Defensive Countermeasures Institute —

We last discussed important points to consider when returning to your vehicle after a day of frenzied holiday shopping. Consider your vehicle a mobile safe haven; it protects you from the elements and provides a degree of safety and security from physical threats. This exemplifies the importance of knowing exactly how to reach it safely after exiting buildings and equally important not to step out from it too hastily. Consider the following when heading out on your shopping spree.

Most of us truly look forward to the year-end holiday celebrations but often dread the hectic pace that leads to them. Even the most affluent shopper will snatch up a bargain given the opportunity to do so. And so, it is the quest for that perfect gift that leads us into unfamiliar territory. Often times we drive enormous distances to a cross-town location that offers that last chance of having that one special gift remaining on the shelf or in-stock—we never give a second thought that it is a part of the city that we infrequently visit. Thus, we venture onto unfamiliar turf.

This in and of itself is not reason enough to avoid the drive altogether, but it does require an understanding of the tools we possess that can aid our security in these instances. Remember your “mobile safe haven?” Just as we acknowledged the importance of returning to your vehicle in the safest and direct manner, it is equally important to survey the surrounding area before stepping from it.

After arriving at your destination, spend a few moments in the relative safety of your vehicle and decompress from having just shared the highway with highly motivated bargain hunters like yourself. Use this time to gather your thoughts and plan your movement to the building you will need to enter. Also, be watchful for the surrounding norms—things that seem as likely occurrences. Scrutinize the areas you will need to cross through to reach your destination. Once you have determined that the area appears safe, then and only then should you unlock your door and proceed to make the purchase that will put a smile on the face of someone special.

Holiday shopping can be a joy. It also is a time to recall our blessings and give thanks for our relative safety and security. Enjoy the spirit and Be Safe!

As retail shoppers come out in droves, finding parking spaces becomes more difficult.  It’s a familiar scene to see shoppers driving round and round in circles, up one aisle and down another just hoping a parking spot will open up.  Below are some practical tips to help you avoid potentially dangerous mistakes.

Light At Night

All too often we try to find the parking place closest to the store.  However that is not necessarily the safest place.  Most parking lots are (or should be) well lit.  If at all possible, park next to the light post.  This serves three useful purposes.  First, it will give you a reference point when returning to your vehicle.  Secondly, it will provide illumination for you to quickly and safely enter your vehicle; and lastly, any would-be attackers do not want to be seen.  They are far less likely to target a vehicle under a light.

Back In—Drive Out

Sure it may be easier to pull into a parking space; however it’s safer to back in.  Take few extra moments back in so that your departure will be quick and effortless.  If you encounter anything suspicious or out of the ordinary in the parking lot, you want to proceed to your vehicle, lock the doors and exit the premises as quickly as possible; backing in allows you to do so.

In Open Air, Remember Where

Whether in a shopping mall or mega store with multiple entrances, it’s easy to become preoccupied on your way out of the store. Prior to entering the building, make a mental note of your parking space and its relation to the door you enter.  If you don’t exit through the same door you’ll not only have a harder time locating your vehicle, but you’ll also increase your vulnerability since you will likely have a longer trek to your vehicle.  The shortest route between two points is a straight line, albeit avoiding obstacles and threat areas.  If you find yourself having to walk around the side of the building in order to return to your origination point, you are more likely to become preoccupied with locating your vehicle - a major distraction that lowers your vigilance to the surrounding area.

Ignore Bad Manners

We have all experienced a greedy driver ’snake’ into the parking space you were patiently waiting for.   No doubt that it is frustrating.  However rather than escalate your blood pressure over it, take a deep breath and simply look for another parking place.  Odds are the spot you were waiting for wasn’t near a light post or wouldn’t have afforded you the opportunity to back into it easily.  Rather than let it rob you of your joy, move on and look for a better more suitable parking spot.  Be Safe!

