Travel Safety & Security

In recent weeks, I’ve had quite a few requests for travel tips on topics ranging from airport security to cruise ship safety. To address all of these issues, we will break these travel topics down one at a time. Our first subject is general travel security.

When taking a trip either on land, sea or by air, it is always a good idea to photograph all of your valuables and make two photocopies of all credit cards, passports, airline tickets and any other important documents that you are taking. Keep one copy at home for your records and take the other copy with you but never to be kept in the same suitcase or carry-bag as the originals.

Whether you are in an airport or a hotel lobby, always keep a close eye on your luggage and carry bags. Thieves who prey on tourists are experts at snatching your valuables right from under your nose and often in a fraction of a second. Ladies should make sure that their purse is zippered closed and men should carry their wallets in a front pants pocket.

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Although you will need some currency, keep most of your money in traveler’s checks. American Express checks seem to work the best since they are more widely recognized and fairly easy to replace when stolen or lost. Whenever possible, break up your trip money among others with you, i.e. spouse, older children, etc. but never leave currency or checks in your hotel or motel room. No matter how clever you may think you are, those who have access to your accommodations know all of the hiding places.

When hiding your valuables, remember that thieves make their living being good at taking your stuff. I had a friend who sent for a catalogue of “security safes & devices.” These include common-looking aerosol cans, such as hairspray and cleaning products. They look ordinary enough, but the base of the can screws off to reveal a hollow chamber. When her jewelry was taken from one of these so-called “safes,” she asked the police investigator how the thieves could have known. The detective’s answer was simple: “Thieves send away for the same catalogues that you do.” Most major hotels and motels have safes in the lobby or the rooms themselves, so take advantage of that service.

Some travel safety gurus recommend stashing money and jewelry in those dark brown medicine and prescription bottles. This is clearly a bad idea due to the fact that many thieves steal to support a drug habit. Why then should cash and jewels be stored in “pill bottles?” When traveling with your medications, always hold them among your valuables to be secured and held onto just as tightly as your cash, traveler’s checks, and jewelry.

Since 911, we’ve been inundated with facts and information on airport luggage restrictions as to what is allowed and what is not. For answers to all of your airline travel questions, visit the Transportation Safety Administration’s web site at TSA.gov. There you will find a complete list of regulations and helpful guides for traveling with medicines, children and prohibited items.

Last, but not least, it’s always fun to go off the beaten path once in a while, but for the most part you should have an itinerary and stick to it. Make loved ones at home aware of that itinerary and consider scheduling frequent check-in times, especially when traveling abroad. When hiring a local tour guide, make sure that they are reputable. You can do this through a travel agent or your local AAA office.

Remember: Being aware is your best weapon against being a victim!

Spring Brings Flowers... and Home Improvement Scams

Although it is still cold, spring is soon upon us and with it the season of home and garden clean up and repair. Unfortunately, the following scenario is sure to be repeated countless times across the United States.

Like most seniors, Margaret wasn’t a wealthy woman but had enough in savings to live comfortably. While sitting on her porch one spring day, a man drove up in front of her house in a pick-up truck with equipment in the back and ladders on the roof. The sign on the side said “Smith Construction, Helping People for 25 Years.”

He got out of the truck, looked at Margaret and pointed to the roof. “Looks like you got a problem, ma’am. I was driving past and I saw that the flashing on your roof is loose. A good wind will take that right off.” “How much will that cost?” Margaret asked. “Well, you remind me a lot of my great aunt so nothing at all,” the man said. “I’ve got extra material and tar right here in the truck.” And with that, he was up the ladder and seemingly hard at work. Ten minutes and one tar covered brush later, the man came back down the ladder, only now with bad news for Margaret.

What started out as a “Let me help you for free” minor roofing job turned into a ten-thousand dollar repair that she never needed in the first place. Margaret is the victim of a common home improvement scam.

Every year, thousands of thieves take advantage of senior citizens by utilizing this scam. According to a recent study released by the U.S. Department of Justice, 3.6 million or 3% of all households in the U.S. have been victimized by some sort of a home repair or improvement scam. Of these victims, nearly 61% are senior citizens age sixty or older and in Pennsylvania alone, these thefts accounted for 71% of the complaints filed with the Pa. Attorney General’s Office.

