The summer months usually mean vacation time for most families. As the vacation-goer, you might see this as a perfect time to relax, enjoy the warm weather, and explore new places. However, it is also a time that muggers are roaming the streets looking for new prey.  Most tourists are walking targets because they are carrying cash, cameras and electronic gadgets, are focused on the surroundings and sometimes might not understand the local language or even know exactly where they are.  Because of this, you always need to be aware that as a tourist you are an attractive target for mugging. 

Therefore, when traveling you should have a heightened level of awareness about potential muggers and take precautionary measures. Prepare to deal with petty thieves during your vacation by following these top tips to prevent yourself from being mugged:

Always stay in crowded and well-lighted areas

Keep in mind that muggers shy away from places where there are many people around. They like attacking in areas where there is a low probability of being seen and caught.  So, always make sure to stay away from dark alleys or deserted parks, especially when you are alone.  However, keep in mind that muggers do tend to assimilate into crowds as well.  Be aware of pick-pockets who might push up against you in busy subway terminals or tourist attractions like outside the Coliseum in Italy.

Take care in how you dress

Dressing like a tourist with a camera slung around your neck makes you a very attractive target for muggers. Try dressing like the locals and never carry a huge amount of cash with you.  Wear your purse slung across the front of your body and hold on carefully to any backpacks or side-bags.  Also, try to avoid wearing your best watch or ostentatious jewelry when you go out. This will call too much attention to yourself.  Finally, if you must carry a large sum of money or important credit cards, a passport, etc., wear them in a money belt under your pants so it is not easily accessible.

Know your way around

Do not go out by yourself if you are not familiar with the route you want to take. Familiarize yourself with a place first before venturing out on your own. Remember that lost tourists are easy prey for muggers.  And, try to stay in a group.  Muggers usually go for people walking by themselves rather than for those who are in groups.
Following all these top tips to prevent yourself from being mugged can probably save not just your wallet, but also your life.  So, always be aware of everything when on vacation and you will be fine. 

Act as if you are sure about where you are going

Even if you are already lost, don't show it. Always walk as if you know where you are going and what you are doing. Looking lost or wandering around without direction makes you an ideal target.  Walk with determination and a strong stride.

Ride a bike instead of taking a walk

There are many bikes for rent for tourists. So, instead of going on foot all the time, why don't you try riding a bike? Being able to move speedily in and out of a street presents you as a difficult target than when you are just a pedestrian.

Stay away from known hazardous spots in town

As much as you can, do not venture into notorious hazardous spots in town, especially during times when there are few people around.  If you are unsure where these places are, you can talk to friendly locals or the concierge at your hotel to make sure you aware of dangerous neighborhoods.

Always be alert for probable danger

Lessen the possibility of being mugged by ensuring that you are attentive to your environment and veer away from distractions. Do not talk on the phone or wear your headphones or read a map while walking. All these make you an easy target for mugging because you tend to pay more attention to these activities than what is going around you.  To learn more about theft prevention, or if you have been convicted of the crime, try online theft education classes.  These courses are designed for individuals who need to take program related to petty theft, larceny, shoplifting or stealing.  You can take them from the convenience of your own home and they often fulfill court requirements.  

Theft classes online have helped many shoplifters and potential thieves. It is hard for anyone to struggle with this habit and feel helpless about their situation. On the other hand, it is also very difficult for store owners and the general public when they have to handle different cases of theft and in turn lose a lot of time and money. Therefore, theft education and prevention classes have come to be of great help to everyone as they help rehabilitate the thieves and generally help prevent theft in society.

Our culture has generally come to the conclusion that simply imprisoning a criminal does not have the best effect on the criminal's life.  History has shown that more often than not, the offenders will serve their time and then get back on to the streets only to steal again.  Courts across the nation have begun to incorporate a mandate to take theft education classes for rehabilitation as part of the sentencing. 

Taking theft classes online can reduce the chances of the offender going to jail. The court approved classes serve to show the court that the offender is willing and dedicated to improve his life and change his ways.  Classes are tailored to help the offender comprehend the fact that what he did is wrong. They teach empathy, a character trait that most thieves are lacking.  The classes also offer advice on how to start living a more productive life without resorting to more criminal activities. 

Online classes are ideal because you can take them from the comfort of your own home from a web-based computer, any time of the day or night.  If you live in a remote area that is far from a city that offers traditional classroom courses, this will help you fulfill your requirement without having to make a long drive. You can drop-in and out of the courses at your own pace while the program holds your last spot.  In this way, offenders can continue to work or go to school without the interference of having to leave to early to go to a class.