As parts of the country are waking up to frost covered windshields and piles of rich golden leaves, we are reminded of the upcoming holiday season.  For those who are still running their air conditioners, all one needs to do is take a visit to your local retail establishment to see holiday décor already lining the aisles.

In this age of harried lifestyles it’s imperative to slow down long enough to put your personal safety first.  All too often the “it won’t happen to me” and “I’m too busy” mentality takes over.  This month DCI is addressing tips and precautionary measures to aid with your personal safety and security during the forthcoming holiday season. 

Are Your Hands Free?

This is an important question to consider prior to exiting the relative security of the shopping mall. Leaving shopping centers at night can leave you especially vulnerable.  Often times, many of us will be laden with shopping bags, purses and children in tow, which makes an enticing target of opportunity for would-be attacker harboring in the shadows. Remaining alert to this vulnerability is key to your safety and security. When possible, keep all items in a shopping cart and use it to transport items until you reach your vehicle.  Better still, if shopping with a friend or adult family member, have someone wait near the entrance/exit while the other drives back to the meeting location. This affords an opportunity to load the kids and purchases without over exposure to threats.  Moreover, this brief separation of the adults provides ‘Over-watch’ of one another and enables one or the other to spot trouble and summon help, if needed.

In the event a physical threat materializes while your hands are not free – your voice will become your best initial defense.  First of all – make some noise!  Screaming like a banshee at the top of your lungs will draw attention to yourself and the situation in progress.  People can’t come to your aid if they don’t know there is a problem.

While you are screaming, unless your cargo includes a small child you should immediately drop whatever possessions are in your hands.  Now is not the time to think of that collectible glass item – drop whatever you have so that you are unencumbered and make every attempt to break free of your attacker.  Remember, plan ahead to avoid shopping during hours of darkness and unfamiliar neighborhoods when at all possible.  Take the steps now to make your holiday shopping enjoyable and safe.

In the fourth and final installment of our October series that addresses security-planning considerations for international business travelers, we shall discuss preparation for homeward bound departures.

As previously discussed, personal security practices require strong emphasis on reducing points on vulnerability. Planning to reduce “Time and Place” predictability plays an important role that cannot be overstated. In fact, it is extremely important to guard against pattering movements; thus denying assailants the information to predict your precise whereabouts at any give moment. This is true for any environment. For this reason it is prudent to keep your hotel departure time a closely guarded secret, sharing this information with only those with the need to know.

The first point is hotel notification. Obviously, the hotel administrators will know of your departure date and in most instances will have your final bill prepared for review and signature the night before, or at least the early morning of your departure. Typically, the hotel expects departure prior to mid-day despite that fact that many trans-Atlantic or Pacific flights leave their departure city during late-afternoon or evening hours. This presents a unique challenge for finding a suitable area to remain prior to proceeding to the airport. To mitigate this predicament somewhat, consider asking the hotel for a late-checkout. Often your request will be honored without additional fees, or occasionally you may be required to make a prorated payment based upon the length of your overstay. Nonetheless, this is more favorable than the alternative and as a matter of extending the hotel courtesy ensure you clear your final bill and relinquish the room at least 30-45 minutes before the agreed upon extension.

Second point is furnishing your final arrangements with your driver, if needed for transporting you to the airport. Upon arrival at the departure terminal, international travelers may be overwhelmed by “expeditors” who offer their services to get you and your belonging to the check-in counter. You are best to avoid this rush to assistance by communicating with your driver beforehand. If you desire assistance with luggage, for instance, allow the driver to select someone for you. This works to prevent you from becoming distracted and aids in focusing on situational awareness. If you plan on offering a gratuity to your driver for his or her assistance during your visit, do so before getting out of the vehicle—two hours before departing the country is not the time to be tipping your wallet to a sea of unknown individuals who likely will suspect they will never see you again.

