Safety Away from Home
Use these tips to stay safe and avoid becoming a victim when you are away from home.
On the Street and Other Places
- Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
- Walk with a friend or family member.
- Walk with confidence and know where you are going. Be alert. Make eye contact with people you pass.
- Watch your surroundings. Leave any places in which you are uncomfortable. Be especially alert for suspicious persons around banks, ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), stores, your home, etc.
- Cross the street if you see someone suspicious following you.
- Walk into an open business and call the police if you see anyone acting suspicious or following you. Don’t go home.
- Don’t go out alone at night, venture into unfamiliar or dark places, take shortcuts, talk to or accept rides with strangers, or hitch rides. Don’t walk in or near alleys, on deserted streets, near dark doorways or shrubbery.
- Don’t approach vehicles even if the occupants say they need directions or assistance.
- Consider your options in the event you are confronted, e.g., scream or blow a whistle to attract attention, flee to a safe area, etc. Decide what you plan to do and practice your responses so you can recall them in a real situation.
- Learn self-defense. Take classes only from licensed instructors. But don’t substitute self-defense training for common sense, alertness, and caution.
- Know where telephones are along your route.
- Carry cash and credit cards in a pocket.
- Carry change for emergency telephone and transportation. 911 calls are free.
- Carry identification, medical information, names and phone numbers of people to call in emergencies.
- Carry only necessities.
- Avoid verbal confrontations. They may lead to physical altercations.
- Don’t leave notes on your door when you are away from home.
- Don’t leave keys in mailboxes or planters, under doormats, or in other obvious hiding spots. Leave an extra key with a neighbor.
- Don’t carry a gun, knife, club, chemical spray, or other weapon. Some are illegal to carry and all could be used against you.
At Work
- Keep all doors locked during office/business hours except those designated for public use. Some employees or security guards should be located to monitor each public entrance. Post signs to indicate areas that are open to the public and those that are for employee access only. Emergency exits should be alarmed and marked for emergency use only.
- Keep all doors locked if you work after hours. Never open them to any strangers.
- Keep public restrooms locked or under observation.
- Lock up your purse and other valuables when you leave your office or workplace.
- Don’t open the office/business alone, if possible. One employee should remain outside while the other checks inside to make sure it is safe to enter. It is also better to have two employees present when the office/business is being closed for the day.
- Don’t make bank deposits alone, if possible. Vary deposit time, route, and method of concealing the money. Carry the money in a purse or plain bag; never use a bank bag. Make deposits during the business day, not after closing time.
- Don’t take out trash alone, if possible. Check outside first to make sure that there are no suspicious people near the door or trash bin. Keep the area well lighted and clear of any objects that could provide hiding places.
- Call the police or the alarm company to verify any report of a break-in and request to come to your office/business.
- Be familiar with the emergency procedures and alarms in your office/business.
In any confrontation with a criminal:
- Be calm and follow instructions exactly. Don’t make any sudden moves.
- Don’t risk your personal safety. Don’t resist and try to be a hero.
- Consider all guns as loaded weapons
- Activate alarms and alert co-workers only if you can do so without being detected.
- Observe the criminal’s features, clothing, behavior, means of escape, etc. without being obvious about it. Being a good witness is critical in helping the police to locate and arrest the criminal.
On Elevators
- Don’t get on an elevator with a stranger. If you do, stand near the control panel and be ready to press the alarm button and other controls if you are attacked.
When Meeting Someone New
- Exchange phone numbers only, not addresses.
- Let a friend or family member know where you are going on a first date.
- Consider a daytime meeting for a first date.
- Be assertive and honest, not passive or coy.
At Night Clubs and Social Functions
- Go with and stay close to a friend.
- Use prearranged signals to indicate that you need help or want to leave.
- Don’t allow alcohol or drugs impair your judgment.
- Watch your drinks and don’t give anyone an opportunity to spike them.
- State your personal social standards and limits. Stick to them and don’t let anyone change your mind.
- Avoid people who make you nervous or uncomfortable.
- Provide your own transportation when you go out alone. Take enough money for a cab fare if you are going to be out late.
When Traveling on Vacation or Business
- Travel with a friend or in a group when possible. There is safety in numbers.
