The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

December 19, 2007

Thrive magazine offers guide to a safe, crime-free holiday

Amelia A. Pridemore

Criminals never take a day off — even if it is Christmas.

In the latest edition of Thrive magazine, Mountain State University faculty members warn the public about the opportunities criminals seek when searching for their next victims and what citizens can do to protect themselves.

“A Guide for a Safe and Crime-Free Holiday” will be in the sixth edition of Thrive magazine, a free health and medical journal published by Beckley Newspapers, said Melissa Mann, Thrive project manager. The article, written by Dr. Robert Francis Hayes, an MSU psychology professor; Dinah L. Rock, MSU coordinator of graduate academic services; and Michael W. Giles, offers tips on how citizens can keep themselves from becoming a statistic.

“After what happened in the mall in Nebraska, I believe this is an excellent article,” Mann said. “People need to be aware. Unfortunately, with the times we live in, these are things we have to worry about.”

Mann said the article offers several tips, including not laying down a purse on a restroom floor. Someone could reach underneath the stall and snatch the purse. Christmas shoppers should also never count cash in public areas because that shows criminals a potential victim has cash. Shoppers are also warned against carrying an abundance of shopping bags, even if it means making several trips back to their vehicles, for the same reason.

“We just want to raise awareness,” Mann said. “We don’t want anyone’s holiday spoiled because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“That would be awful. It would be heartbreaking to get the gift your child has been asking for all year and have it taken — or have that item be the last item available in a place, something that had personal meaning.”

Thrive is available in several Beckley area physicians’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies and at The Register-Herald office.

— E-mail:

apridemore@register-herald.com

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