These scammers are successful for many reasons but mainly because most of the victims are unwilling or unable to get up on a roof and see the “problem” for themselves In addition to knowing their victim’s physical limitations, scammers also use many tricks and props to facilitate their deception. These props may include a bucket of black paint to resemble a fresh tar repair job or pieces of broken shingle or flashing taken not from the roof but brought with the thief to show the victim.

Once the thief has the victim lured into a false sense of security, they now take advantage of the victim’s trust and their bank account. The age of the personal computer and “do it yourself” printing and business promotion kits even permits the thief to be armed with a variety of official looking paperwork including business cards, flyers, brochures and job estimate forms. After the victim is hooked, the scam artist will often keep “retuning to the well” and build a relationship of trust with the victim. In many cases, trusting seniors have even been talked into handing over blank checks.

Here are a few suggestions that can help you avoid becoming a victim:

1.) Avoid hiring anyone who has solicited you. As we’ve seen in Margaret’s case, a man approached her out of the blue and offered to do labor for free. A true professional, when called by the homeowner, will give a written estimate detailing labor and materials before any work begins.

2.) Always check credentials through a third party of your choosing a contractor. Don’t accept the reference given by the contractor. They are likely family or friends. Always check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

3.) Contact your local police department and ask if there are any complaints of home improvement scam artists in the area. Some communities have programs through their building inspectors geared toward victim education. The police can also tell you if the contractor has a permit to solicit you. Your local officers are there to help you so don’t ever hesitate to call them!

4.) Never pay for any improvement or construction job upfront. A reputable contractor will never ask for all monies in advance. An accepted payment or installment method is a down payment or advance, a middle payment and an end payment when the job is completed. Run far away from any contractor who wants all of the money up front. It’s a good bet they and your cash will disappear as soon as your check clears.

5.) Get multiple estimates on the work and get them in writing. After selecting a contractor, get in writing: Their full name, address, telephone number, their insurance information, a complete description of the type of work to be done, all materials used, a start and estimated completion date, a total cost of ALL work performed and an agreed payment method and schedule.

6.) Never sign a contract with blank spaces. This allows for deception such as the scam artist adding on extra work and/or materials that you did not agree to.

7.) Ask to obtain lien waivers. This protects you from a shady contractor placing a lien on your home or property in the event sub contractors or secondary workers employed and paid by your contractor are not paid.

8.) Find out if the materials that the contractor is using have guarantees or warranties. If they do, get those warranties in writing. You should have a copy and hold the paperwork on those guarantees, not the contractor.

9.) If you are physically unable to inspect the completed work, ask someone you know to inspect it for you. You may even be able to contact your local building inspector for assistance.

10.) When in doubt or if something doesn’t seem quite right, DON’T HIRE THAT CONTRACTOR. Listen to your inner voice… it’s talking to you for a reason!

Crime prevention is accomplished by knowledge and awareness. Following these few simple steps may save you personal frustration and financial hardship. An honest and legitimate contractor will have no qualms providing any information you request. Just remember two important rules: “When in doubt, check them out” and “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Protecting Your Home Doesn't Mean Breaking the Bank

Our question for this month is about home security and comes from Pamela D. from Bethel Park. She writes:

Dear Daniel,

I want to protect my family and our belongings, but a monthly home security monitoring fee and system installation just isn’t in the budget. What do you suggest?

Protecting your home and your possessions doesn’t have to break the bank. There are many simple steps that you can take to make your house unappealing to burglars and thieves. In any situation, thieves want the easy way to take something. If it appears too hard or too risky to break into your home, bad guys are more likely to move on to easier pickings. Here are a few suggestions that may help you keep what belongs to you.

