Personal Security -part 3

PERSONAL SECURITY WHILE TRAVELING AND WHILE IN HOTELS

I once attended a conference at one of the West African countries and I had all my money and credit / debit cards in my wallet. I was quite conscious of the wallet all through the meeting, but at lunch break time, as we were leaving the hall; there was an unnecessary struggle and traffic jam at the exit. The struggle at the gate was by design, it was a deliberate confusion. In that maze my pocket was picked and I was without any money in a strange land.

One of my friends lost his travel documents (Passport & Flight tickets) in an airport in Europe. When he narrated the troubles he passed through thereafter all who listened appreciated the need for personal security while travelling.

Once on a return trip to Nigeria from Seoul. The stopover was at Paris and we were checked into an international hotel at about midnight. The flight from Seoul had lasted eleven hours, I was tired so immediately I entered my room;I fell asleep. By 2.00 am, I was awake as that was my prayer hour. I reluctantly stood up, paced around as I was praying in tongues. To my greatest surprise, my hotel room door was opened, but the crooks were stopped by the chain, that gave me chance to shout and they disappeared before security came. ALWAYS use the door chain or bolt lock whenever you are in your room.

I will just share some tips for personal security while travelling and while in Hotels.

WHILE TRAVELLING:

·         Don't publicize your travel or vacation plans.

·         Leave contact numbers with appropriate personnel.

·         Check plane, train, and bus times before you travel.

·         Get security update of the country or town you intend to travel to before embarking on the journey.

·         Sit near other people or near aisles or doors.

·         Do not discuss your private life with people

·         Wherever you are, learn the location of emergency exits.

·         Stay awake and alert when using public transportation.

·         When traveling, dress casually; dress down where appropriate.

·         Be aware of local customs and if possible dress like them.

·         Don't wear excess jewelry.

·         Reduce wallet and purse contents, particularly cards denoting affiliations, memberships, accounts, etc. 

·         Consider purchasing special clothing or accessories to hide your passport, money, or credit /debit cards.

·         Keep the majority of your funds in cards and hidden; carry some in your wallet or handbag.

·         Use a money clip. If you are robbed, you may lose the money in the clip but will retain important credit /debit cards and documents.

·         Keep valuables hidden and luggage close at hand.

·         If carrying a handbag, keep it in front of you, closed, with the fastening toward your body. Keep a wallet in your front pants pocket. 

·         Keep your camera and mobile devices safe, if they are stolen, information about you can be assessed.

·         Let go if your bag is snatched.   

·         At airports, proceed through security checks and go to the boarding area as quickly as possible. These areas are usually the most secure in the airport.

·         Always use registered taxis at the airport. 

·         In any crowded situation, be aware of any crowding or jostling, even if it appears innocent. This is often a ploy by pickpockets to distract you. 

·         Avoid being heard giving your number to someone; send the number by text.

WHILE IN HOTELS

• Locate a good hotel in safe areas of the town to stay.
• Do not go for cheap hotels in rundown neighborhood. A very cheap hotel could be an abode of criminals.
• Avoid hotels that allow free access to women of easy virtue.
•  Hotels that require room access through a lobby area are infinitely more secure than motels with access from the outside. We also recommend choosing a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) or inn rather than a large hotel with a cavernous lobby and hundreds of rooms. Loitering strangers are more conspicuous in smaller lobbies, and many women feel safer and less anonymous at a property where the front desk staff recognizes their face and is aware of who is coming and going.

·         Upon arrival, Stay with your luggage – if you walk into the lobby ahead of your luggage, it could be snatched. Keep an eye on your luggage, because if the lobby is busy, enterprising thieves can take advantage of the distraction.

·         During check-in; If your room number is compromised (i.e. announced out loud), ask to be given another room. You never know who is listening and your room number is a matter of personal security.

·          Don’t set your debit/credit card on the check-in counter – it’s too easy for a thief to capture the numbers with a good camera. When it’s handed back to you, be sure it’s your debit/ credit card and not someone else’s or a bogus card.

·         Ask for two business cards with the hotel name and address. Place one by the phone in your room. If there is an emergency, and you call for help, you’ll have the name and address of your location. Place the other in your pocket or purse. If you have to take a cab or get lost, you can show the driver your location and avoid being taken to the wrong hotel.

• Preferably always use the taxis registered with the hotel for your outing.

·         If a valet has accompanied you to your room, block the door open while you check the room. Look in the closet, in the shower, and behind the curtains before you shut the door or release the valet.

·          Check the lock to be sure it’s functioning properly.  Make sure that the door has a deadbolt and keep it locked whenever you are in the room.

·          Use a door wedge to further secure the door – especially when you are sleeping or in the shower. Crooks are not always caught and may not have a record, so they can get hired by hotels where they have excellent access to spare room keys. Some criminals have been known to wait until they hear you in the shower before robbing your room or attacking you.

·          Place your flashlight or smart phone by your bed If there’s an alarm or the electricity goes out, you’ll have the light you need to navigate an unfamiliar building

• Never leave valuables in your hotel room exposed or unattended, even in a locked suitcase.

·          Lock the items you won’t be carrying with you, such as your laptop or other electronics, in the room safe. Modern hotels with a safe that lets you select your own combination are safer than those with keys. Don’t leave your passport behind.

·          If the safe in your room doesn’t appear safe, lock valuables in the hotel safe, but be sure to get a written receipt for your items and ask about the coverage for loss. Most hotels do not accept liability for items left in the guestroom safes but they will for those locked in the hotel safe.

·         If you lose your key or room entry card, report it to the hotel immediately and ask to be moved to another room. You can’t assume you ‘lost’ it – it might have been stolen from you by someone with malicious intent.

• Do not discuss your business or travel plans in public areas where they may be overheard.
•  Discuss your travel plans and movements during your stay with as few people as possible if any.
• Selecting a hotel room on the third to fifth floor generally will keep you out of reach of criminal activity from the street but still within reach of most fire truck ladders.
  
• Do not entertain strangers in your hotel room. Use the bars and open spaces in the hotel. 
• Be alert to overly friendly people who may have criminal intentions.
• Avoid prostitutes. Control yourself.
• Take time to look at the Hotel layout sketch provided. Read carefully the instructions left in your room. So many services are listed and phone numbers are given.
•  Locate physically the escape routes in case of fire or other catastrophe.  
• Use the door viewer (peephole) before opening the door to visitors.
• Do not discuss your room number while standing in the lobby or leave your room key on restaurant or bar tables.
• Keep your room neat and orderly that way, you will notice disturbed or missing items quickly.