PROTECTING YOUR HOME

Whether you live in a rural or urban setting, every home in every neighborhood is a potential target for burglary. Most homes contain valuables that are very attractive to burglars: televisions, stereos, cash and computers. Justice Department statistics say that an average family has a one-in-four chance of being the victim of a serious crime each year. Even worse, burglary is often compounded by violence. If the exterior doors of your home are hollow-core, replace them with solid wood, fiberglass or steel.

• Make sure exterior door hinges are on the inside rather than the outside - where an intruder can remove the pins and pull the door out of the frame.
• If you have double-hung windows, bolt the upper and lower sashes together or insert a metal bar in the track to prevent opening.
• To secure sliding glass doors, add a bolt lock or use a "charley bar" to block the door closed.
• Use bars to secure basement or garage doors and add bars to basement windows.
• Most home burglaries occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., so get in the habit of locking all doors and windows whenever you go out.
• Invest in high-quality, name-brand deadbolt locks for all exterior doors.
• If you have a double-cylinder deadbolt that is operated by a key both inside and out, keep the key near the door so every family member can find it and exit quickly in case of fire.
• Alarm systems are an effective deterrent. Nine out of ten convicted burglars agree they'd avoid a house protected by an alarm system.
• Security system decals and signs are also an effective deterrent.
• According to the FBI, more burglaries occur in July and August than in any other months.
• Make sure your security system includes a loud inside alarm, detectors at all exterior doors, and motion sensors in the master bedroom and main living areas.
• Never leave an answering machine message indicating you're not at home. Instead, just say you "can't come to the phone."
• Use timers to turn lights, televisions and sound systems on and off at different times to give your home a "lived-in look" when you are away.
• Install motion-detecting outdoor floodlights around your home. Remember to mount them high enough to prevent intruders from disabling them.
• If there's a Neighborhood Watch Program in your community, join it. If there's not, start one.
• Report any suspicious persons or vehicles to your local police.
• Get to know your neighbors.
• If you have elderly or incapacitated friends or relatives, check to make sure their security devices are all in good working order.
• Some burglars scan newspapers for wedding and funeral announcements and special community and holiday events that might take you out of your home, so be especially careful on these occasions.
• Don't let mail, newspapers or flyers accumulate while you're away, tipping off criminals. Have the post office hold mail, have newspapers suspended, and have a neighbor or friend clear away flyers.
• To a burglar, an empty trash can mean you're away. Keep some trash on hand, and consider asking a neighbor to set out trash for pick-up at your house.
• Don't leave valuables in sight through windows, where they will tempt burglars.
• Use an etching pen to mark an ID number, like your driver's license number, on valuables.
• Make an inventory of valuables in your household and store it somewhere other than your home, such as in a safe deposit box.
• Leave curtains slightly parted so your house doesn't have an empty look.
• Never open the door to a stranger. Install peepholes in all exterior doors so you can identify whoever is outside. Do not rely on a door safety chain, because these can be broken easily.
• Ask for I. D. from service representatives who come to your home, and if they don't have it, check with their company to verify identity before letting them in.
• If you're planning to go away, be careful whom you tell.
• When vacationing, leave a car in your driveway or arrange for a neighbor to keep a car there and move it around from time to time.
• Have someone mow your lawn, rake leaves and shovel snow while you are away.
• Prune overgrown trees and shrubs to eliminate hiding places for intruders.
• Many garage door openers respond to common codes, so follow the manufacturer's instructions to program yours with a unique code no burglar's opener will match.
• Keep your garage door locked at all times, preferably with a deadbolt lock.
• Thieves always look in mailboxes, under doormats and above doorways for keys. Don't make it easy for them to get into your home.
• Don't put your name or address on your key ring, because it might lead a thief right to your door with key in hand.
• When having a car parked or serviced, leave only the car keys, taking your house keys with you — burglars “borrow” such keys long enough to copy them!
• If there's any chance a previous resident may still have keys to your house, re-key the locks. Do the same if you lose your key chain or have any reason to suspect that a key to your house could be in the wrong hands.

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TRAVELING ABROAD

Happily, most problems can be solved over the telephone or by a visit of the U.S. citizen to the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. But, there are less fortunate occasions when U.S. diplomats are called on to meet U.S. citizens at foreign police stations, hospitals, prisons and even at morgues. In these cases, the assistance that diplomats can offer is specific but limited.

In the hope of helping you avoid serious difficulties during your abroad, we have prepared the following travel tips.

Thank you for taking the time to become an informed traveler. We wish you a safe and wonderful journey!

