The Crime Clock

The official “Crime Clock” is counting down the odds that you or a family member or a close friend will be touched by violent crime in the coming year. Think it can’t happen or won’t happen to you? Well, let’s take a look at the “Crime Clock” and see what it has to say about your odds. The Crime Clock doesn’t recognize race, age or gender. It’s all about statistics. The figures are compiled each year by the National Center for Victims of Crime. The numbers come from various government and private agencies like the Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Now you may want to dismiss the “Crime Clock” as just a bunch of numbers, but that would be a big mistake. Remember, when professional experts want to solve a problem, study the risks of it, or find a solution to it, the first thing they do is to collect the data and look at the numbers. When it comes to our personal safety and the safety of our loved ones we would be wise to follow the example of the experts. But, you say, “Statistics can be easily manipulated or interpreted in a number of ways, each being biased.” Although this is true, you can’t deny the effect that statistics have in helping to raise awareness and changing people’s behavior. Our purpose in sharing this information with you is not to scare you into learning self defense, rather to help educate you about the risks of violence so that you can make an informed decision as to the safety of you and your family.

The “Crime Clock” isn’t just about numbers, it’s about you. As you look at the time “Crime Clock” please keep in mind that each number represents a human being who was just like you are right now. Complacency and thinking “it can’t happen to me” are dangerous and just plain unrealistic. Our hope is that you will use the following information to educate yourself about violence and make the necessary changes to your lifestyle that would insure that you do not become a crime victim. Remember, your family’s moment of fame should not be as a crime victim on the evening news.