Tarboro Police Chief Robert Cherry was in the grocery store a while back when he noticed a woman had left her purse in the shopping cart and walked down the grocery aisle to look for something.

"I picked up her purse and carried it to her," he said. "She was a little upset at first, but when I told her who I was, and that she shouldn't leave her purse in the cart, she thanked me."

According to the Tarboro Police Department, two to three women have had their purse snatched from a local grocery cart this year.

"We have had several instances of someone who took a purse from a grocery cart, at Wal-Mart and at Food Lion, this year," said Lt. Jay Boykin. "It is a crime of opportunity, a random type of thing."

Boykin said the crime occurs when someone leaves their purse in the basket and while shopping; but also money and items of worth have been stolen if car windows are left down at a shopping center or even at their residences.

"It is easy to be complacent in a small town like Tarboro. I do it sometimes myself. But, you can never be too paranoid about being on your guard in today's society," Boykin added. "Anytime you take preventative measures to protect yourself, your property or your home, it makes sense."

Other, more serious offenses against women, have also occurred in our area.

According to the State Bureau of Investigation, there were 27 rapes in Edgecombe County during 2006; 22 were in Rocky Mount, four were in the county and one was in Tarboro.

"We are very fortunate to have a very low assault rate in Edgecombe County," said Sheriff James Knight. "I tell women who live out in the county to always have a half tank of gas in their cars, in case they are called out in the middle of the night for an emergency. They should also always take a normal route, so if something happens, their families will have an idea where to start."

Knight said he especially likes electric door un-lockers.

"The lights come on when you unlock the door, and then you can easily look inside your car, before you get in," he said.

Meredith Holland, director of My Sisters House in Rocky Mount, who ministers to sexually assaulted women, say many more go unreported.

It is estimated that 12 rapes occur every hour in the U.S. Every year approximately 132,000 women in the U.S. report that they have been victims of rape or attempted rape, and more than half of them knew their attackers.

Boykin offers the following safety reminders to women:

•Always be aware of your surroundings. Look and listen for potential danger