View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2005 > May > 25 > Entry
Pepper spray is an ideal companion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With runners and bicyclists in mind, this is a good time of year to obtain or upgrade your pepper spray. Most brands are good at what they are supposed to do. You need a good stream of spray if the need arises, opposed to a fine mist that some of your cute key-chain spray produces.
Get a spray that shoots about 8-10 feet. Remember the basics:
When something happens to you, such as an assault or theft of carjacking, it will happen much faster that you would have thought possible.
So a little prevention is in order.
Know when you’re in a vulnerable area or situation. For example, when you are walking to your car and it’s dark or in a precarious spot, have that can of spray in your hand. Trust me — you won’t have time to go into your purse or pocket to look for it.
Also have it ready (not in lock-mode).
Have it pointed in the right direction! (It’s the little things that go wrong.)
The average cost of a good and effective can of pepper spray is $15, so don’t be stingy. If someone makes an assault you’ll probably won’t be able to take dead-on aim. So spray plenty of the stuff and move away. It will take a couple of seconds to affect the attacker, but once it does he’ll be in serious trouble. Move away from the area. Remember, no kicking.
You can find pepper spray listed on the Web or in several police magazines. I would upgrade to a larger container from the key-chain models.
Be like a Boy Scout. Be prepared.
Other things:
— A man reported that he was shopping at a Roswell Road store and placed $437 on the cashier’s counter to cover his items. A man walked up, took a $100 bill from the pile and left the store. The victim confronted the man but was unable to catch him.
— Just before midnight, a golf pro shop’s alarm was activated. Officers found the rear door to the Ga. 9 business forced open. Five Ping and five TaylorMade putters, as well as 15 Ben Hogan irons, were missing.
— Two customers were charged with shoplifting after security officers at a Windward Parkway discount store saw one of the men take a memory stick for a digital item. The officers said the other man obviously appeared to be the lookout because he was, well, looking out. He was arrested as a party to a crime.
— Someone called the Northeast precinct to say that they saw a naked man urinating in his lawn. (Welcome to summer in the suburbs.)
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