1.) Landscaping adds beauty and value to your home, but the placement of some greenery can create obstructions. Many people have trees and shrubbery planted too closely to doors and windows. If your view to the street is obstructed, so also is a potential burglar obstructed. A bad-guy could be hidden behind a large hedge or tree and out of the view of your neighbors and patrolling police.
2.) Check your property for items left lying about that can be utilized by bad guys. Ladders are often left unsecured or even extended and against the house. Are trees growing too closely to the house giving access to the second floor after a short and easy climb? Do you use a “Hide a Key” fake rock to keep a key near a door? Remember, thieves know what these tools look like.
3.) Take a good look at the locks that are on your doors. If there are glass panels in the doors themselves or beside them, as many decorative front doors have, be sure to use what is known as a “key in, key out” lock and not the turn-type deadbolt mechanism. At night, remove the key and place it near the door but not within the reach of an arm extending through a broken window. The down side to this system is that it does not make for a fast escape in the event of a fire or medical emergency.
4.) Video and camera systems are more available and do sell for less than they did 10 years ago, but peepholes are still a good idea. The installation of a peephole enables you to see who is at your door without opening the door itself. Just remember, if you have children make sure that they can see through it or consider installing a second peephole at their eye level.
5.) Good exterior lighting is always a good idea. The two things that thieves and burglars hate the most are bright lights and the sound of a barking dog. Motion lights are great, but make sure that they are out of reach and too high to be tampered with.
6.) If you are considering an alarm system, remember to always shop smart. Many, if not all, alarm monitoring companies offer specials and discount deals. They want to sell you the service, so don’t be afraid to negotiate what hardware comes with it. Systems include door and window contacts and a keypad. Often if you ask for additional contacts or a keypad, you may get it. Do your homework and ask questions about response time as well. For this, talk with your neighbors or the police, they can guide you. Beware of false alarm set-offs. Many municipalities will give you so-many calls but then charge you for any additional false alarms.
7.) Lastly, I am often asked, “I thought I heard something the other night, should I have called the police?” My answer is always ABSOLUTELY! No matter where you live, there are officers on patrol who are tasked with keeping you safe. Never hesitate to call the police if you hear noises or see a suspicious person or vehicle.

As always… Better to be safe!

Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

While most of us associate this time of the year with either good will toward our fellow men or the joy of giving and receiving gifts, there are those who see the Holiday Season as an opportunity to take what someone else has worked hard for.

First, let’s be clear: Bad guys are out and about year-round, but it’s during this time that they know people have their minds on other things and not on what is important, safeguarding themselves. Here are a few tips that may help keep you from becoming a victim:

1. When keeping packages in your car, place them in the trunk or in an enclosed area and out of sight. Nothing says “steal me” more than a bag from a high-end electronics store on the front passenger seat.

2. This time of year sees us participating in that ever-so-enjoyable parking lot ballet for a space close to the door. That space is not only more convenient but safer for you and your valuables. There aren’t many people close enough to pay attention to a couple of suspicious lads trying the doors of a car parked way at the bottom of the lot. Consider giving yourself those few extra minutes to find a spot close to the door or at least under bright light.

3. Ladies, consider carrying your purse or handbag under your winter coat. A thief or purse snatcher can’t steal what he can’t see. If you carry your handbag outside of your coat, consider a purse with a sturdy strap and a good zipper closure and KEEP IT CLOSED. A running bad guy needs only a second to get your cash, credit cards, ID, etc.

4. Never, never, ever leave your purse unattended in the seat of the shopping cart. Walk through any supermarket and you will inevitably see a woman not only leave her purse open and in the seat of the cart but turn her back on it or walk away to retrieve an item. Remember, it only takes a second.

5. Men, consider carrying your wallet in your front pants pocket or inside coat pocket.

6. When using your card at the ATM or the checkout, block the keypad with your body or free hand to keep someone behind or beside you from getting your PIN number. A favorite scam of thieves is using a cell phone camera to take a picture of the numbers on the front of a credit card while memorizing the PIN as it is entered. They now have all they need to go shopping courtesy of the victim.

7. When walking in the mall or in the store parking lots, avoid being too encumbered. Someone weighed down with lots of packages makes a good victim.

8. After making your purchase, never keep the receipt in the bag. If your purchase is lost or stolen, so is your proof of buying that item along with your credit card information in some cases.

9. Most credit card data capture devices are now set up so that they do not print your card number on the receipt. Some merchants, however, still use older machines that print out the entire card number. Notorious for this are many restaurants, especially Chinese eateries. If the “Merchant Copy” has your credit card number printed on it, never leave it unattended at the table when you leave.

10. Lastly, know the store’s return and gift card policies. Some places charge a hefty restocking fee on items returned. Also, that $50 gift card may only be worth $35 six months from now. Although these things may not be crimes, if you get stung, they sure will feel like it!

Happy Holidays!