The Thanksgiving Turkey has been picked to the bone, and the holiday shopping season has officially begun. 31 Holiday Safety Tips for 2017.
We know the holiday season is always a special time of year. It is also a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. Thieves are opportunistic and even worse, this is the time of year when professional criminals work 24 hours a day.
Since there are 31 days in December, here are 31 holiday safety tips from ESS Global Corp.
Holiday Safety Tips 2017
Children
Children are a distraction in the car and at the mall and even more so during the holidays. They are also at a higher risk of being abducted. Child trafficking is rampant in the US.- If at all possible, leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter.
- Teach your child to go to a store clerk or mall guard and ask for help in case your child is separated from you.
- Never allow small children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom.
- Children of any age, should not be allowed to go to the car alone, especially at night.
- Teach children their full name, address and telephone number to give to police officers or mall security guards.
ATM Use
Use ATM’s that are inside a building or a bank.- Shield your PIN when someone is behind you.
- Only take out exactly what you need. This is not the time of year to walk around with a fistful of cash.
- Pocket the receipt.
Shopping Malls, Strip Plazas and Box Stores
- Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with friends or family. There is safety in numbers.
- Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Keep cash in your front pocket.
- This is the time of year to stay very alert to your surroundings.
- Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home and notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused (check your January statement with a fine toothed comb).
- Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in Christmas shopping crowds and shopping areas. Purse snatchers love crowds, and mobs of shoppers make their “job” easier than at any other time of year.
- Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings. You know the sort of thing: someone tells you a story of despair and asks for your money to help put things right. All too often these are con artist tricks — and they succeed because they sound like they’re real.
Driving and Parking
Avoid driving alone especially at night.- Keep all car doors locked and windows closed.
- If you must shop at night, park in a well-lit area. Again, try to go with friends/family.
- Avoid parking next to vans or any car, truck with tinted/blacked out windows.
- Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked. This is not the time of year to be walking around a parking lot at night with a purse and presents, searching for your car.
- Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This is catnip for thieves. If you must leave anything in the car, lock it in the trunk or hide it out of sight.
- Be sure to locate your keys before leaving the mall or store, do not fumble around for them standing beside your car.
- When approaching your vehicle, be very aware of your surroundings.
- Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area. Ask a mall guard or store security for a quick escort to your vehicle.
Holiday Parties, Family Get-Togethers
When leaving your home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and/or pick up your newspapers and mail.- Indoor and outdoor lights should be on automatic timers.
- Leave a radio and some lights on so the house looks and sounds occupied while you are away.
- Be cautious of posting holiday plans on Social Media.
- Never drink and drive.
- Be aware of your surroundings when you leave as well as when you get home.
Longer nights and shorter days make for extended periods of low light. Anyone, especially a woman, walking through a dark parking garage or mall lot, both arms occupied with shopping bags, makes for a tempting target. Don’t be that target. Stay aware of your surroundings and may you and your family have a Joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Situational Awareness training had it’s roots in the military. From the breadth of the various definitions, it should be clear that situation awareness, as viewed by many working in the area, is a considerably broader concept than that conventionally held by the military community who concentrated on spacial tactical relationships (red team vs blue team).
How is this happening?
To fully understand this phenomena, go take a seat in the nearest hospital emergency room waiting area one evening. Observe the unfortunate people who come in for treatment and you will begin to understand this point.
The same exact principle applies to the street; individuals, businesses, colleges, churches and more. You can be inattentive and oblivious and get away with it until your path crosses the path of a criminal or intersects with violent situation. The vast majority of criminals are opportunists, who only strike when presented with a viable, easy opportunity.
Developing awareness is a skill and the ESS Global Situational Awareness Training will give you the skill sets that last a lifetime. At first it will seem very awkward and self-conscious, but with practice, it will become seamless and subconscious. You will start to pick up on more and more subtle rings of disturbance and more complex stimuli from the world around you. Eventually, some people may even think you are psychic as they begin to notice how you seem to sense events before they unfold.
“As the only training facility in Florida to be licensed by the US Department of Education, ESS Global Corporation provides education, training and consulting for commercial endeavors, government entities and the general public solely designed to enhance the safety and security of our communities. Our partnerships promote an unrelenting devotion to high standards of duty and courage. ESS Global Corporation accomplishes this mission through an unwavering dedication to deliver comprehensive security services to the communities we value and serve.”