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Hi Ian:

A lot of neighborhood watch organizations are trying to get people involved in their own protection from crime. The issues you mentioned - lighting for example, a SIMPLE way to deter possible crime.

Bottom line, the police can only do so much - you have to start by using wisdom each day whether you leave your house or stay in. Criminals have gotten so BOLD and now rob you when you are home!!!! Yikes. And I remember those days when a man around would be a good way to be safe. LOL, now they are attacking them too.

In ending - an area that really bothers me and I no longer watch on TV, kids disappearing on their way to school. I am so glad my only child is now 25. But when she was younger, I took precautions to safeguard her. Sometimes you can trust a neighbor with making sure your child is safe, but I chose not to as I lived in the ghetto at the time. LOL, neighbors were drug dealers and so on.

Thanks for your input

Indeed, these days young men are one of the major groups most at risk from violent crime . Mind you most of the violent crime in various parts of the world involves young men attacking, or being attacked by other young men. In the UK alcohol is usually involved although in Brazil you can be mugged for your swimming trunks in the sea!

As a co-ordinator for our local Neighbourhood Watch (Yes, the local Witch does run the Neighbourhood watch ) , things here are pretty quiet. The biggest question at the moment is ....do we apply to have our road made a no cold calling area? As far as I can remember the last gun crime in Portsmouth was in 2009 and no-one was shot. What's it like where you live now?

Hi Ian:

Wow and thanks for the info from your end of things.

I am from Jamaica, West Indies but now live in the States.

When the English were still involved (yes your country/lol) in Jamaica, things were awesome.

When we became independent it was like all HELL broke loose. No direction and fraud. I am now in my 50's and have no desire to go back there to live. Kingston which is the capital is awful. Tourist are warned not to wear items like earrings that can be pulled out of their ears. It saddens me to hear this as I have fond memories of my island as a child.

Okay, now on to the USA. Like all areas, you have the areas you stay out of no matter what time of the day it is

And you have others you can go for a jog and would be hopefully safe during the day.

The big cities like New York and Chicago have their gangs I hear - adults and young people. And we are losing more young people to crime due to a lot of families not being families. And by this I mean, family structure.

My daughter grew up in the "ghetto" (yes, the gun shots and so on/lol) - but we were not of the it. And by this I mean - I would say good morning and hi to my neighbors, but they knew not to approach me or my child with anything illegal. And yes, I would call in stuff but would not reveal my name, phone number and so on. Hey, did not want any police knocking on my apartment door = they would know I called it in. But I realized that if I was going to stay alive, I had to get involved in my area of the complex.

Thank you again for stopping by Ian - been awesome chatting with you as usual

For a international 'snapshot' of crime- and policing- here is policing from the USA , UK , and Australian point of view. Interesting insights into all three cultures

Hi Ian:

Thanks and I will make some time to check out these links.

I see we have an expert on crime = you

LOL, it pays to know what the rest of the world is up to just in case I decide to travel the world before I die.

Indeed- In my experience the number of times criminals have 'tried it on' when they think you're a non-local who's never seen their particular approach before, has only been equalled by their shocked look when they find out: "Yes he has, and in tougher environments too".

The "$20 for petrol" was a classic fail in that not only was I able to tell the person about the Road Rangers , thanks to an item in the local news. But, because I'd walked around the area in daylight too, I even gave him directions to the nearest church- which could provide help - as he said he was a "Good Christian" as part of his approach.
I think the final action was my turning to put the wall at my back and slipping my walking stick into a an across the body two handed grip. Not only did this bring a possible confederate coming up behind me (who suddenly made himself[?] scarce). This seemed to be accoster's signal to walk off quickly muttering to himself.

In Side, Turkey, we did draw comments from all the other tourists that we were the only ones not bothered by shopkeepers trying to physically pull us into their shops. I said it was because we looked poor, but I think it was more to do with the first day there anyone who grabbed me 'fell over' and anyone who reached for my wife got a tap on the radial or ulnar nerves near the wrist from my walking stick. This only happened a few times, and the other shopkeepers found it very funny as the perpetrators weren't seriously hurt and they looked very silly as they picked themselves up or waited the half-hour or so for full use of their hand to be regained.

It also acted as a notice to the more serious individuals to find someone else to bother. Evidenced by people lurking near hotels and bars in the evening going elsewhere when we were out walking.

LOL, that walking stick of yours does the trick - awesome!

Yes, when traveling it pays to pay attention to your surroundings - which you did.

Traveling is on by ever getting longer bucket list and I know I will have to do some research before heading anywhere.

Glad to see your wife was okay - nothing like having a man around that knows how to handle things.

As usual, ENJOYED reading your post