Summer is here and the travel season is gearing up. Whether
you’re goin’ down the ocean or staying in a five star European hotel identity theft
and security should be on your mind. You want to enjoy your travel but have to
keep your guard up. Sadly, unwinding and relaxing may make you vulnerable. Your
habits about purse snatchers, pick pockets, and how you handle your money will
stay with you on vacation. However, we tend to get complacent about unpacking
everything and locking the room when we leave, thinking everything is secure. Remember
that you are not the only one with access to your room. If someone doesn’t have
a key, the digital locks can be easier to “pick” than mechanical locks.
Depending on how and where you travel you may have any
combination of electronics, jewelry, cash, credit cards, and personal
documents. Common thieves as well as identity thieves are looking for anything
they can get their hands on. The trick is not making it easy. Although, even
your best intentions can be thwarted by tenacious thieves and lack of security
options.
During some recent travel I had the opportunity to stay at five
different brands of midrange hotels. There was one common observation made in
all five hotels-The room safes are disappearing. Research did not reveal any
reason why hotels are removing room safes. The places I stayed were all new or
fairly new builds. So, this appears to be a new trend. Maybe not as secure as
the hotel safe, room safes do offer a higher level of security than leaving
items in your luggage.
A friend reported staying at a nice, but off brand motel.
They left the room and stored electronic devices in their suitcases, under
clothes. Those suitcases were then put in a closet under other suitcases. After
returning to the room they discovered that the electronics had been stolen. Thieves
know we hide valuables in the room. Not only did they feel the victimization of
the theft but also that someone had gone through their room and luggage.
Time and opportunity are part of any successful crime. If
someone has access to your room, with a good idea that you’re gone for several
hours, they can thoroughly go through your room and take anything they want.
The more time a thief has the higher percentage they will be successful.
Suffice it to say that nothing is totally secure. If someone wants in bad
enough, they’ll get in.
Travelers have to make themselves uninviting or bothersome
targets. If a thief feels that it would take too much time and effort to attempt
the theft or notes nothing valuable, they’ll move on.
Some simple things you can do to help make yourself less
vulnerable to theft or identity theft.
- Don't carry all of your credit cards on you
- Notify CC companies of extended travel
- Make copies of licenses/passports. Leave a copy at home and take one with you
- Use hotel safes, don't leave documents or valuables in your roomUse bank ATM's, not independent machines
- Secure your smart phone against unwanted access
- Install an app that allows you to track/shut down/erase your phone, laptop, and tablet
- Think twice before using credit cards in unfamiliar businesses, use cash when you can.
- If you have to leave valuables in the room make it difficult as possible by hiding what you can and locking luggage.