At the airport, keep all personal belonging close by. Scan crowds before you, looking for signs of activity that seem out of place. Also, keep important documents such as passports, tickets and other personal affects available for inspection. Prepare yourself mentally before approaching security checkpoints by watching ahead and anticipating personal actions needed to proceed. Also, closely monitor those around you and watch for signs of distress or activity that is inconsistent with what is normally expected.

International departures can be intimidating, but by planning and rehearsing in your head the steps you will encounter prior to boarding, allows you to remain focused on the task of monitoring your personal safety and security. Remember to change the identification tag on all of your luggage for your return home. Be Safe!

We hope you enjoyed this series. If you wish to consult with a DCI representative for more detailed information about remaining safe while traveling abroad, please contact us at info@defensivecountermeasures.com

Upon settling in at your destination, the degree to which to elevate your security precautions is largely dependant on your length of stay. In other words, the longer you remain in place at your temporary destination, the greater the need to increase your awareness and make sound security choices.

For example, one of the very basic needs while conducting business overseas—excluding accommodations—is transportation. With many destinations, it is feasible to rent a vehicle from a reputable firm to solve your basic transportation needs. However, with some foreign venues this is not an option, as leasing a vehicle provided with a driver is the only option. There are obvious pros and cons to each situation; however, when you are obliged to move about a foreign city with someone else at the wheel, your personal security takes on new parameters. Couple the latter situation with an extended stay and the need for additional measures becomes clear.

In each instance when a driver is provided from the leasing company, the first order of business is to meet with them and establish a firm business-like rapport. This meeting should take place in a public setting—the lobby of your hotel, for example. The initial meeting should lay out your basic requirements, such as punctuality, driver safety. It is also important to offer the driver an understanding of the distances and locations you will be traveling. However, do not lay out each day in detail. This necessary security precaution is needed to limit the degree your travel becomes time and place predictable. Upon arrival at your meeting location, let the driver know what time you will need his or her services again. Note: Many times drivers will remain nearby, as will other contracted drivers, and they will exchange information about their clients. Therefore, be certain not to provide too many personal details to your driver.

Initially, you will most likely situate yourself in the rear seat of the vehicle as you move about your day. However, you eventually want to climb into the seat next to the driver. This not only allows you to keep close watch on the road ahead—as well as the driver’s speed and other habits—you present a less attractive target for street crime since you do not appear to be “chauffeured,” which translates to affluence in many regions of the world. Finally, if your travels will routinely be between one or two locations during the length of your stay, be sure to vary your pick-up and departure times, plan for the use of alternate routes and equally important is to consider the needs of your driver. Ensure you allow for customary needs such as meal breaks, daily prayer and adequate rest periods. Building rapport and mutual respect with your driver is an essential element for taking charge of your personal safety and security when traveling in foreign lands.

Be Safe!

Traveling to a new oversea venue requires a bit more planning than merely ensuring your passport has the appropriate visa, or that your international immunization record is accurate and up to date. As soon as it becomes known that a trip is scheduled one of the first orders of business is to gather background information on the country destination.  Two excellent sources to start your research are the U.S. Department of State web page www.travel.state.gov and The World Factbook, which may be viewed by following the link located at www.cia.gov.  Each of these pages offer background information available to the public, providing valuable updates to Travel Warnings, country conditions, population densities and other data that is extremely useful to assess security precautions.

If you manage your own accommodations, check availability on two or more hotels that match your needs. To the extent possible arrange your itinerary so that you arrive at your hotel during daylight hours. This is allows you the opportunity to become familiar with the grounds before last light. Also you are wise to conduct a cursory inspection of the room assigned looking for fully functional, deadbolt door locks. Be sure to step from the room and identify all stairwell exits on your room floor, ensuring that they are not blocked and do provide an emergency open air exit.

It is equally important to get a feel for the surrounding infrastructure.  You may be surprised to learn that the hotel selected based on an internet research is located adjacent a vacant lot or other landmark that is inviting to loitering or other unsavory activity. By arriving early, you allow yourself opportunity to inspect where you will be staying.  You will also be giving yourself time to move to your alternate choice should the primary location not meet your security expectations.

