The National Crime Commission reports that each year thousands
of innocent business travelers fall victim to the rising
crime rate.
It's time to stand up! Don't be just another crime statistic or
willing victim. Learn important ways to protect yourself while traveling in unfamiliar or dangerous areas.
Easy With The Luggage:
Thieves look for business travelers loaded down
with excess baggage? This makes you a very easy target in
their shifty eyes. Why? Travelers struggling with excess luggage are
less likely to notice one or two missing pieces until it's too late.
Label Your Stuff:
Label each piece of your luggage. List the items in each bag.
Carry snapshots of your luggage for quick identification. Lock
all luggage securely. This will discourage spur of the moment
suitcase or baggage snatchers.
Keep Your Purse Close...Your Money Closer:
Hold your purse close to your body. Wrap your purse over one
shoulder, across your body and under the other arm. Never
swing your purse loosely from a wrist or shoulder. A thief
could easily catch the strap and drag you screaming across
the crowded room, a terminal, airport, or empty garage. Invest in a fanny pack, money pouch or belt if you travel often.
Hold Your Head High:
Walk with confidence. Make eye contact with the people that
are around you. This is especially important for women
traveling alone. Studies show women do not look people in the
eyes as often as the average man does. Thieves see this
as passive behavior. In other words an easy target.
One who will not put up a fight.
If It Ain't Important Leave It:
Do you really need your social security card, voter registration
card, department store cards on a business trip? If thieves get
their sticky hands on those important personal items they
could easily forge papers and steal your identity.
Foreign Travel:
Photocopy all your important papers, including your passport, and
your tickets before you leave home. Make several copies of each
important paper. Keep an extra copy in a secret compartment or
in a belt pouch. Store the other copies in the hotel safe. So if your originals are stolen you will have plenty copies on hand.
Special Precautions For Women Travelers:
Women, when they travel, should always wear a plain cheap wedding
band - this will discourage unwanted attention from strange males.
Thieves often look for unmarried women traveling alone, they
consider them easy targets.
Diamonds Aren't A Travelers Best Friend:
Leave your expensive rings, watches, bracelets, necklaces at home.
Wearing expensive items is like waving a red flag at a charging bull.
Alarms:
Purchase a pocket size travel alarm with a strap you can hang across
your door knob. A loud alarm sounds instantly if someone jiggles the
door knob. These alarms are very inexpensive but a good item to have
for the safety concerned traveler.
Question Hotel Personnel:
Question hotel personnel about fire and emergency exits. And be sure to
ask them about crime in the neighborhood, which areas to avoid, they
should know the area better than you and be willing to help you to
make your stay safe. Also question them about local money exchange
rates, and cab fares around town. This will help save you from being
taken advantage of by unscrupulous shop owners or cabbies.
Stay In Contact:
Carry a fully charged cellular telephone with you when you go on
your business travels. Keep it on when you are out in unfamiliar
territory. Make sure friends, family, business associates have
your cell phone number. If a dangerous situation occurs help
could be just a call away.
Tell A Friend:
Tell a friend or family member when you are going on a business trip
alone. Make sure your business partner or staff know your agenda. Tell them where you are staying, how long you will stay. What meetings you
are scheduled for. Addresses, names, dates, and so forth.
This is a very important detail if an emergency occurs and you
need to be contacted or you are in a emergency situation and need
help.
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