Wilderness Crime
Crime-Safety-Security.com Newsletter
Meredith Emerson was murdered while hiking in the mountains of northeast Georgia. Park rangers say there’s no one item a hiker can tote that will surely keep them safe. Guns aren’t allowed in state parks, and a dog can be neutralized. The wilderness provides cover for crime.
U.S. national parks average 21 homicides, 80 rapes or attempted rapes, 103 robberies, 12 kidnappings and 419 aggravated assaults per year, according to National Park Service statistics. Many national park rangers now carry handguns and wear soft body armor.
Think about it. Our ancestors left the wilderness for the benefits of living in communities. And when you leave modern civilization to go frolicking in the wilderness, you're isolated from all the protections you take for granted at home.
You may well run into any one or more of a wide variety of problems you hadn’t anticipated – and you’re all alone. You can’t call for help – cell phones don’t work in the boonies - but you should learn SOS Distress Signals. There aren't any neighbors to rely on and no passing Good Samaritans to rescue you – unless you’re very lucky.
Worse, violent predators know all those risks you face. That
makes you easy pickings for any sicko who can stalk you without you even
knowing it – until he strikes. See eye-opening examples at Camping Safety & Hiking Safety FAQ.
There are also the usual dangers from wild animals, injuries, and getting stranded or lost. You’re not going to Vegas to gamble – you’re going to no-man’s land. You’d better stack the odds in your favor.
See Camping for safekeeping insights. Get motion-sensitive sensors to surround your campsite at Security Products - Personal Devices, as well as bear pepper spray at Pepper Spray (it works on humans too).
Crime-Safety-Security > Newsletter Archive > newsletter-22-Apr-08