BEFORE YOU GO

What to Bring

Safety begins when you pack. To avoid being a target, dress conservatively. Don't wear expensive looking jewelry. A flashy wardrobe or one that is too casual can mark you as a tourist. As much as possible, avoid the appearance of affluence.

Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.

Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip and plan a place or places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on your person, you may wish to conceal them in several places rather than putting them all in one wallet or pouch. Avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside pockets that are easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are somewhat safer. One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing.

If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any medicines you need in your carry-on luggage. Also have a copy of your passport and other travel documents with you and left with a trusted person at your home or office.

To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. If you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country first.

Bring travelers checks and one or two major credit cards instead of cash.

Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen.

Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality. If possible, lock your luggage.

Consider getting a telephone calling card. It is a convenient way of keeping in touch. If you have one, verify that you can use it from your overseas location(s). Access numbers to U.S. operators are published in many international newspapers. Find out your access number before you go. You can also rent an international cellular telephone at most major international airports for the length of your visit in another country.

What to Leave Behind

Don't bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home:

• valuable or expensive-looking jewelry
• irreplaceable family objects
• all unnecessary credit cards
• Social Security card, library cards, and similar items you may routinely carry in your wallet.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency, again along with a copy of your passport and your immunization record.

A Few Things to Bring AND Leave Behind

Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver's license and the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one photocopy of this data with family or friends at home; pack the other in a place separate from where you carry your valuables.

Leave a copy of the serial numbers of your travelers' checks with a friend or relative at home. Carry your copy with you in a separate place and, as you cash the checks, cross them off the list.

What to Learn About Before You Go

• Security. The Department of State's Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world. They describe entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, the crime and security situation, political disturbances, areas of instability, and special information about driving and road conditions. They also provide addresses and emergency telephone numbers for U.S. embassies and consulates. In general, the Sheets do not give advice. Instead, they describe conditions so travelers can make informed decisions about their trips.
  
  In some dangerous situations, however, the Department of State recommends that Americans defer travel to a country. In such a case, a Travel Warning is issued for the country in addition to its Consular Information Sheet.
• Public Announcements are a means to disseminate information about relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. They are issued when there is a perceived threat, even if it does not involve Americans as a particular target group. In the past, Public Announcements have been issued to deal with short-term coups, pre-election disturbances, violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.
  
  You can access Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements 24-hours a day in several ways.
  • Internet
    The most convenient source of information about travel and consular services is the Consular Affairs home page. The web site address is http://travel.state.gov. If you do not have access to the Internet at home, work or school, your local library may provide access to the Internet.
  • Telephone
    The Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747 can answer general inquiries on safety and security overseas. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-317-472-2328.
  • Mail/In Person
    Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements are available at any of the regional passport agencies and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, or, by writing and sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Office of American Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520.
• Local Laws and Customs. When you leave the United States, you are subject to the laws of the country where you are. Therefore, before you go, learn as much as you can about the local laws and customs of the places you plan to visit. Good resources are your library, your travel agent, and the embassies, consulates or tourist bureaus of the countries you will visit. In addition, keep track of what is being reported in the media about recent developments in those countries.

THINGS TO ARRANGE BEFORE YOU GO

• Your Itinerary .
  As much as possible, plan to stay in larger hotels that have more elaborate security. Safety experts recommend booking a room from the second to seventh floors above ground level to deter easy entrance from outside, but low enough for fire equipment to reach.
  
  Because take-off and landing are the most dangerous times of a flight, book non-stop flights when possible. When there is a choice of airport or airline, ask your travel agent about comparative safety records.
• Legal Documents.
  Have your affairs at home in order. If you leave a current will, insurance documents, and power of attorney with your family or a friend, you can feel secure about traveling and will be prepared for any emergency that may arise while you are away. If you have minor children, consider making guardianship arrangements for them.
• Credit.
  Make a note of the credit limit on each credit card that you bring. Make certain not to charge over that amount on your trip. In some countries, Americans have been arrested for innocently exceeding their credit limit. Ask your credit card company how to report the loss of your card from abroad. 800 numbers do not work from abroad, but your company should have a number that you can call while you are overseas.
• Insurance. Find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad. More importantly, check on whether your health insurance covers you abroad. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide payment for medical care outside the U.S. Even if your health insurance will reimburse you for medical care that you pay for abroad, normal health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation from a remote area or from a country where medical facilities are inadequate. Consider purchasing one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. Also, make sure that the plan you purchase includes medical evacuation in the event of an accident or serious illness.

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