Don't Let Thieves Steal Your Fun Hot Tips to Keep your Cool Information Notice: May 22, 2007 Current: 2009

Washington DC – The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) today released several hot weather safety tips to keep summer vacationers cool. School is almost out for the summer, which means summer vacations are about to get under way. While vacationers are a favorite target for thieves, you can leave your worries behind by using your common sense and following a few simple precautions from NCPC and its icon McGruff the Crime Dog®. Make your vacation a memorable one. Don’t let thieves steal your summer fun.

Packing and Planning

• Unprepared tourists become prime targets for criminals. Research your vacation destination. Decide in advance where you want to go and how to get there. Looking and feeling confident in your travels helps make you look like you belong, not like a tourist. That’s important, because criminals often view tourists as the most vulnerable of potential targets.
• Before you leave home, record the information on your credit cards and serial numbers on any valuable equipment that you plan to bring. Copy your passport and other important documents and secure the information in a safe place.
• Plan your trip. Know where to go and how to get around.

Before You Leave

• Make sure that all doors and windows of your home are securely locked before you leave.
• Stop mail and newspaper delivery, or ask a neighbor to pick them up every day.
• Create the illusion that you are home; use timers to turn lights, the television, or a radio on and off during the day and night.

On The Road

• Always lock the car when you park. Avoid grab-and-go at gas stations. Lock your doors and roll up your windows.
• Stick to well-lighted and well-traveled streets.
• Select ATM machines in visible and well-lighted locations.
• Check around and in your car for anything suspicious before you get in.
• Keep valuables out of sight or in the trunk. Purses, wallets, MP3 players, and cell phones in plain view only help attract thieves.

In The Hotel

• Avoid leaving valuables in your hotel room. If necessary use a hotel safe.
• Keep your hotel room door locked, even when you are inside. Check all window locks, especially if you are on a lower floor.
• Verify any unexpected visitor or delivery person by calling the front desk and asking to see identification.

Family Safety

• Review your family’s safety rules with your children.
• Make sure that everyone in your party—adults, teens, children—has the name, address, and phone number of the place you are staying and carries that information at all times.
• 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.

For more information and tips on travel safety, visit the National Crime Prevention Council’s web page at www.ncpc.org. or contact the Oak Creek Police Dept. – Community Resource Bureau – 766-7624.