Police warn women of attacker in Lima

November 20, 2004
Toledo Blade

LIMA, Ohio - Police are warning women walking near downtown to be wary of a man whom investigators say assaulted two women.

Earlier this week a woman reported being attacked in the 200 block of North Main Street, and another was assaulted at Market and Elizabeth streets.

In both cases, the man approached the women and asked what time it was before assaulting them.

The suspect is described as white, in his 20s, medium height, 170 to 200 pounds, with light brown hair. He was wearing blue jeans, sneakers, and a blue, waist-length jacket with a Nike swoosh on the back.

Commentary:
There is more women can do to protect themselves against this type of attack than to "be wary".

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According to the 2003 National Crime Victimization Survey, 93% of violent crimes against innocent citizens last year were carried out without the criminal use of a firearm. 96% of rapes and 75% of robberies were committed by criminals without firearms.

For all rapes, woman who resisted with a gun were 2.5 times more likely to escape without injury than those who did not resist, and 4 times more likely to escape uninjured than those who resisted with any means other than a gun.” (Southwick, Journal of Criminal Justice, 2000)

Being prey is a choice. Your choice?