Latest news with #KGW8
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
I Asked Crime Experts When Home Break-Ins Usually Happen and the Answers Stunned Me
Modern home security cameras and smart systems are well-equipped to watch over our homes -- I should know, I've spent years testing more models than I can count. The biggest advantage is that they can watch your home when you're not there, like on a summer vacation or asleep at night. But when is your home the most vulnerable? I took a look. It turns out that burglars tend to break into houses or look for vulnerabilities at a few specific times. Knowing when can help you stay safer and pick the most effective arming and disarming settings for your security system. I'm also quite surprised at some of the most common times and why burglars chose them -- here's what I learned. Read more: What Burglars Look for When Choosing Homes to Break Into 1. The middle of the day (especially early afternoon) Thieves have a lot to gain by acting in the middle of the day. Getty Images If you want to know when burglars try to break in to homes, it's a good idea to ask them. KGW8 out of Portland, Oregon, did just that, interviewing more than 80 (caught) burglars to find out how and when they struck. The answer? Most chose the middle of the day, the hours before or after noon: Homeowners are most likely to be gone at work in the day, thieves have great visibility when exploring a new yard or house, and it's easier to pretend to be a lost friend or family member if they get caught in broad daylight. Burglars commonly strike in the early afternoon -- one specifically said between "12:30pm and 2:30 p.m." People who go home for lunch or errands have most likely finished and are back to work during these hours, so there's a greater chance the home will be empty. Others KGW8 interviewed preferred the morning when there's also a guarantee people will be at work. That's similar to other studies that report burglaries are most likely to occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Curious about what burglars are after? Most hunt down cash, jewelry, medications and items that can easily sell for money -- notably guns and small electronics. Any signs that these items exist in a house may attract watchful thieves. They also reported that security systems and big dogs were big deterrents (although we don't suggest getting a dog for security purposes). 2. During the summer (between June and August) Burglars are caught trying to break in far more often in summer than winter. Arlo Burglaries are lowest at the height of winter, and highest during the hottest summer months. Since burglary is often a crime of opportunity and requires quickly casing residential neighborhoods, it makes sense that thieves would prefer longer, warmer days. It's also a lot harder to break into homes if there's ice or snow everywhere. That's why research from places like Arizona State University shows that burglaries reach their height in August, and are generally on the rise between June and August when the weather is warmest. 3. At midnight Amazon's Blink Wired Floodlight cam in action. Blink We know, we just said that burglaries are most common during the warmest, brightest times of day. But not everything is so simple. Research from companies like Vivint has shown that burglaries also spike around midnight, with data showing around 6% of burglaries occurring at 12 a.m. This is an interesting spike because late evening and early morning hours are the least likely times for burglaries. There's just something about midnight that makes some burglars think it's a good time to strike. They may also believe that homeowners are asleep at this time, or that it's easier to hide in the dark. Read more: The Best Tips to Prevent Burglars and Break-Ins With this info now in your brain, you're ready to make great decisions about when to arm your security system or when to make sure your smart lights and security camera floodlights are ready to work. It's also a good idea to make sure your smart locks are locked during these times because -- you guessed it -- most burglars start by simply trying the front door. To become a master of your home security, check out our guide on the best places to put security cameras, common home security myths you should stop believing, and what to do if someone you're living with is the one stealing.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Oregon psychiatric hospital spends thousands of taxpayers' money on sex toys for patients — many of whom are criminals, report finds
A state-run psychiatric facility in Oregon is under scrutiny over a policy that permits distributing sex toys to patients after an investigation by NBC affiliate KGW8. Oregon State Hospital provided 65 sexual aids to patients last year, costing taxpayers $2,900. In 2023, 42 sex toys were distributed to patients. The hospital is the highest security psychiatric facility in the state, and many of its patients are involved in the criminal justice system, either because they are unfit to stand trial or found guilty but legally insane on charges ranging from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies, including violent and sexual offenses. 'How does that make any sense?' asked Tiffany Edens, a rape survivor and advocate for crime victims. 'You are feeding into people's fantasies — people that have no business to have these types of toys,' she added. According to the hospital's patient handbook, 'certain items you may need for personal use, such as sexual aids' are permitted. A public records request by KGW revealed a detailed policy, including a 10-page color catalog of various sex toys available to patients. The catalog included brand names such as The Vortex, Throttle Stroker, Her Pocket Bullet, Double Dancer, Vibrating Helping Hand Pro, Vibrating Shower Stroker, and Waterproof Prostate Massager. Prices range from $14.78 to $84.99. Oregon State Hospital spokesperson Amber Shoebridge confirmed to the network that the sexual aids are paid for with public money and serve an important therapeutic purpose. 'The need for sexual expression doesn't disappear in institutional settings,' Shoebridge wrote in a statement to KGW. 'Oregon State Hospital provides access to sexual aids as a way to offer patients an ethical, and therapeutic and private form alternative for a lack of sexual expression.' According to Shoebridge, sexual expression can reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and support emotional well-being. Patients without appropriate sexual outlets may use unsafe objects, such as toothbrushes, crayons, or shampoo bottles. Access to sexual aids, she explained, creates a safer environment for staff and other patients. The sexual aid policy involves a treatment process with occupational therapists and an interdisciplinary team. Patients must provide consent and understand the proper use and hygiene. Devices are inspected monthly for at least three months, with ongoing monitoring. Consent is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with therapists assessing patients' understanding, ability to operate, and their capacity to follow rules. Only hospital-approved, non-porous silicone devices are allowed, with a limit of two sex toys. Oregon State Hospital previously faced criticism for policies on sexual health; in May 2024, federal inspectors found it distributing condoms despite discouraging sexual contact. Shoebridge said condoms were intended to promote cleanliness and self-pleasure, but the practice is now discontinued.
