Be Aware, Stay Safe Travel
Again when you travel, stay safe. I am more mindful of my surroundings while away from home. This writer is not a trusting person to start with. In my experience, I have seen and heard many stories of good people having unfortunate things happen to them while traveling. I know my stay-safe vigilance has upset my wife. It would be better for her to be a little upset than to have something upsetting happen.
My entire career in physical security has been spent protecting my clients’ lives and property, helping them stay safe. Finally, I have seen firsthand what happens when we are not proactive. Most likely, when practiced, you get better at most things. Becoming more aware is no different.
Use Common Sense
At first, things may feel a little forced, but they will become more natural with practice. Most of my recommendations are based on common sense. Sadly, the lack of common sense often gets us into trouble. Do not walk down poorly lit areas in the dark; it should be avoided, as it can cause problems. Stay safe. Predators are usually opportunistic and looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. Half of the battle is not wanting to become a statistic. This means doing your due diligence.
When in Doubt, Ask
I am the last person to suggest you not enjoy your time away from home, far from it. However, if you have too much to drink and are complacent, you have only yourself to blame. When you are visiting a new place and are unsure about the safety of a particular street at night stay safe. It’s always a good idea to ask the locals for their opinion.
You can ask the people you are staying with, store clerks, or anyone you encounter. Most people will be happy to help. Moreover, while attending a conference in Baltimore, Maryland, I asked a firefighter if a particular street was safe to walk on at night. He told me a horrible story and advised me not to go too far down that street.
Be Proactive
Let me give you a few examples. Here are some things you can do to be proactive. Equally important, I will stay on the side where her handbag is when walking down the street. I become a physical obstacle to anyone reaching for her belongings. My wife usually puts her purse on the right side. Walking next to her is only sometimes possible due to being on a crowded street or in a venue. In that case, my alternative positioning is to stand behind her right or center, helping her stay safe. Observations of this kind of vigilance by security professionals are called situational awareness.
We must consider the what-ifs. You may wonder how this guy relaxes and enjoys the moment while always being aware. You do not need special training to do these common-sense things I share. Truthfully, it has become second nature, and I do not have to think about it so much. All kinds of things can happen while you are traveling. See the link below for a post related to that.
Travel -Things That Happened in Transit
Vigilance
Another thing I do that drives her up the wall is remind her that her bag is unzipped. If I remind her enough, she will be more conscious that her bag is vulnerable and needs to be secured. Leave the expensive jewelry at home.
Do not draw attention to yourself. Criminals are always looking to exploit weaknesses. In addition, my situational awareness level goes up and down while traveling. If we are standing in a crowd, my level goes up. I know people with bad intentions take advantage when you are distracted. If I were walking on a busy street, my awareness would be more acute. I have heard stories of two people on a motor scooter snatching bags from unaware pedestrian’s shoulders and speeding off.
In general, once your belongings are gone, they cull out the cash and dump the rest. All your documents should be kept separately from where you keep your money. You may not want to believe it, but you will be evaluated to see if you will make a good mark. That’s why not drawing attention to how you look is a suitable method of operation.
Stay Safe While in Crowds
Crowded metros are prime time for opportunists. While in a metro car in Barcelona, I spotted a would-be pickpocket sizing me up. He was standing by the exit door of the train. He saw me watching him and taped his front pocket to say I know where your wallet is. There was no telling where his partner in crime was. These kinds of predators usually work in teams. Keep the items that need securing in front of you.
Pants with zippered pockets are a plus also. I have heard that some thieves will have razor blades and cut slits exposing your secured items. All these instances mentioned so far are very subversive and covert. You are unaware these things are happening. Overt situations are usually confrontational. At home, you may conceal carry. What do you do on a trip? One of your greatest weapons is your brain. What are some everyday objects you can use to protect yourself? A tightly rolled-up newspaper can give you distance from an attacker. See the link below for more information.
https://www.rainn.org/articles/safety-tips-traveling
Everyday Items Used for Self-defense
Buy some paracord and put a lug nut on it. Both items can be in your carry-on bag in separate locations. Once put together, this makes an excellent deterrent when swung vigorously. Doing things like this gives you more confidence. You look more confident, not like a target. These items can be combined and worn around your neck. Perfectly legal, this will help you stay safe. It is not worth your life to resist a person with a gun in your face.
Please give them the contents of a decoy wallet. But what is most valuable in another pocket? Have a decoy cell phone or expired passport to throw on the ground behind them. Run away to fight another day. I hope some of these tips have been helpful. If anything, you will be more mindful.
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