In addition to the pandemic, hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters seem to have plagued the U.S. with a particular vengeance this year. These terrible events have left hundreds of thousands of people homeless, scared, and just barely able to get by. Immediately following such events, scammers can abound to play off victims’ fears and … Read more
Crime
As the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on, more and more people have sought to add to their sense of comfort and companionship at home by adopting a pet. For a period of time, unfortunately, many animal rescues and in-person adoption centers had to temporarily halt adoptions for safety reasons. In the face of that, people turned … Read more
With so many people stuck at home these days, more and more have turned to home improvement projects to make home a better place to be, as well as to simply keep busy. People are painting and updating their bathrooms. They’re working on their lawns and changing out light fixtures. And so on and so … Read more
Scammers are never ones to just let an opportunity to profit go by. COVID-19 (or, more specifically, the fear it has engendered in so many) has proven to be an especially good opportunity. Over the past few months, we’ve touched on charity scams and stimulus check scams designed to trick people out of their economic … Read more
Options for a good home security system used to be much simpler: you needed a deadbolt, a heavy door, and a solid baseball bat. However, as technology has advanced, it’s provided many more (and safer) options for protecting homes. A number of companies now provide home security monitoring. And still more provide technology that you … Read more
While high-profile cases like Jeffrey Epstein may focus a brighter spotlight on the issue for a time, human trafficking is sadly an issue that has gone on for millennia. It is the ultimate expression of greed and exploitation. And it happens here in the U.S. way more than you may think. It can be difficult … Read more
Crime statistics in the U.S. have shifted considerably in recent years, and the most recent data points in an encouraging direction. Figures from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and independent research both suggest broad declines in violent and property crime, though the numbers come with important caveats about how crime data is collected and reported. … Read more
When you see a local vacant storefront with a sign that says, “Licensed Neighborhood Dispensary Opening Soon,” all sort of thoughts could race through your mind. Will it attract a bad crowd? Will my family be safe? Are my property values going to drop? Many people have the same worries. Let’s run through some of … Read more