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In late September a 33-year-old female was sexually assaulted in Valrico's Bloomingdale subdivision. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) at 1:00 a.m., on September 20, the victim was jogging at Orange Crest St. and Greenhollow Ln. The suspect approached the victim and took her by her arm, forced her to the nearby Bloomingdale East park, where he pulled her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.
Although the suspect fled the scene, he was quickly apprehended by a HCSO K9 unit, but public information officer Debbie Carter recommends that women are always on the look-out for possible sexual predators and follow HCSO prevention of sexual battery safety measures.
According to the literature, "There is no absolute protection from rape, but there are precautions women must take to lessen the likelihood of being attacked. By being aware a woman can reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of rape. This does not mean, however, that all rapes can be prevented, or that when a rape occurs it is the victim's fault - rapists commit rape, not victims."
In Your Home
See that your home or apartment door is equipped with a door viewer and dead bolt lock.
All entrances and garages should be well lighted.
In Your Car
Look in the back seat before getting in to see if anyone is hiding there, even if the door was locked.
Have your keys in hand so you don't have to linger before entering the car.
On The Street
Your appearance is important. An attacker looks for a passive victim, so, if you walk slowly or in a daze, you might seem vulnerable. Walk at a steady pace, look confident, and know where you are - it makes a difference.
Bloomingdale special resource deputy Pete Maurer says that the most important thing to remember is to be smart.
"Unfortunately as adults we still have to listen to the advice we give our children," says Maurer. "Be smart. Even though we live in a nice neighborhood, there are nasty people out there and it is important not to put yourself in an awkward position."
For more information, contact the department of crime prevention at 247-8115. Bloomingdale residents with any non-emergency questions can call the sub-station at 247-8200.
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