Safety Zone Archives

Can You Access Emergency Services by Pressing an iPhone’s Lock Button Five Times?

Users of the iPhones running iOS 11 can make use of the feature but should...

Telling Siri to ‘Charge My Phone to 100%’ Summons Police

Siri can do a lot of things, but she won't summon police surreptitiously in response...

Will Landlines Eventually Dial 911 or Emergency Services if Left Off the Hook?

Long-circulating rumors hold that phones left off the hook will eventually dial emergency services to...

Hit the Floor! Legend: The apocryphal tale of the black celebrity, an elevator, and a frightened woman.

Response Time Rumor: A man who couldn't motivate police to respond to a break-in on his property...

The Jogger’s Billfold Did a jogger unwittingly commit a theft?

The Stolen Biscuits

A long-circulating tale of biscuit banditry.

Stolen Watch Did a professor unwittingly commit a theft?

The Biscuit Bullet A woman sitting in a car thinks she's been shot when a canister of biscuit...

Tomato Dials 911 A 911 call was initiated by a tomato.

Dying Phones Call 911 Some cordless phones call 911 by themselves when their batteries run low.

Gun-Toting Grannies

Did an old lady pull a gun on men she found sitting in her car?