Origin of nightSTICK

nightSTICK came to be through necessity.

1. 3,280 violent assaults per day

2. 14,196 murders per year

3. 30 sexual assaults per minute

4. 2,700 stalkings per day

5. 900 thefts per hour

6. 1,584 home robberies per day

7. 4,500,000 dog bites per year, 35 fatal

And expecting police assistance before or during an attack is a dangerous bet to place:

1. Interaction between a criminal & victim lasts: ~30–90 seconds

2. Police response time: ~4 minutes

3. Police arrive ~2.5 minutes after the assailant is gone.

These are the reasons why we need real-time threat detection & response.

Innovation sparked by an unfortunate incident.

Several years ago, a Boston University student was walking back to his campus apartment, near Beacon Street and Park Drive. A car sped by. He shouted for the driver to slow down. The car stopped and backed up. Three men got out of the car and walked toward the student. They appeared to be in no hurry. The young man thought they were going to apologize. Without warning, they began beating him. When he fell to the sidewalk, they stomped him until he was unconscious. The student had a cell phone in his hand, but no time to place a call. The assailants drove off; they were never caught. The student ended up in critical condition at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

Disturbed by this incident, Jack Scully, CEO of MAGI, investigated this and similar random attacks. He learned that 90% of violent crime happens with impunity, especially at night. In researching the capabilities of personal security devices, which might have helped the student, he found few good options. Devices were not integrated with rapidly evolving mobile computing technologies and miniaturized deterrents. Often when police arrive on the scene, the victim cannot provide a good description of the perpetrators; reliable witnesses are rare.

It became clear that there was an unmet need for the application of technology to the problem of public safety. Discussions with law enforcement officials, victims, and even ex-criminals helped define a feature set of a truly effective personal safety device.

Do I really need a Personal Safety Device (PSD)?

Without warning, a safe moment can turn deadly. Every day people are exposed to situations where personal safety may be in jeopardy. 

1. Walking on a city street or campus at night.

2. Strolling in a park.

3. Looking for your car in a garage or parking lot.

4. Taking your dog out.

5. Getting lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

6. Jogging on a secluded path.

7. Getting accosted by a vicious dog.

8. Hearing footsteps behind you.

9. Waiting for help after your car breaks down.

10. Venturing out for a late-night snack.

According to the FBI’s latest report, crime in the United States is up:

+3.9%

increase in violent crimes

In this environment, a personal security device—with full functionality and mobile connectivity—helps create peace of mind and independence.

Facts & Figures: 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, The United States Justice Department, Women’s Self-Defense Institute, American Police Beat