TRAVEL CRIME PREVENTION- Take Steps to Protect Yourself and Your Property

 

With the summer months fast approaching, doing some travel often becomes a priority. Here are some tips to help you keep your property secure while you are away.

 

Physical Security

At Home: Things you can do to make sure that a burglar does not steal anything from your home while you are away include,

·         Don’t announce that you will be away on social media before you go or while you are away. You don’t want a burglar to know no one will be at home.

·         Have your mail and newspaper held so that they do not pile up in your mailbox or on your front door, a clear sign to burglars that no one is around.

·         Let a trusted neighbor or two know that you will be away and ask them to keep an eye on your house.

·         Lock up your valuables in a safe or locking file cabinet and put away small electronics like laptops, tablet computers, and portable game players.

·         Leave some lights on or put some lights on timers so that it looks like you are at home at night.

·         As you go out the door, LOCK YOUR HOUSE!!!

 

On the road: Make a habit of doing the following actions while you are on your trip,

·         If you are driving

o   Always lock your car doors and close the windows.

o   Park in well-lit areas and close to buildings.

o   Never pick up hitchhikers.

o   Fill the gas tank before dark.

·         At your hotel

o   Lock your room, even if you are in the room.

o   Store valuables in the room safe or in the hotel safe.

o   Don’t tell strangers the name of your hotel.

o   Guard your room keys when you are in restaurants, the pool, or clubs.

 

Cybersecurity

While you are away you will take your cellphone and you may take a laptop or tablet computer and possibly other electronic devices. Here are some tips to keep your electronic devices safe and their contents safe.

·         Bring only what you need, the fewer the better.

·         Be sure your devices have the latest software and security updates before you leave.

·         Backup any data on your device before you leave.

·         Continue using strong Multifactor Authentication (MFA) on your online accounts.

·         Turn on “Find My Device” features to help you find your device should you misplace it.

·         Check privacy and location settings. Turn off location tracking for apps that you do not need on your trip.

·         Only turn on location services when absolutely necessary.

·         Be careful using public wi-fi. Do not access sensitive accounts such as your checking or credit card account. If you need to access those accounts use a VPN.

·         Keep your devices secure and with you.

·         Turn off auto-connect to avoid connecting to shady networks.

 

For more about security while you travel check out,

 

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7128

 

National Cybersecurity Alliance:

https://www.staysafeonline.org/articles/vacation-and-travel-security-tips?utm_content=376913179&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-71354375