10/ 04/ 2005
Imagine this: It’s 9:45 at night. You’re several hundred miles from home, leaving an association conference meeting. The parking lot is almost pitch black, and you can’t remember where you parked your rental car. So you begin walking, searching the unfamiliar lot for your vehicle.
You hear footsteps from behind––slow, steady beats on the pavement. Your palms begin to sweat, and your pulse quickens. Is somebody following you?
This scenario could be real, and it could happen to you. You’ve read the alarming crime statistics, and you probably know that travelers who take precautions against crime are being prudent.
The next time you travel on business, to an association meeting, convention or even on vacation, remember these suggestions:
Before Leaving
Do:
- Ask for safety suggestions from your travel agent.
- Arrange for someone to pick up your mail and newspapers while you’re away.
- Participate in any local travel safety or defense courses.
Don’t:
- Speak publicly about your travel plans around strangers.
- Write your address on the outside of your luggage. Seen by the wrong eyes, a visible address is a road map to burglary.
- Pack all your medicines in one place. Place a quantity of medicine in two different bags. If one bag is lost or stolen, you’ll still have a supply.
Road Safety
Do:
- Let a friend or colleague know where you’re going and when you expect to arrive. Then, call to “check in” after your arrival.
- Plan your route carefully. Not sure which roads or highways to use? Ask your travel agent or AAA for assistance.
- Stock your car with a first aid kit and, if you’re traveling in cold weather bring a blanket, candles and rock salt.
- Write down the license and identification number of any vehicle you rent and carry this information with you. It’s easy to “lose” a rental car by forgetting the plate number.
- Stop at well-lighted locations for gas or meals.
- Develop a simple “breakdown procedure” before you begin your trip, especially for rental cars. Find out whom to call if you need emergency service.
- Drive to the shoulder of the road if you suffer a mechanical breakdown. Leave your flashers on if possible and tie a white rag to your antenna. Better yet: If you have a “call police” sign, unfold it in your rear window.
- Carry a cellular telephone, which is a great safety asset on the road. If you don’t own one, see if you can borrow or lease one for long trips.
- Leave behind a written note if you’re forced to leave your car for any reason. The note should briefly describe yourself and your clothing and indicate your destination.
Don’t:
- Leave your windows open and your doors unlocked, especially when you’re driving along unfamiliar roads.
- Leave your car if you have an accident, and you’re uncomfortable. Drive to the shoulder of the road, and wait for the police to arrive. Alternatively, signal to the other driver to follow you and drive to a public place and call police.
Parking Your Car
Do:
- Park as close as possible to the building.
- Park near overhead lights, if you have a choice of locations. Remember: If you park during the daytime, everything may appear bright. But when you leave a nearby building at night, the area will look different. The more illumination around your vehicle, the faster you’ll find it in an unfamiliar parking lot.
- Lock your car. Be sure the windows are closed tightly to prevent break-ins.
- Know your destination as you leave your car. Plan the quickest route to your destination and walk confidently toward it.
- Have your keys or other materials ready as you enter a building.
- Leave a variety of clothing and inexpensive personal items––a book or two, several soda cans or light sports equipment––in the backseat of the car. This creates the illusion of multiple passengers and might make the vehicle less inviting to thieves.
Don’t:
- Leave valuables sitting on your car seat or floor.
- Leave your car registration in your car. Instead, carry it in your wallet or purse. If your vehicle should be stolen or burglarized, you won’t run the risk of someone gaining access to your name and address.
Walking Around
Do:
- Be wary if someone bumps into you. This is a favorite pickpocket technique. To avoid loss of valuables, carry them in a deep pocket, a money belt or in some other hard-to-reach place.
- Walk confidently with your head erect intent on briskly arriving at your destination.
- Carry a whistle or personal alarm and know how to quickly grab and use it in the event of trouble.
Don’t:
- Carry lots of baggage with you. Try to limit the items you carry to what you can hold in one hand. This leaves the other hand free at all times to handle emergencies.
- Put your suitcase or briefcase down. If you must make your hands free for a few moments, place your bags close to you. It’s best to keep them between your legs.
- Stop if you’re asked for change or directions. This is a common ruse for thieves and pickpockets.
- Expose credit cards to public view. Someone may be watching you at a distance, perhaps even with binoculars. If you must take a card out at a pay telephone or other public place, keep your fingers over several digits of your card number.
Lodging
Do:
- Ask the hotel or motel management to provide someone to accompany you into your room after you check in.
- Check the condition of your locks, windows and doors.
- Have your keys ready each time you enter your room.
- Reserve rooms in hotels or motels that offer card access systems instead of room keys.
- Arrange your room away from restaurants, spas or other facilities open to the general public.
- Check your valuables into the hotel or motel safe.
- Be sure you know what to do if an emergency occurs while you’re in your room. Lodging facilities post emergency escape instructions, usually on the inside of room doors. Read them carefully. If you don’t find instructions posted, ask at the desk.
- Bring your own portable fire or burglar alarms with you when you travel. While most lodging facilities have fire systems, you can never be certain of their condition or their last inspection. If you’re going to carry valuable goods or papers in your briefcase, consider purchasing one of the new high-tech briefcase alarms on the market.
- Contact the desk or lodging security official if you’re worried about your personal security, for any reason, at any time.
- Immediately press as many buttons on the elevator panel as you can, if an attacker in an elevator confronts you.
- Ask to review the safety records of your hotel or motel if you have any safety or security concerns when you’re planning a trip. Specifically, ask for a summary of crime incidents and safety emergencies.
Don’t:
- Allow a desk clerk to discuss your room assignment aloud. If this should occur, ask for another room.
- Open your room door unless you know the identity of your visitor. Don’t hesitate to ask the individual to show identification through the peephole or under the door.
- Wear your name badge through the corridors of your hotel.
- Don’t leave notes to visitors hanging on your room door. They advertise your absence from the room.
