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Crime

Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

Submitted by Alan Collins, Fox 6 News Reporter
Friday, April 19th, 2013, 11:04am
Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Another round of cyber attacks to beware of on your personal computer.

FOX6 told you Wednesday that cyber criminals were sending out emails with malware in video of the Boston Marathon bombings. The latest cyber attack has expanded to include the explosion at a west Texas fertilizer plant late Wednesday night.

"The spammers diversified the message of just focusing on the Boston explosion. Now they have added a line referring to the Texas explosion," Gary Warner, UAB's Director of Research in Computer Research, said.

Warner has been working with authorities tracking the spammers in efforts to shut them down. The crooks' goal is to download a hidden program to personal computers which in turn could cause the computer to be controlled to send out future spam. There is also another group which seeks to add a financial crime program to your computer.

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Clanton robberies could be connected to 4 others

Submitted by Melanie Posey, Fox 6 News Reporter
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013, 7:08pm
Clanton robberies could be connected to 4 others

CLANTON, AL (WBRC)- The police chief in Clanton has a big problem on his hands. Chief Brian Stilwell says there's been a rash of armed robberies in his city.

He thinks the same crook has committed robberies in several other towns, including Hoover.

Authorities believe it is one guy acting alone in all these situations. They suspect he may be travelling up and down I-65 looking for targets.

Over the last months he's hit five Alabama towns that are as far as three plus hours away from each other. Police hope to stop him before hits more.

One of the most recent victims was a clerk at an Exxon gas station who goes by "Christina." She described what happened during the robbery.

"Was about 7:40. I was standing at the counter and I heard the door open. The guy came in, pointed the gun at me and said, where's the money?" Christina said.

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FBI releases national hate crime statistics

Submitted by Jonathan Hardison, Fox 6 News Reporter
Monday, December 10th, 2012, 6:57pm
FBI releases national hate crime statistics

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- The FBI today released its annual report on the number of hate crimes in the U.S.

First the good news: the FBI says nationwide, the number of reported hate crimes dropped by about 400 to 6,222 last year compared to 2010.

The FBI says of Alabama's 83 hate crimes last year, 69 were related to race or ethnicity, seven because of sexual orientation, five because of religion, and two because of disability.

But the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate crimes in Alabama and nationwide, says those numbers don't tell the real story.

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Surveillance photos of Bessemer bank robbery suspect (9-25-12)

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012, 4:16pm
Bessemer Police Department
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Tennessee man charged in Hoover bank robbery

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer
Friday, September 14th, 2012, 11:09am
Tennessee man charged in Hoover bank robbery

HOOVER, AL (WBRC)- Hoover police have charged a Tennessee man in a bank robbery that happened in May.

Police say the BB&T bank on U.S. 31 in Hoover was robbed May 31 when a suspect handed the teller a note demanding money, then fled the scene.

Hoover detectives recently identified Anthony Djuan Jackson of Memphis, TN as the suspect in the robbery. They obtained a warrant for first degree robbery at the Jefferson County District Attorney's office on Thursday, Sept. 13.

Officials say Jackson is suspected of robbing at least eight other banks in multiple states including Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois. Jackson is currently in custody in Memphis for an aggravated assault charge.

Hoover detectives are assisting law enforcement agencies in the other states where Jackson is suspected of robbing banks, according to Captain Jim Coker with Hoover PD.

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Hoover to celebrate National Night Out 2012

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer
Monday, August 6th, 2012, 4:52pm
Hoover to celebrate National Night Out 2012

Hoover will celebrate the 29th annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 7. The anti-crime celebration will be held at the Hoover Super Target in the Grove Shopping Center off of Highway 150. The celebration will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

National Night Out is a nationwide campaign designed to give community members the chance to meet local law enforcement officers and help prevent crime in their neighborhoods.

"Free festivities include a cookout sponsored by the City of Hoover and Target and displays by the Hoover Police Department, Hoover Fire Department, and Hoover-Jefferson County Air Support Unit," the Hoover Police Department said in a release.

The HPD release goes on to say:

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Protecting your vehicle from break-ins and theft

Submitted by Brianne Britzius, Fox 6 Digital Producer
Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 4:06pm
Protecting your vehicle from break-ins and theft

As the temperatures get warmer it can be tempting to leave the AC running in your car while you pop into the store or your house. But Birmingham Police have noticed an increase in car thefts and break-ins of vehicles that are left unattended.

No matter where you live, their tips for keeping your car safe can prevent thieves from helping themselves to your property:

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