Newsweek
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Winemaker In U.S. For Decades Detained By ICE: 'Disappointed and Disgusted'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Moises Sotelo-Casas, a popular Oregon vineyard owner, was detained by ICE outside his church on June 12. His daughter, Alondra Sotelo-Garcia told KGW8, "He was in chains at his feet... everything was taken from him." Newsweek has reached out to ICE via email, and to the Sotelo family via an online contact form, for comment outside of regular working hours. Why It Matters President Donald Trump campaigned on a hard-line immigration stance and pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. In the initial months of his presidency, the Trump administration said that it deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants. Under the current administration, ICE has gained expanded powers in enforcement. This includes the right to conduct raids in places of worship, schools, and hospitals. ICE have been conducting raids around the country, something which has sparked widespread protests and backlash. Some of the subsequent arrests have been viewed as heavy handed, while others have wrongly targeted people suspected of having no legal status in the U.S. What To Know According to a GoFundMe set up for Sotelo-Casas by his family, Sotelo-Casas is a husband, father of three and a grandfather. Moises Sotelo-Casas, in a picture shared on the GoFundMe. Moises Sotelo-Casas, in a picture shared on the GoFundMe. Sotelo Family/GoFundMe In 2020, Sotelo-Casas was awarded the annual Vineyard Excellence Award by the Oregon Wine Board and has since established his own small business where he maintains vineyards. Anthony Van Nice, the owner of a local vineyard who started working with Sotelo-Casas in the 1990s told The Guardian that he was "disappointed and disgusted," by the arrest and how the government is treating immigrants. In a statement sent to the local outlet KGW, ICE alleged that Sotelo-Casas had entered the United States illegally in 2006 and had a criminal conviction for a DUI. Alondra Sotelo-Garcia told KGW that her father had come to the U.S. in the 1990s. The Yamhill country district attorney's office told KGW they had found no evidence of DUI charges. Sotelo-Casas started the immigration process when President Joe Biden was in office. Alondra Sotelo-Garcia told KGW8 "I know there's a lot of talk of, 'Well, he's been here that long, why hasn't he stepped up to do things the right way?' But sometimes laws don't play in your favor. You know, when you're trying to do it, sometimes money is a big factor. Sometimes, money and laws at the same time are just not cooperating at that time." Sotelo-Casas was first taken to a detention facility in Portland, then to an ICE processing center in Tacoma, Washington and then moved again to the Akima-run Florence service processing center in the Arizona desert, according to The Guardian which reported that neither the family or the lawyers were informed about the relocation. A poll from Reuters/Ipsos conducted between June 11—12 which surveyed 1,136 Americans nationwide found that 52 percent of respondents (including one in five Democrats and nine in 10 Republicans) supported deportations of people in the country illegally. 49 percent of people in the poll said that Trump had gone too far with his arrests of immigrants. 40 percent said he had not. What People Are Saying The GoFundMe set up for Sotelo-Casas reads in part: "Moises has always given back to his family, his employees, his customers, and his community. Now, he needs our collective help. By standing together, we can help ensure he receives fair legal defense and protect his family's unity and well-being. What's Next The GoFundMe organized for Sotelo-Casas has already raised over $100,000 and states that "regardless of what happens in the coming days and weeks," the family needs support to secure attorneys, cover expenses and provide stability to Sotelo-Casas' small business.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular Oregon vineyard owner arrested by ICE agents outside his church: ‘Everything was taken from him'
A popular Oregon vineyard owner was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody outside his church in Oregon on Thursday. Moises Sotelo-Casas was detained outside of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Newberg, about 25 miles outside of Portland. His daughter, Alondra Sotelo-Garcia, told KGW8 that he's now being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. She found out about her father's detention when a neighbor spotted his truck and told her mother, she said. After confirming the car indeed belonged to her father, she tracked his location to an ICE detention facility in Portland and saw him later that day. 'I was crying, I was a mess,' she told the outlet. "He was in chains at his feet," she said. "Shoelaces were taken off, his belt was off, he didn't have his ring, he didn't have his watch. Everything was taken from him." Her father runs a vineyard servicing business called Novo Start Vineyard Service. He's been in the U.S. since the 1990s, but only managed to start the immigration process while President Joe Biden was in office. Things have changed since President Donald Trump came into power, she said. "I know there's a lot of talk of, 'Well, he's been here that long, why hasn't he stepped up to do things the right way?' But sometimes laws don't play in your favor. You know, when you're trying to do it, sometimes money is a big factor. Sometimes, money and laws at the same time are just not cooperating at that time," said Sotelo-Garcia. She said she understands that ICE is seeking to detain criminals, but reiterated that's not who her father is. The TV station said it couldn't find any records for Sotelo-Casas. Cindra Gray, a church deacon at St. Michael's, said the incident has left her community fearful the same thing could happen again. "Normally we would have 40 to 50 people in church on a Sunday for our Spanish service, and today we had 12, and no children, just adult children was all that came," she said. "A lot of people told me they were afraid to come out, even to come out of their houses, going to the store in the dark at night, trying to hide and stay under the radar," she continued. The fear is stronger than it was during the first Trump administration, said Gray. 