- Plan your touring. Don’t discuss your plans with strangers. Beware of strangers who seem overly anxious to help you. Select guides carefully.
- Get good directions to avoid getting lost.
- Find an open business to get directions if you get lost. Don’t appear to be lost by stopping and looking at addresses or street signs.
- Stick to well-lighted main streets and public areas. Ask about areas to avoid.
- Carry a minimum amount of cash. Use credit cards or traveler’s checks whenever possible.
- Keep a record of your credit card and traveler’s check numbers in a safe place. Also have the phone numbers to call if your cards or checks are lost or stolen.
- Leave your itinerary with a friend or relative and check in with them periodically.
- Store photocopies of your passport, tickets, and other important papers in a hotel safe.
- Keep track of time and don’t be late for appointments or meetings.
In a Hotel/Motel Room
- Determine the most direct route to and from your room, to fire escapes, stairs, elevators, and phones.
- Keep your door locked when you are in your room.
- Use the door viewer to identify anyone requesting entry. Open the door only if you are certain it is safe to do so. Call the hotel/motel office is you are in doubt.
- Report any suspicious persons or activities to the hotel/motel office.
- Don’t stay in a ground-floor room, especially if you are a woman and traveling alone.
While Driving
- Keep your doors locked and your windows closed.
- Know where you are going. Stop and get directions before you get lost.
- Avoid driving alone, especially at night and in dangerous areas.
- Never pick up hitchhikers.
- Drive to the nearest open business and call the police if anyone is following you. Don’t go home.
- Keep your vehicle in gear when stopped for traffic signals or signs. Try to leave room to drive away if threatened. Be alert for anyone approaching your vehicle.
- Keep purses and other valuables out of view when driving alone. Put them in the trunk or on the floor.
- Honk your horn or flash your emergency lights to attract attention if you are threatened while in your vehicle.
- Stay in your vehicle if you stop to aid others. Find out what the problem is and offer to call or drive to the nearest phone and report the situation.
- Keep your vehicle in good mechanical condition so it won’t break down and leave you stranded on the road. Also keep enough gas in the tank so you won’t run out.
- If your vehicle breaks down or runs out of gas, pull over to the right as far as possible, raise the hood, and call or wait for help. Remain in your vehicle with the doors and windows locked until you can identify any person who comes to help.
- Be wary of minor rear-end collisions, especially at night on dark freeway off-ramps. Remain in your vehicle with the doors and windows locked if you are uneasy or suspicious. Drive to the nearest open business to check the damage and exchange insurance information.
- Control your gestures and other reactions to keep “road-rage” incidents from escalating to violence.
In Parking Lots and Garages
- Park in open, well-lighted, and populated areas near your destination.
- Avoid parking near trucks, vans, dumpsters, and other objects that obstruct visibility and provide hiding places. Avoid parking or walking near strangers loitering or sitting in vehicles. Check that no one is hiding around your vehicle before you get out.
- Report any lights that are out to the facility operator.
- Lock your vehicle and take your keys with you.
- Never leave any valuables in plain sight.
- Conceal maps or travel brochures that might indicate you are a tourist.
- Wear shoes or clothes in which you can easily run to safety if threatened. Kick off high-heeled shoes and run barefoot if you are pursued.
- Remember where you parked so you can return directly to your vehicle. Be alert and walk purposefully.
- Have your key in hand so you can open the door immediately when you return to your vehicle.
- Check that no one is hiding in or around your vehicle before you get in.
- Ask a co-worker or security guard to escort you to your vehicle if your work late.
- Don’t leave your home keys on a chain with your vehicle keys when you use valet parking. Also, don’t leave your garage door opener where it is easily accessible. Keep your vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and any other papers with your home address on them where a criminal is not likely to find them.
- Don’t resist or argue with a carjacker. Your life is much more valuable than your vehicle. Be especially alert when parking at fast food places, gas stations, ATMs, and shopping areas along suburban highways.
While Riding a Bus or Trolley
- Wait in a central area near other passengers.
- Have your fare or pass ready when boarding.
- Sit near the operator.
- Keep your handbag and packages on your lap instead of on the floor or seat next to you.
- Change seats and tell the operator if anyone bothers you.
