The Most Common Holiday Crimes

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and cheers; however there are a number of crimes that increase during the festive season. It is believed that these crimes increase because people become more relaxed during this time, and they have more money.

Here are the four most common holiday crimes...

Shoplifting – This is a common occurrence during the holidays, and the police will tighten up security to discourage criminals from attempting to shoplift. If you are charged with shoplifting the penalties can vary depending on what you steal, but either way it is still a serious crime.

Identity Theft – Every year more and more people shop online, this is how scammers trick you into giving out your personal details or hackers infect your PC with malicious software. Be sure to do a scan before and after doing any online shopping. Also be aware of spam emails.

Burglary – While some criminals may watch you for a while to see when you are leaving to go on holiday, these days it is so much easier to just go onto social media and check someone’s status or holiday pictures. Be careful when you leave town, ask a friend to housesit and NEVER post information about your trip on social media.

DUI – Drinking and driving is a serious crime! Every year thousands are killed on the road, and even more during the festive season. The holidays mean Christmas parties, yearend functions and New Year’s parties, and this usually means the alcohol will be flowing. Be careful and don’t drink too much eggnog. You don’t want to be the one who ruins someone’s life during the holidays.

If you are facing charges or you’re worried about a loved one and their actions – NICRO is here to help. NICRO is committed to turning lives around and giving people second chances, do not hesitate to contact NICRO today!

Take a look at NICRO’s basket of services here, or do your part and make a donation.

Virtual Reality Simulation Shows the Dangers of Drunk Driving

Every year thousands of people die in drunken driving accidents, and thousands more are injured. This short VR video shows exactly what it looks like.

We all know the popular alcohol brands – Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff – Well, the creator decided to release a VR video on Facebook 360, Youtube 360, Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and the HTC Vive.

So what happens in the video? There are three cars involved, one with a business woman inside, another with three friends going to a party and the last with new parents. Everything comes to a horrifying end when one driver makes a stupid decision to try pass a car in a no-passing zone.

The drunk driver is faced with an oncoming car and then swerves back into the other lane, hitting another car in the process. You will have to watch the VR video to find out what happens next...

It’s not clear if this simulation relates to everyone and actually works to scare people out of driving drunk, but studies showed that it changed majority of the viewer’s attitude after watching it.

Watch the VR video here...

Don't drink and drive this festive season - stay safe and drive responsibility!

NICRO is committed to turning lives around, contact NICRO today for a variety of programmes and services that aimed to help those in need. Try the Road Offenses Panel Programme designed specifically to improve awareness of the dangers and consequences of driving under the influence, as well as reckless and negligent driving.

Drunk driving crash shattered woman's life

Drinking and driving may seem okay to do at the time and people may shrug and say "I arrived home safe and no one was hurt, so why not do it?" But, when you put those keys in and turn the ignition, you are not only putting your life in danger, but the lives of those around you too!

Read on below to learn the shocking story of how drinking and driving shattered a woman's life forever... This is Jessica Rasdall's story...

"Laura and I had been inseparable since we were five years old. Physically, we couldn't have been more different. She was tall and willowy with straight blond hair; I was short with dark, curly hair. But growing up together, we loved the same music, watched the same movies and shared a similar sense of humour. We went to different universities that were nearby, stayed best friends and worked part-time together at a local restaurant.

One evening I came home from work, ready for an early night. Until Laura called. "Come over," she pleaded. It was Saturday night, so I didn't need much convincing. I drove my Honda Civic to her halls of residence. We'd planned to go to a party on her campus but then decided to go clubbing. We cranked up the music while we got ready; laughing and taking silly photos of each other.

Laura's car was being repaired, so I drove to the nightclub 40 minutes away. Once inside, we were served with drinks, even though we were under the official age limit of 21. We ordered two vodka and Red Bulls and were also handed a shot – a mix of whisky, apple schnapps and cranberry juice. I've replayed those few minutes over in my head a million times since. Why did I accept those drinks, knowing I had to drive home? I didn't think it would be enough to affect me. By the time Laura and I left the club at 3am, after dancing for nearly four hours, I felt sober. It didn't occur to me, or Laura, that I might be unfit to drive.

On the way home, we had the radio blasting, and we were singing and laughing. That's my last memory of Laura. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the driver's seat. The car was crumpled around me, the shattered windscreen inches from my face, which was sticky with blood. Looking over to the passenger seat I saw a blond woman, her face turned away from me. I had no idea who she was. "Are you OK?" I cried. She didn't respond. I tried to open my door, but it was jammed shut. "Help me," I screamed before passing out.

When I came round, there was a paramedic kneeling by my window. I couldn't understand why there were lots of people fussing around me but no one was helping the other girl. They cut the roof off my car, and pulled me from the wreckage. There was a massive gash in my head, and my left ear had been almost severed. I was rushed to hospital, where I heard a police officer describing a purse he'd found at the scene. "That's my best friend's bag," I exclaimed, and memory flooded back. "Is she OK?" I asked, and a police officer broke the news.

Mum tried to comfort me, but I was hysterical. "I killed her," I screamed. I have no memory of the crash, but apparently my car veered off the road and skidded down a slope, smashing into a tree. Although we were both wearing seatbelts, the roof had caved in, killing Laura instantly.