'They're just sitting in their homes, afraid to show their faces so ... it's not a good way to live, certainly not the American way,' said Gray. Sotelo-Garcia has started a GoFundMe to help with legal and other expenses, as her father was her family's primary provider. The Independent has emailed ICE for comment. Sotelo-Casas' arrest comes as people across the country protested ICE detentions, particularly in Los Angeles, California, where Trump recently deployed the National Guard before a federal judge ruled such a move was illegal. But that decision has been put on hold until an appeals court hearing on Tuesday. Los Angeles Police Department officers have arrested 561 people since June 7, after the demonstrators started to clash with law enforcement officers. Mayor Karen Bass later imposed an 8 p.m. curfew around the areas where the protests were taking place. Business owner Ryota Sakai, who runs a retail shop in Downtown Los Angeles, told Cal Matters that they've suffered a loss in customer traffic and sales since the protests began. 'I'm a Japanese immigrant myself,' Sakai said. 'I have my green card, but I understand the stakes — what others must go through just to be here.'
CNET
30-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
Experts Answer: 3 Times When Home Break-Ins Usually Happen
One of the biggest advantages of today's home security cameras and systems is the ability to watch over your home when you're not there or asleep. But that leads to an important question: When are burglars and break-ins most likely to happen? Do they really prefer the dead of night? CNET took a look at the research and expert opinions and arrived at some interesting conclusions. Burglars don't always strike when you think they would, and having a reliably armed security system may be even more important than you think to stop them. I've rounded it up into three times when thieves are most likely to strike at homes and why that helps you plan for better security. Read more: What Burglars Look for When Choosing Homes to Break Into 1. The middle of the day (especially early afternoon) Thieves have a lot to gain by acting in the middle of the day. Getty Images If you want to know when burglars try to break in to homes, it's a good idea to ask them. KGW8 out of Portland, Oregon, did just that, interviewing more than 80 (caught) burglars to find out how and when they struck. The answer? Most chose the middle of the day, the hours before or after noon: Homeowners are most likely to be gone at work in the day, thieves have great visibility when exploring a new yard or house, and it's easier to pretend to be a lost friend or family member if they get caught in broad daylight. Burglars commonly strike in the early afternoon -- one specifically said between "12:30pm and 2:30 p.m." People who go home for lunch or errands have most likely finished and are back to work during these hours, so there's a greater chance the home will be empty. Others KGW8 interviewed preferred the morning when there's also a guarantee people will be at work. That's similar to other studies that report burglaries are most likely to occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Curious about what burglars are after? Most hunt down cash, jewelry, medications and items that can easily sell for money -- notably guns and small electronics. Any signs that these items exist in a house may attract watchful thieves. They also reported that security systems and big dogs were big deterrents (although we don't suggest getting a dog for security purposes). 2. During the summer (between June and August) Burglars are caught trying to break in far more often in summer than winter. Arlo Burglaries are lowest at the height of winter, and highest during the hottest summer months. Since burglary is often a crime of opportunity and requires quickly casing residential neighborhoods, it makes sense that thieves would prefer longer, warmer days. It's also a lot harder to break into homes if there's ice or snow everywhere. That's why research from places like Arizona State University shows that burglaries reach their height in August, and are generally on the rise between June and August when the weather is warmest. 3. At midnight Amazon's Blink Wired Floodlight cam in action. Blink We know, we just said that burglaries are most common during the warmest, brightest times of day. But not everything is so simple. Research from companies like Vivint has shown that burglaries also spike around midnight, with data showing around 6% of burglaries occurring at 12 a.m. This is an interesting spike because late evening and early morning hours are the least likely times for burglaries. There's just something about midnight that makes some burglars think it's a good time to strike. They may also believe that homeowners are asleep at this time, or that it's easier to hide in the dark. Read more: The Best Tips to Prevent Burglars and Break-Ins With this info now in your brain, you're ready to make great decisions about when to arm your security system or when to make sure your smart lights and security camera floodlights are ready to work. It's also a good idea to make sure your smart locks are locked during these times because -- you guessed it -- most burglars start by simply trying the front door. To become a master of your home security, check out our guide on the best places to put security cameras, common home security myths you should stop believing, and what to do if someone you're living with is the one stealing.
