By Greg Norred, CEO, Norred & Associates

Over the course of your life, the chances of being the victim of a crime are at least one in three, higher if you live in a large city, and higher still if you’re a woman. The criminal’s objective is to maximize gain and minimize risk, and he’ll usually pick the easiest target with the most to offer. Given these odds, it pays to take precautions by following some basic safety rules:

LILBURN, Ga. -- Firefighters believe a fire at an empty Gwinnett County house was intentionally set.

The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon at a split-level house in the 4800 block of Kellys Mill Drive in Lilburn.

Gwinnett County Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said responding crews found smoke pouring from the house and flames on the first floor. Several items inside the home were damaged.

Neighbors told fire officials no one had lived in the house for a while. Rutledge said investigators found evidence the fire was intentionally set; there were no utilities in the house that could've sparked a blaze.

Arson is a felony in Georgia. Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Georgia Arson Control at 1-800-282-5804. Tipsters are eligible for a reward of up to $10,000.

MACON, Ga. -- Bibb Superior Court Judge Howard Simms says he's scheduled Stephen McDaniel's murder trial for April 28.

McDaniel is accused of killing his Mercer Law classmate and neighbor Lauren Giddings in June 2011.

His lawyers filed a change of venue request last month, and prosecutors agreed to it. However, Simms says he has not made a decision on moving the trial to a courthouse outside of Bibb. Another option would be to bring in jurors from another county in Georgia.