The classes are extremely easy to use with little computer knowledge necessary.  The programs are divided up into chapters by topic.  At the end of each chapter, a quiz is taken to make sure the information has been understood.  At the end of the course, the client takes a final exam.  A 70% success rate will allow you to pass the class.  The final can be re-taken until the test is passed.  Upon completion, the offenders are presented with certificates of completion which they can present to the court to prove they have successfully finished this part of their sentencing.   

There are two things that contribute to the success of these theft classes online. First, the offenders feel motivated by the fact that they are allowed to take a class instead of being stuck in jail.  Secondly, these classes help avoid hardening of petty thieves. There are many petty thieves who get jailed and instead of being rehabilitated, they get hardened and negatively influenced by other hardcore inmates. Taking theft classes online for these kinds of thieves helps to avoid this situation since the offenders will not have this exposure.

Online Theft Classes are also beneficial because they can be taken together with their families.  Therefore, the offender gets to avert the embarrassment that comes with serving jail time and the family can help support their loved ones by taking the classes together with them and motivating them in person. This is unlike prison where families and friends are only allowed limited time to visit their incarcerated loved ones.

The fact that these classes are being offered has helped cut down crime in many areas in the US. They give the offenders a second chance at a decent life. They have also helped many to avoid stealing and resort to a self-dependent, crimeless and happy life; reducing the instances of repeat offenders. Therefore, if you struggle with shoplifting, then feel free to take theft classes online and start living a renewed life today.

Dorm life on a college campus is a great time to meet new people, experience new things, and have the time of your life. However, it's easy to forget that while that everyone might seem honest and friendly, not everyone is as trustworthy as you might think. One of the most common types of crime on campus is theft, and dorm rooms are a major target. Make sure to lock the following items up really well because they are the most highly stolen objects on college campuses today.

1. Bicycles.

Since most people store their bicycles outside, they are exposed to whoever happens to be walking by at night. Most people take the precaution of locking their bikes to a pole or a special rail designed for such locks. However, not all bicycle locks are created equal and a simple pair of bolt cutters do the trick.  Choose U-locks or chain locks over cable locks, since these are more resistant to breaking when leverage is applied with a crowbar and are also more difficult to cut with tools.  If possible, wheel your bike indoors for the evening.

2. Laptops.

This is one of the most common items stolen from dorm rooms, often when the door is left unlocked while the resident takes a shower or makes a trip to the dining hall.  Laptops are easy to slip into a sidebag and a criminal wouldn’t look unusual carrying one in an academic environment.  Therefore, keep your door locked when you leave and make sure your roommate knows to do the same. If the door to your shared dormroom just doesn’t ever seem to get locked up, stash your laptop in a locked drawer of your desk, or cabinet before leaving the premises.

3. Cash.

If your roommate steals anything from you, it will be cash. This is the one item that you will never be able to prove is yours once it is stolen, so guard it well. If you reside in one of those suites that is always streaming with visitors, be sure to remove your wallet from your clothes overnight and put it either under your pillow or in a locked drawer. Even if you trust your roommate and all your friends, be aware that he or she may let other people into the room during the night who you don’t know.

4. Cell phones and iPods.

These small devices are easy to leave out on a desk unsecured and equally easy to put in a pocket and walk away with. These can be stolen from your dorm room, a library, the student union, or anywhere else you may set it down. The best way to protect yourself is to keep it in your pocket, purse or a backpack that you take with you when you leave the table.

5. Books.

Most bookstores will pay for books that are returned at the end of the year and you don’t need to prove that you were the original purchaser.  Because of this, there is often a high rate of books stolen from study areas in the last few months of school. To protect yourself, study with groups of people you can ask to watch your stuff in case you want to  leave to go to the bathroom, get a drink, buy a snack, or anything else.  It’s not something you would normally think about, but be aware of leaving your books unattended

Crime is almost unavoidable on a college campus.  Take heed of these tips to avoid losing pricey possessions.  If you happen to have been caught for stealing on campus and need to take a court mandated theft class, www.theftclassonline.com is the way to go.   You can take them from any internet based computer so you don’t have to drive somewhere else to physically attend the class.  They are interesting and informative and most courts will approve them to fulfill the court order. 

