The recent terrorist attacks call for vigilance and improved physical security. As the Holiday season nears, so are tricksters, fraudsters and criminals waiting quietly to snatch from you that hard earned livelihood.
Keep guard. Below find insights useful to your physical and personal security.
Before you improve your physical security, you must first be alert. First secure yourself, before you can secure others.
You become a target, because you’re a person of interest (POI). If you keep a lot of money at hand, and you let people know about it, you will surely be a subject of interest.
Rule #1: avoid showing people (including close friends) that you keep huge sums of money in cash on you. They will be interested in it, and before you know it, they are digging a hole in your home house.
The following are considerations that will increase your own personal security awareness.
Do’s and Don’ts for your personal security.
DOs
i. Follow your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about a location or a situation, leave immediately.
ii. Keep your colleagues informed of your movements, especially if you work at night. Inform colleagues at each point of your movements, and ensure passengers in your car know that someone has been informed of who you are with and your direction.
iii. Learn to notice details about people. In case of an incident, this will help to give a good description of the surroundings.
iv. Become knowledgeable about your neighbourhood. Understand and respect the cultural environment in which you are living.
v. Keep a low profile. Dress and behave conservatively.
vi. Establish several routes to work, and vary your selection of them and the time you depart for work and return home. Many incidents take place as the individual either leaves or returns home.
vii. Be alert of any evidence of surveillance of your house or travel route to work; serious attacks are usually preceded by a period of surveillance.
viii. Do not hesitate to call attention to yourself if you are in danger: scream, shout, and blow the horn of your vehicle.
ix. Rehearse what action you would take if you were to be confronted. Generally, the following options will be open to you:
a. Talk your way out of it;
b. Give in to the demands made of you; and
c. Shout for help or yell, flee, or fight.
DONT’s
- Fail to ignore unusual or strange circumstances.
- Become emotionally involved with people you are trying to help.
- Promise assistance that you cannot deliver and make financial commitments that you cannot honour.
- Display cash, keys or other valuables, as this may attract potential robbers.
- Establish routines, as they make your movements easy to predict for any observer.
To be continued.
Stay safe this holiday season.
