hear evidence of domestic violence.
• Support a friend or family member who may be in an abusive relationship. Learn more about how to help.
• Volunteer at a local domestic violence shelter or other organization that helps survivors or works to prevent violence.
• Raise children to respect others. Teach children to treat others as they would like to be treated.
• Lead by example. Work to create a culture that rejects violence as a way to deal with problems. Speak up against messages that say violence or mistreating women is okay.
• Become an activist. Participate in an anti-violence event like a local Take Back the Night march. Tell your congressional representatives that you want them to support domestic violence services and violence prevention programs.
• Volunteer in youth programs. Become a mentor. Get involved in programs that teach young people to solve problems without violence. Get involved with Choose Respect or other programs that teach teens about healthy relationships.
• Ask about anti-violence policies and programs at work and school. At work, ask about policies that deal with sexual harassment, for example. On campus, ask about services to escort students to dorms safely at night and other safety measures.

Domestic abuse can be physical and emotional, and should never be underestimated or ignored.

Although this is No Name-Calling Week, we should work toward ending child and adult harassment every week of the year.

Bullies target nearly half of all children and are far more prevalent in the workplace than is typically estimated (1). The worst response to this problem is to brush it off as a life-stage or trial that will “toughen up” our children and colleagues.

In fact, the detrimental effects of such emotional and physical abuse include: low self-esteem, humiliation, helplessness, and even depression and suicide.

Even more troublesome is how modern bullying is spreading. Before, people could escape harassment when they left school and work, but thanks to easy internet access and wide-spread texting, such abuse can follow them at home, too.

If you are a parent or teacher, consider these tips:

• Refer to www.nonamecallingweek.org for lesson plans and ideas for teaching children that harassment is hurtful and unacceptable.
• Keep an eye out for signs that your children or students are being bullied: is the quality of their work greatly diminished? Are they more withdrawn? Do they fear going to school?
• If you suspect bullying, make sure they know it’s not their fault and that they may talk to you openly about it. Take it a step further and contact the school’s authorities.
• Likewise, watch for indications that your children are bullies: Do they show aggression, violence, or a need to dominate others? Do they fail to empathize with other children?  If so, you need to address these problems immediately.

If you are an adult, remember these guidelines:

• Be aware that bullying is not just a school-yard problem. Bullies grow up and don’t always grow out of their abusive natures.
• Don’t participate as an audience. Stand up for your colleagues. Also, realize that malicious gossip can damage someone’s self-esteem and reputation.
• If you are being bullied, talk to a supervisor. Consider documenting the behavior in case you must take legal action.

Bullying is most often not about the victim, but the aggressor’s low self-esteem, and consequent need for power and self-aggrandizement. To end harassment, we must never underestimate its effects or fail to take action. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.