Vacation Safety and Boating Tips

Vacation Safety Thieves look for opportunities. If you're going on vacation this summer, take a minute to check the list to protect yourself and your home.

* One of the times your home is most vulnerable is when it is left empty for an extended period of time. Darkened windows, mail or newspapers collecting and closed windows in hotter weather all advertise your absence to a potential burglar.

* The best protection for your apartment during your absence is to have a house sitter. A friend you trust staying at your house can take care of your pets and/or plants in addition to making sure the house is inhabited.

* Have a neighbor check on your apartment while you're away -- turning on lights, radios or TVs and opening and closing curtains will give your apartment the appearance of someone home.

* If you don't have a friend or neighbor to housesit or check your apartment while you're away -- perhaps even if you do -- you should keep not only lights but a TV or radio on a timer. If you're like me and have your TV on almost all the time you're home [I don't watch it, it's just background noise.], the absence of the sound and that glowing light in the windows announces that you're not there.

* Make sure whoever is checking your apartment while you're away knows how to work your alarm system and who to call in case of a problem.

* Unless you have a house sitter, stop your mail and any newspaper or other delivery. Nothing announces an empty apartment better than a stack of newspapers or an overflowing mailbox. Ask a nearby neighbor to pick up any packages delivered while you're gone.

* If you have a garden or plants on your balcony, make sure someone is watering the plants regularly or put the plants where they can't be seen. Plants slowly dying due to lack of water may announce your absence.

* Check your lease. Many landlords require that you notify them if your apartment is going to be left empty for any period of time (this is so they can enter in case of emergency even if they can't reach you). If you've got a house sitter this isn't necessary. Posted by Self Defense Guru at 12:51 PM 0 comments Labels: home secuity, Personal safety, secuity, vacation For the summer: Boating Safety During the summer, we enjoy tips to the lake or to the beach. Don't let your family outing turn into the day you became a victim of crime!

Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets. Don't make yourself an easy target. Always follow these simple steps.

* Never leave anything valuable on display, however small and insignificant it may seem. Thieves steal first and think about value later. * Don't leave anything loose in the cockpit or on deck. * Don't leave your engine key in the ignition - always take it with you. * Keep your boat keys separate from your engine keys. * Always keep your boat locked when no one is on board, even for a short time. * Use strong padlocks or rimlocks on all your hatches, entry points and cockpit lockers. * Constantly check and improve the security on your boat. It's a good idea to fit an alarm and use a visible sticker to say that one is fitted. * Make sure your cockpit lockers can be properly locked, and check that your main hatch and fore-hatch are strong. * Also think about having a strongbox down below. If you don't think something is secure, get it fixed.

IMPROVE YOUR SECURITY Once you've tied up alongside, always do a quick security check before going ashore.

Always:

* Lock anything valuable out of sight in a strong locker secured by a strong padlock; * Lock up emergency money away from other valuables; * Keep your curtains closed so that no-one can look in; * Keep unused ropes, fenders and other items out of sight in your cockpit, lockers and cupboards - and always lock them; * Make sure that your life raft and outboard motor are secure, as these are valuable and attractive to boat thieves. * When you go ashore from a dinghy, always remove your oars or paddles, rowlocks or pump, and secure the dinghy with a strong chain and padlock. * If you are the victim of boat theft, call the police immediately and tell the harbour master or boatyard manager. Check to make sure that your boat is still seaworthy and hasn't been badly damaged. * And, if you can, check that neighboring boats haven't been broken into as well. * Get to know other boat owners in your marina and work together to keep the marina secure. You can do the following. * Keep an eye on other boats, as well as your own. * Report any strangers at the marina to the harbour master or yard master. * Don't give your marina access card or key to other people. * Never tell anyone else the access code to the marina. * Don't let strangers into the marina, however genuine they may seem. * Keep the marina gate closed at all times. Posted by Self Defense Guru at 12:46 PM 0 comments Labels: boating, crime, Personal safety, recreation, secuity, Self defense



About the Author
Georgia. David Brackman is an entrepreneur who spent 27 years in the offset printing business. He also has run embroidery and yogurt stores. He currently is a distributor of personal safety items. You can find his products at http://www.selfdefenseatl.com