- Avoid using dark or isolated stops at night.
- Stay alert for any possible dangers when exiting.
When Carrying a Purse or Wallet
- Avoid carrying a purse when possible. Wear a money pouch instead.
- Carry a purse with a shoulder strap if you must. Keep the strap over your shoulder, the flap next to your body, and your hand on the strap. When wearing a coat, keep the strap and purse under the coat.
- Keep a tight grip on your purse. Don’t let it hang loose or leave it on a counter in a store.
- Carry your wallet, keys, and other valuables in an inside or front pants pocket, a fanny pack, or other safe place. Don’t carry a wallet in a back pocket.
- Never put you purse or wallet on a counter while shopping.
- Carry checks or credit cards instead of cash. Don’t display any cash you do carry.
- Leave credit cards you don’t expect to use at home.
- Keep a record at home of check and credit card numbers, and phone numbers to call in case of theft or loss. Carry this information separately or store it in a hotel/motel safe if you are on a trip or otherwise unable to get home promptly to report a loss.
- Shop with a friend when possible.
- Don’t fight for your purse if someone tries to take it by force.
When Babysitting
- Know your employer. Only work for people you or your parents know, or for whom you have a good personal reference.
- Give your employer’s name, address, and phone number to your parents.
- Find out where your employer is going and when he or she expects to be home. Give this information to your parents also.
- Have your employer show you all the safety and security features of the home, including smoke and burglar alarms, telephones, panic buttons, fire extinguishers, door and window locks, outside lights, etc.
- Keep all doors and windows locked while inside. Leave an outside light on after dark. Keep drapes or blinds closed at night but leave some lights on.
- Keep front door locked if you are out in the back yard or in a common play area.
- Follow the same security principles you use in your own home, in answering the door or the phone, and in leaving and returning home.
- Don’t say you are alone and babysitting when answering the door or phone. Say you are visiting and that you will take a message for the parents.
- Hold hands with the children when walking. When walking along a street, keep between the children and the street.
When Using an ATM
- Select an ATM with clear lines of sight in all directions, i.e., at locations with no building corners, shrubs, signs, etc. that provide possible hiding places for an attacker.
- Be aware of your surroundings before and during your transaction, especially between dusk and dawn. Return later or use an ATM in a supermarket or convenience store if you notice anything suspicious, e.g., a person loitering nearby.
- Avoid using poorly lighted or isolated ATMs. Complete your transaction as fast as possible and leave the facility.
- Don’t go alone.
- Park in a well-lighted area as close to the ATM as possible.
- Keep your doors locked and passenger and rear windows rolled up when using a drive-through ATM.
- Shield the keypad when using your PIN so it can’t be seen by anyone near you.
- Memorize your PIN and keep it secret. Don’t write it down or keep it in your wallet or purse.
- Make sure that there is nothing in the slot when you insert your ATM card. Thieves can use a small, hard-to-detect skimming device that’s placed over the card slot to capture to steal your PIN and other bank account information.
- Put your cash, receipt, and ATM care away promptly. Count your cash later in private. Do not leave your receipt at the ATM site.
- Avoid being too regular. Don’t use the same ATM at the same time of day and day of the week.
- Make sure you are not being followed when you leave an ATM location. Drive immediately to a police or fire station, or any well-lighted and crowed location or open business and get help if you are being followed. Flash your lights and sound your horn to attract attention.
- Give up your money or valuables if you are confronted by an armed robber. Any delay can make a robber more nervous and increases the likelihood of violence.
On a Cruise
- Be skeptical. Don’t assume you can trust other passengers. Criminals take vacations too.
- Stay sober. Don’t let alcohol impair your judgment.
- Keep an eye on your children. Make sure they don’t drink. Report any crew members who serve alcohol to minors.
- Don’t socialize with the crew. Make sure your children know that crew members and crew areas are off limits.
- Dress down. Leave expensive jewelry and watches at home. They only make you a target for thieves.
- Bring phone numbers of FBI offices and U.S. consulates in the cities on your itinerary so you can contact them if a problem arises.
- Don’t stand or sit on the ship’s railing.
- Know where your party members are at all times. Report a missing person immediately.
- Attend the ship safety drills and learn its emergency procedures.
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