(Washington, D.C.) - Memorial Day weekend signaled the beginning of summer vacations and
travel for many people. The National Crime Prevention Council wants to help you leave your
worries behind; but not your common sense when traveling. Make your vacation a memorable
one by taking a few simple precautions when you're on the road and at your destination.
1. Packing and Planning:
a. Research your vacation destination. Decide in advance where you want to go and
how to get there. Looking and feeling confident helps reduce the appearance of
being a tourist. That's important, because criminals often view tourists as the most
vulnerable of potential victims.
b. Take only credit cards that you absolutely need and bring traveler's checks instead
of cash.
c. Record information on the credit cards and valuable equipment that you plan to bring
with you. Copy your passport and other important documents and secure the
information in a safe place.
2. On the Road:
a. Carry your purse close to your body. Keep your wallet in an inside front pocket.
b. Take your keys with you and always lock the car when it's parked, even if your stop
is brief. Keep valuables out of sight, preferably in the trunk.
c. Stick to well-lighted and well-traveled streets at all times.
d. Select ATM machines in visible, well-lighted locations.
3. In the Hotel:
a. Don't leave valuables in your hotel room. Most hotels have safes for guest use.
b. Keep your hotel room door locked, even when you are inside. Check all window
locks, especially if you are on a low floor.
c. Don't let anyone in your room who you don't know. Verify any unexpected visit or
delivery by calling the front desk and asking to see identification.
4. Family Safety:
a. Review your family's safety rules with your children.
b. Make sure that everyone in your party -adults, teens and children - has the name,
address and phone number of the place you are staying and carries that information
at all times.
c. Set up rules for each day's outings on where and how you'll link up if you become
separated. Agree on a meeting place, just in case.
d. Rent cellular phones, so that you can keep in touch with family members if you are
on different excursions or day trips.
The 23rd Annual National Night Out
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Join the Tradition - Look for more information in upcoming bulletins and start your neighborhood
planning!
Acknowledging that all computers do not have the same capabilities, please try the method
below. I will continue to write the bulletins and place them on the web page with pictures and