According to the government’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug abuse is now the fast-growing drug problem in the country.  With these statistics, come the news that prescription drug theft is also on the rise.  As parents, we’ve been told to watch our medicine cabinets as young adults are turning to stealing drugs like Oxycodone and Ritalin right out of our own homes.  Across the nation, states have begun to take action to combat prescription drug theft from nursing homes.  It is not only the addicts we have to aware of, but caregivers and individuals looking to prosper from the resale of these medications.  These meds are highly sought after and can bring in additional income for many low-paid nursing home aides. 

States like Ohio, Minnesota and Maine are intensifying their efforts to prevent this type of theft by assigning government staff to focus on complaints coming from elder care facilities.  Not only do these patients have to repurchase the medicine, they are also being deprived of the medication they need to help rehabilitation.  Individual senior care facilities have taken new security measures, such as searching the employees, installing cameras and posting more security guards.

The state of Maine has seen a 5.4% increase in their overall crime rate between 2010 and 2011.  Public Safety Commissioner John E. Morris contends “that prescription drug addicts, who are unfortunately sick with this addiction, are also the primary cause of the increase of burglaries throughout the state”.  Bangor’s Police Chief says that in some cases robberies occur as people attempt to steal the drugs, or in other cases money is stolen to obtain drugs. 

State leaders are concerned that things are not headed in the right direction, and are actively looking for solutions.  In many cases, online theft classes are mandated by the courts once the addict/criminal has been apprehended.  These courses help for rehabilitation purposes as they educate criminals to think about and understand the results of their actions.  Online theft classes are designed to be interesting for all ages and are easy to take at your computer in your own home.  They are an affordable, convenient and effective way to meet legal requirements and alter your behavior along the way. 

Credit card fraud is a type of theft that everyone should be extremely aware of in this day and age.   It is a common form of theft and unless the credit card company notices unusual behavior, you may not catch it until you review your bill weeks later.  Recently, a friend was not alerted by the credit card provider and found charges for round-trip tickets to Dubai and a rental car on the bill.  Needless to say, the friend was very stressed and had to contest the charge with the credit card company.  The credit card company was not easy to deal with, and he had to spend a lot of time fighting with them to have it removed. 

Basically, there are two reasons that someone would want to steal your credit card.  The thief either is looking to draw cash, or will charge up a number of expenses.  Generally, the thief will do a bunch of transactions in a short amount of time and then stop with the intention of not getting caught. 

As the credit card holder, you should be aware of the various methods that can be used against you:

•Someone can literally steal the card physically.

•Your information can be faked on a credit card application.

•Your account can be taken over by someone who pretends to be you and claims to have lost his or her credit card, which gets them a new one under your name.

•Information on your credit card can be obtained through various skimming methods, such as checking your receipts.

•Carding is a term that refers to the practice of assembling up a large number of credit cards and then checking them with tiny transactions to see if they are indeed legitimate.

•You can get fraudulent and phishing offers on the internet which urge you to give out your credit card number. 

Fortunately, merchants and financial institutions have put into place a number of regulations to protect themselves and their clients from credit card fraud.  These methods include adding a pin number or requiring the user to enter his or her ZIP code. There are however a few measures which you can take yourself and get a bit more security.

To begin with, you need to immediately report a lost or stolen card to minimize the time the fraudster has to use it. Keep a separate note in your wallet with the credit card provider’s number, so you can call the minute you realize the card is missing.  Keep checking your transactions regularly to see if there are any anomalies. When shopping online, only use your credit card with highly reputable and trustworthy websites.  Also, you can install software that protects you from viruses and identifies phishing scam emails for you. 

All in all, there is a reason why credit cards are such popular targets; they can bring in a lot of money and fast.  If you are considering trying credit card theft, or have actually been convicted, then online theft classes are for you.  Most likely, if you have already been caught, the court will mandate that the perpetrator take some rehabilitation classes.  Online classes provide the student with privacy and the convenience of taking courses at any time of the day or night.  This allows the convicted criminal to continue working during the day, going to school or doing the community service work that has been ordered as well.  Classes will help to teach empathy.  Remember that the victims are not always credited for these transactions and may have to pay for them out of their own pockets. The course outline will spend time on reviewing why you have taken this path and what you can do to stop this type of behavior.  

The bottom line is that you should be very careful about where your card is at all times, who you read the number to, who is around while you are reading the number aloud, and check your monthly statements closely.