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:

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- A husband and wife were killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Sandy Springs Wednesday morning.

According to Sandy Springs Police Capt. Steve Rose, the shooting took place on the 7000 block of Chaparral Drive.

Sandy Springs Police confirmed through Twitter a woman was transported to North Fulton Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim, 54-year-old Sharon Wilkins, later died at the hospital.

The body of a man, who police say was both the estranged husband of Sharon Wilkins and the shooter, was found inside the house with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was identified as 65-year-old Dan Wilkins.

The home where the shooting occurred is owned by Sharon Wilkins' 86-year-old mother, who was in the home at the time of the incident. She was not injured, authorities said.

The scene has been secured and an investigation is ongoing.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Cobb County Police are working to identify a bank robbery suspect.

A man robbed the Fifth Third Bank at the corner of Sandy Plains Road and Highway 92 at around 4 p.m. Monday.

Police said the suspect approached a teller and asked her to cash a check. He then demanded she give him specific amounts of cash from her register.

The suspect told the teller he placed an explosive device outside the building. Cobb County Police said they never found a bomb or explosive material at the scene.

After receiving the money, the suspect drove away from the bank in a small silver four-door car, possibly a Honda.

Witnesses described the suspect as a white man, about 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall, and 45 to 50 years old. He was wearing khaki shorts, a black shirt, dark sneakers, and a white and black baseball cap.