A blood sample taken at the time showed I was nearly one and a half times over the legal limit. I was released from hospital on my 19th birthday, the day of Laura's funeral. I desperately wanted to say goodbye to my best friend, but her parents told me I wasn't welcome. I apologised over and over, but they couldn't forgive me. I didn't blame them – I couldn't forgive myself either.

One month after the accident, I was charged with manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol. I pleaded not guilty. I wanted to accept responsibility for my part in Laura's death, but didn't see how anything could be gained by sending me to prison. Laura's parents disagreed and lobbied for me to receive a custodial sentence of up to 15 years.

Over the next two years, while waiting for my trial to start, I began speaking to schools and community groups about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. I needed to know Laura's memory was being kept alive and that something positive was coming from her death. Finally, in May 2008, I accepted a plea bargain of four years in prison, followed by two years probation.

I miss Laura so much – I know she paid the ultimate price and I have the rest of my life ahead of me. But I have to wake up every morning without my best friend, and the devastating knowledge that I killed her. That's my life sentence."

Today, Jessica is Motivational Speaker and Transformational Coach to female business owners. She helps her clients unearth their signature story, tap into their inner strength and evoke radical change.

NICRO is committed to turning lives around - make a difference in your life or someone else's life and contact NICRO today! 

The Dangers of Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is a serious crime which happens when a driver doesn't follow the regular rules of the road, often resulting in a car accident.

It does not only mean driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, but also driving carelessly and improperly. Reckless driving also includes driving while trying to text, eat, drink or reach something.

In order to avoid reckless driving, you need to take the time to be careful and follow all the necessary rules of the road.

Never ever drive while you are distracted. You cant pay attention to your cellphone, a child screaming in the backseat or your cheeseburger all at the same time! It is against the law to chat on your cellphone while you are driving a car, why? Because every year it causes millions of fatal accidents and serious injuries.

Despite the fact that you will be seriously punished if you are caught driving recklessly, people still do it everyday... A lot of drivers choose to ignore the rules of the road and continue to drive unsafely.

Speeding, weaving in between traffic, drinking and driving, tailgating and distracted driving are all common types of reckless driving. Every single one of these things can cause a serious car crash.

A number of people including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and passengers in other vehicles can be involved and stand a high chance of being affected by reckless driving. No one is safe since a reckless driver can even crash into the side of a building or someone's home and cause property owners to suffer the consequences.

Road accidents generally can bring serious medical injuries, like getting permanent fractures on any part of the body, excessive blood loss leading to death, emotional trauma, broken bones, spinal cord injuries and infection.

When a reckless driver causes an accident or hits an innocent pedestrian, they pay the full price.

NICRO is committed to turning lives around, why not do your part and donate or contact NICRO today!

The Sobering Facts of Teen Drinking and Driving

Did you know that the amount of teens who drink and drive has decreased drastically, but there is still more that we can do to stop it from happening.

Recent studies show that teenage drivers are more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. 

*High school students aged 16 years and older who, when surveyed, said they had driven a vehicle one or more times during the past 30 days when they had been drinking alcohol.*

Fewer teens are drinking and driving, but this risky behaviour is still a major threat.

•  Drinking and driving among teens in high school has gone down by 54% since 1991. Still, high school teens drive after drinking about 2.4 million times a month.

•  85% of teens in high school who report drinking and driving in the past month also say they binge drank. In the survey, binge drinking was defined as having 5 or more alcoholic drinks within a couple of hours.

•  1 in 5 teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had some alcohol in their system in 2010. Most of these drivers (81%) had BACs* higher than the legal limit for adults.

*Blood alcohol concentration. The legal limit is a breath alcohol content of 0.24mg per 1,000ml, or a blood alcohol limit of 0.05g per 100ml.

What Can Be Done

Communities can

• Increase awareness among teens and parents by getting involved with non-profit organisations such as NICRO.

• Strengthen enforcement of existing policies, such as minimum legal drinking age and zero tolerance laws.

Paediatricians, NICRO and other health professionals can

• Test teens for risky behaviours, such as:

- Using alcohol, drugs or other dangerous substances

- Driving after alcohol or drug use

- Riding with a driver who has been using alcohol or drugs

• Inform parents and teens about the risks of drinking and driving.

• Encourage parents of new teen drivers to set and enforce the "rules of the road" and consider tools like parent-teen driving agreements.

• Remind parents to lead by example as safe drivers, starting even before their child is old enough to drive.

Teens can

• Be smart and choose to never drink and drive.

• Refuse to ride in a car with any driver who has been drinking.

• Know and follow the laws.

• Follow the rules of the road.

• Wear a seat belt on every trip, no matter how short.

• Obey speed limits.

• NEVER use a cell phone or text while driving.

Parents can

• Understand that most teens who drink only do it to get drunk and have fun.

• Recognize the dangers of teen drinking and driving and that teen drivers are at much greater risk of crashing after drinking alcohol than adult drivers.

• Provide teens with a safe way to get home (such as picking them up or paying for a cab) if their driver has been drinking.

• Model safe driving behaviour.

All around the world teens can get a driver's license, some even as young as 15 can get one! And even though these drivers cannot buy alcohol or drink it until a certain age, they are and it is creating some shocking drunk driving statistics!