Ivan Jones, 27, a resident of the Bronx in New York City, was arrested by the NYPD late
Thursday (July 12) in connection with the rape,
robbery, strangulation and assault of a 33-year-old tourist from North Carolina which occurred during the early morning hours of July 11.
The woman told police following her assault, rape and robbery that she had a brief
conversation with the defendant on the train at East 14th Street and
Union Square early Wednesday morning (0100 hours). She then exited the train in the Bronx and
went to her room at the Howard Johnson Express Inn.
COMMENT: A short time later the woman heard a knock at her guest room door and incorrectly opened the door without first determining who her visitor was. She was then confronted by the man she briefly exchanged words with on the train, who had apparently followed her to her hotel. He then assaulted, strangled and raped the victim and fled the scene, only to be later arrested.
Two women visiting New York City
from Washington DC, who were staying in the room next door to the victim, said they saw the victim speaking with police. She seemed very
shaken up and had a black eye, the women told NBC 4 New York.
Unfortunately, this incident provides us a number of lessons-learned:
1. New York City, although well-policed by the NYPD, is by no means a low-risk venue for tourists and travelers. Visitors must be vigilant and exercise a strong sense of personal security awareness;
2. Traveling alone after 2200 hours in the evening brings with it increased risk of violent crime;
3. Engaging in conversation with people you do not know is never a good idea, particularly late at night and when traveling alone;
4. Observing people around you is always a very good security awareness practice, as it can often alert a potential victim to an impending threat;
5. NEVER open a hotel guest room between the hours of 2200-0700 unless first checking by phone with the reception desk as to whether they have sent someone to your guest room;
6. Employ all security devices that a guest room door is afforded, including chain-locks and deadbolts; and
7. If the guest room door has an optical viewer, use it FIRST to determine who might be on the other side of the door. If the visitor looks suspicious, call 9-1-1. DO NOT OPEN the guest room door.
Unfortunately, this incident provides us a number of lessons-learned:
1. New York City, although well-policed by the NYPD, is by no means a low-risk venue for tourists and travelers. Visitors must be vigilant and exercise a strong sense of personal security awareness;
2. Traveling alone after 2200 hours in the evening brings with it increased risk of violent crime;
3. Engaging in conversation with people you do not know is never a good idea, particularly late at night and when traveling alone;
4. Observing people around you is always a very good security awareness practice, as it can often alert a potential victim to an impending threat;
5. NEVER open a hotel guest room between the hours of 2200-0700 unless first checking by phone with the reception desk as to whether they have sent someone to your guest room;
6. Employ all security devices that a guest room door is afforded, including chain-locks and deadbolts; and
7. If the guest room door has an optical viewer, use it FIRST to determine who might be on the other side of the door. If the visitor looks suspicious, call 9-1-1. DO NOT OPEN the guest room door.
