12 Ways to Protect Yourself Online

A cyber security expert who spoke at Northampton Community College offers tips for protecting yourself from identify theft and other online dangers.

Kristina Dorville, director of cybersecurity awareness programs for  the Department of Homeland Security, spoke at Northampton Community College recently. One in five Americans has fallen victim to a cyber crime, she said. Read a detailed story about Dorville's presentation here. Dorville's tips are: For more information about how to stay safe online, check out Homeland Security's site at www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

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Police: Lower Nazareth Woman Tried to Use Phony Prescription

Crystal Anne Butz of Lower Nazareth allegedly tried to fill a phony prescription for three drugs -- clonazepam, zolpidem and hydrocodone -- at the Rite Aid in Nazareth.

A Lower Nazareth woman is accused of trying to get drugs from a Nazareth pharmacy using a phony prescription. Crystal Anne Butz, 34, of the 4000 block of Steuben Road, is charged with identity theft, possession of a controlled substance and acquisition by misrepresentation. According to court records, Butz tried to fill a prescription for three drugs -- clonazepam, zolpidem and hydrocodone -- at the Rite Aid in Nazareth. Nazareth police say Butz was using a prescription from a doctor who told the pharmacy he hadn't seen Butz as a patient since April. According to the National Institute of Heath, clonazepam is an anti-seizure medication. Zolpidem is a sleeping pill, and hydrocodone is a painkiller. Butz was arraigned before on-duty District…

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Citizens' Police Academy

Citizens’ Police Academy: Week Seven

Don't be a victim of identity theft; shred or lock up your personal information.

During week seven of Citizens’ Police Academy we discussed the topics of identity theft and crime scene processing with Det. Gary Hammer. When I was a freelance reporter with The Bethlehem Press, I covered an event in Hanover Township, Northampton County, that focused on identity theft. Immediately after the eye-opening session, I headed to Staples and picked up a paper shredder and a lock box. According to Hammer, who has been with Colonial Regional Police since 1995, the department receives several reports of identity theft every week. Identity theft is defined as the use of the identifying information of another person without the consent of that person to further any unlawful purpose. For example: if you use a credit card you found on …

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