Crime along C&O

Does anyone know of any crime along the C&O canal? My sister is thinking about doing a solo bike trip and I wonder about her safety. Anyone have any info?

I biked the Canal solo from DC to Cumberland last year around this time, and I didn't witness any crime whatsoever. I took my time, and only 1 out of 5 nights did I share my campsite with others. They were friendly and respected my privacy as it was a larger campsite.

When I had this very same question out of curiosity last year, I could only find a few sporadic reports of minor assaults occurring years past. However, these only occurred within the District proper and happened to joggers at weird hours - not bikers.

I didn't feel threatened from anyone I passed on the Canal during the entire trip, everyone is there to enjoy the national park. It's a shared experience. Everyone is in it together. Everyone was friendly and warm, except for two passive-aggressive joggers.

I grew up around the Hancock section of the trail so I know Paw Paw to Williamsport the best and I've never witnessed anything shady in this more rural section of the trail.

The only concern she'll probably have to worry about is hanging her food at night to keep little critters from getting into it.

The most dangerous things I encountered on the trail were: 1. A saddleback caterpillar, a copperhead that two US Forest Service members were in the process of killing, and a small black bear that was about 150m up the Towpath and who away faster than I could turn my camera on.

Biking the Canal solo was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had. Don't worry too much about your sister. I'm sure she'll be fine. You're close to civilization most of the time should something arise. Personally, I've always felt safest in the most rural section of the park (between Paw Paw and Orleans). I was 23 at the time, and while I'm a guy so that differently defines how I am treated in my travels, the only time you would be vulnerable is in your tent/hammock at night. The criminal wouldn't know who your gender. I didn't even worry about petty theft, but I went t

(Oh I didn't realize there was a post length limit)

The criminal wouldn't know what your gender was.*
I didn't worry about petty theft at all, but I went through the proper motions anyway out of habit. I locked my bike tires at night because the bike was my ticket out of there should someone have taken my things off the picnic table at night, and I kept most things in my tent.

I realize this has turned into a text-wall of a reply, but I just wanted to reassure you that the Canal is safe and crime besides the occasional victimless toke is nonexistent - at least in my experiences on the towpath.