How to Avoid Being a Victim of Crime, Part II
David L. Battle, CFE
Note from Editor: We are running David's training pages in anticipation of vacation times, and months when security is not a particular priority - but should be. Please share these pages with your families and discuss your own home emergency procedures and safeguards.
Personal Precautions
Many kidnap and extortion attempts include threats to an employee's family members. Personal precautions to avoid victimization begins at home and should be exercised in daily living. Every family member must be security conscious.
Home Security
Home security can be best accomplished by increasing the risk to intruders in three (3) categories:
- Time - Increase the time it takes an intruder to enter a locked home by reinforcing exterior solid core doors with deadbolt locks and adding auxiliary locks to windows, sliding glass doors, etc.
- Lighting - Leave lights on all night.
- Noise - Maintain appearance that home is occupied when away by playing radio or TV. A dog barking or other noise is a crime deterrent.
Note: Be creative - many home security devices and ideas are available.
In Your Home
- Install and use peepholes on exterior doors. Do not use a chain lock to see who is at the door.
- Check and verify identity before admitting repair people or strangers.
- Do not open the door to strangers claiming an emergency; offer to make a call for them.
- Beware of giving information to unknown phone callers. Consider applying for an unlisted phone number or listing last name and initials only.
- Watch for suspicious vehicles and situations in and around your neighborhood and the bank. Report suspicions to the police and your Security Officer.
- Trim and/or remove shrubbery from entry ways, windows and doors.
Vehicle Safety
- Have keys in hand while walking to the car.
- Check back seat and floor board before unlocking the door.
- Lock all doors immediately upon entering car and keep locked while driving.
- Vary routes to frequent destinations.
- Do not pick up hitchhikers.
- Avoid stopping to help persons seemingly having car trouble. Call police and advise them.
- Advise business associates and/or family members of destination, times of arrival and departure, and of unforeseen delays.
- If someone attempts to curb the car, do not stop or go into curb or ditch to avoid collision. If necessary, let them hit the car.
- Keep windows closed and doors locked.
- Blow horn constantly and/or activate vehicle alarm to attract attention.
- Drive to an open public place. (In a residential area, pull into a driveway where lights are on inside house and continue blowing horn.)
- Park in well-lighted areas.
Street Safety
- Walk Alert. Avoid suspicious vehicles, situations and individuals.
- Stay out of "arms' reach" of bushes, parked cars, alleys, doorways and people.
- Avoid high-risk areas.
- If being followed by: A car - turn around and walk in the other direction. Someone walking - go to nearest well lighted area and/or other people.
- Do Not accept rides from strangers.
Airline Travel Safety
- Do Not leave the car at the airport. Where practical, arrange to be taken or picked up.
- Use scheduled airlines. Never accept air transportation from private individuals, especially unsolicited.
- Use name and company address on external baggage identification.
- Never accept unsolicited rides from the airport to your destination - use limousine service or taxi.
Hotel Safety
- Register with first initial only, not full name.
- Avoid ground floors, if possible.
- Do Not accept unsolicited room service.
- Keep doors locked - even when room is occupied.
- Check room every time you enter for anything that appears suspicious (i.e., defective door or window locks, unfamiliar packages, rearranged personal affects, etc.).
- Place a chair or luggage by door to alert you of trespassers. Consider obtaining a portable alarm or traveler keyless lock. Leaning an ironing board against the door is an effective noise maker in the event of intrusion, both while you're in your room and while away. When leaving your room, allow ironing board to fall against the inside door in an upright leaning position. Remember, when returning, that the board is there.
- Do Not admit visitors without fully identifying them.
- Do Not leave valuables, business cards or identification in room when away.
- When away from room leave light(s) and radio or TV playing at a reasonable volume.
The basic elements of personal safety are being alert and aware.
Education and Training
Research and case studies show "that when faced with a crisis, people usually fall back on what they've been taught to do or things they've taught themselves to do." Self-education results from reading books and articles on personal protection and applying the "what if game" to our daily lives.
"What If Game"
One should play the "What If Game" with themselves. "If this happens, what would I do?"… "If that happens, what would I do?" By doing so, you're already one step ahead in your ability to increasing your chances of survival.
David L. Battle, CFR, Principal of DAVID BATTLE RESOURCES (DBR), is a security practitioner and nationwide lecturer, specializing in Security & Loss Prevention Management Workshops and crime specific seminars for bankers and law enforcement.. Author of the Security Policies & Procedures Manual, he serves as an investigator and consultant for financial institutions, industry, attorneys, law enforcement and media. DBR services financial institutions in areas of training, investigations, security surveys/vulnerability assessments, policies/procedures manual review, etc. Contact David at (314)355-6642 or david_battle_resources@earthlink.net.
Copyright © 2005 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 15, No. 5, 6/05
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