Department of
Public Safety
Newsletter
Mott Community College
April 2004
VACATION TIPS
Volume 5
A few precautions can mean the difference between a dream vacation and a disaster.*
“Do not leave your common
sense at home.” “You are
more vulnerable when in unfamiliar surroundings.”
Preparing for Departure
While there is no way to guarantee insulation from crime,
there are ways to minimize
the risk. Experts advise travelers to take a proactive approach to securing their property and ensuring their safety.
Travelers should also take
steps to keep their homes safe
while away. The following
guidelines can help in securing your home and yourself
while traveling:
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•
•
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Planning Your Vacation
•
•
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Consult with a reputable
travel agent. Many scam
artists offer trips that
sound too good to be
true, but have substantial
hidden costs or restrictions.
Avoid companies which
pressure you for an immediate decision or
won’t supply information
in writing.
File a “travel plan.” Let
someone know where
you are going, the route
you plan to take and
when you plan to arrive.
If you deviate from that
plan, let someone know.
*Information for this article
was provided by AAA of
Michigan.
•
•
•
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Ask a trusted friend or neighbor
to watch your house while you
are away.
Give them the phone number
where you are staying and other
pertinent information.
Have them pick up your mail,
newspapers, etc. or stop delivery.
Hire someone to clear the driveway and sidewalks of snow in
the winter, and mow the lawn in
the summer.
Have a neighbor park his/her
car in your driveway, to give
the house a “lived-in” appearance.
Make sure the doors and windows are secured before leaving
your home.
Set household lights (inside and
out) on variable timers. Leave
spare keys with a neighbor or
relative rather than hidden outside the house. A burglar
knows where to look!
Check your travel documents
and reconfirm your flight to
make sure it is on schedule.
Make photocopies of your passport and compile lists of your
credit card numbers. This will
help speed replacement of lost
or stolen items.
Some materials that may be
safe in automobiles can be dangerous in airplanes. Airlines
forbid packing matches or lighters in luggage, or flammable
liquids such as lighter refills,
adhesives, and solvents.
•
Never leave luggage unattended. Use
your business address, if possible, on
luggage
Safety While Traveling
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•
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Be aware of your surroundings.
Watch who is watching you..
Flashing wads of cash may make a
tourist an easy theft target. Consider
a variety of payment methods to ensure maximum convenience and security.
Travelers checks are a good option
because, if lost or stolen, they can be
replaced. Keep serial numbers separate from the checks.
Use credit cards to cover unexpected
or very large expenses incurred while
traveling. Credit charges are the
easiest to challenge if services or
merchandise purchased are unsatisfactory or incorrectly charged.
Split up cash among family members
so funds are still available should one
person experience a loss. Carry
enough to cover tips, taxi fares, telephones and other miscellaneous small
expenses.
Carry money separately from credit
cards or use a “fanny pack.” Carry
your purse close to your body and
your wallet in an inside coat or front
trouser pocket.
Consider bringing an automatic teller
machine (ATM) card on vacation.
Withdraw only small amounts of
cash as needed. When possible, do
all ATM banking during daylight and
business hours. After hours, only
frequent ATM machines located in
grocery stores, malls or other busy
areas.
OVER
Safety While Traveling (Continued)
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If your car is bumped from behind or
if someone says there is something
wrong with your car, don’t stop. Go
to a service station or a well-lit area
and call for help.
Don’t pull over for flashing headlights. Police vehicles have red or
blue lights.
the gas tank before dark.
•
Ask hotel front desk personnel
which areas of town to avoid and
what, if any special precautions
should be taken when driving a
rental car.
•
Never leave video cameras, car
phones or other expensive equipment visible in your car. Lock them
in the trunk.
Travel in groups when possible.
Walk only in well-lit areas and fill
Lodging Safely
•
Make sure the hotel desk clerk does not
announce your room number; if so, quietly request a new room assignment.
•
Preparation for a safe escape in case of
fire in a hotel/motel begins at check-in.
As you walk down the hallway, note the
location of fire extinguishers and fire
alarms. Count the number of doors between your room and the nearest exit, as
you may be forced to crawl on the floor
in darkness and smoke to your exit.
•
Keep your room key close to your bed,
where you can easily find it.
•
Use room safes or safety deposit boxes
This newsletter is provided to Mott
Community College campus by the
Public Safety Department.
Director..
Editor…..
Secretary..
Chief Clydell Duncan
Lt. Colin Perry
Officer Beverly Davis
NEED INFORMATION
Should you have a comment,
concern or question regarding the operations of the
Mott Community College Department of Public Safety, please
feel free to call…
Chief Clydell Duncan at…
762-5681
Page
2 Perry at…
Lt. Colin
762-0274
provided by the hotel. Store all valuables out of sight, even when you are
in the room.
•
Use deadbolt and other locks provided
by the hotel. Properties which appear
in AAA Tour Books must comply with
certain room security requirements,
including deadbolt locks on all guest
room entry and connecting room
doors.
•
Never open the door to a stranger.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
All pay phone calls are FREE! Please report all crimes!
CAMPUS EMERGENCY
Dial……………………………………...762-5666
or from any campus pay phone DIAL #1
NON-EMERGENCY requests for service
Dial……………………………………...762-0222
WEATHER RELATED EMERGENCIES
Follow Evacuation Instructions posted in each
classroom and office.
SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION
Dial……………………………………...232-8989