Increase in crime leads to more personal protection gear

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - With a rise in crime in recent months, more and more island residents are seeking their own sort of personal protection.   The Cop Shop has seen an increase in residents purchasing pepper spray. 

In fact, over the holiday season, owner Adolpho Palacios says they ran out and had to order more as women, joggers, walkers and even fathers bought the spray to arm their kids. "They use it for so many other things," he explained. "The advantage of pepper spray, first of all, it's not fatal and it doesn't have an after effect. But of course what it does is it gives a person personal protection of about 3-5 minutes as the person that's targeted is distracted with the burning eyes, which will go away."

Palacios, a former police officer and senator, says while pepper spray and batons may come in handy - the best protection is being aware of your surroundings and keeping an eye out of for suspicious individuals and activity to prevent becoming a victim.