Take nothing for granted.  The practice of planning for your personal security must never be overlooked or taken lightly.  Doing some homework before heading overseas better prepares you for conducting business on foreign soil.  Be Safe!

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Starting this month, we will begin discussing personal safety and security topics with a central theme—one for each month, that continues through the final week of December. The notion is to introduce a new theme each month and build upon it with 3-4 editorials. Our goal is to cover subject matter that is pertinent, informative and perhaps worthy of practice. We invite you stay with us for the weeks ahead as DCI offers new and practical ways to take charge of your personal safety and security.

October is “International Travel” month. Welcome to the discussion.

Departure Planning –

Success comes from hard work. Rarely does anyone achieve measured success in their chosen profession without putting in the time and paying dues along the way. Striving to be at the top of your game is an admirable undertaking that is deserving of recognition and reward—leaders recognize selfless commitment. After much patience and anticipation, the day of your promotion arrives…It is time for a new business card.

You begin by passing them out like freshly minted currency, which is too hot to handle. Not a problem - that is what they are intended for. However, soon they begin to morph into luggage identification tags and here is where your personal security practices become flawed.

Points to consider:  During transit to and from your business destination, your checked luggage is out of your physical control. It would be unjust to suggest that everyone that handles your personal property during this timeframe is unscrupulous, but the truth of the matter is that one never knows for sure.

Business cards generally offer the holder’s name, business and contact information. However, micro-printing now seems to compel us to include professional or academic titles, licenses and amazingly; photographs. While this information may be required of your particular organization or business, it is excessive for a luggage ID tag. Have you ever received your bags and found that the personalized luggage tag is damaged or missing?

As an alternative, consider a label that includes only your name and contact information at your travel destination. If the bag is misrouted, there is ample information available for it to be reunited with you.

For example:

Mr. John Williams,

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jakarta.

If you are inclined to do so, a telephone number to the front desk may be included.

Once your business is concluded and round-trip planning begins, it is time to change out that destination card.

It now reads:

Mr. J. Williams

Los Angeles, CA

310.555.1234

Again, if you desire more detailed information, place inside the luggage or suitcase.

You deserve the promotion and the opportunity to promote your business abroad. However, announcing your degree of importance on your personal luggage is unwise and bad business. And by the way,, while you are meeting after-hours, think twice about depositing your business card in that fish bowl at the bar or restaurant. The promise of a free lunch or souvenir Polo shirt is not worth the hassle. Be Safe!

Have you ever entered a familiar room and felt that something was out of place but could not quite put your finger on it?  Did curiosity win out causing you to enter the room in an attempt to uncover the mystery?  Consider the following the next time this occurs.

1. No matter how careful an intruder is, he is bound to leave something disturbed that a security minded person will seize upon on immediately.  It may be as subtle as tracking fresh grass clippings to the threshold of your front door—clearly you would never leave such a mess—or, perhaps the presence of a foreign fragrance that is not your own. In each instance, your senses are working overtime and with practice, you can learn not to ignore them. The first step involves the understanding that we adapt to our environment, and this adaptation is an instrument of our survival. From use of our senses we are able interpret sight, sound, taste, touch and smell.  Once stimuli is identified, we process the information and place it into two categories—Threat and non-Threat.

A problem occurs when we are unable to recognize stimuli or we improperly categorize the information—e.g. the fresh grass clippings at the threshold.  Clearly, in this instance we must conclude that someone unbeknownst to us has waltzed across our freshly manicured lawn and has at least proceeded as far as the front door to our home. 

As we work to acknowledge our senses and categorize the stimuli correctly, we begin to increase our security posture and enhance our well-being.

2. Now, for those individuals who need a little boost or advantage in this area, there are some simple tricks practiced by security-minded professionals.  They are referred to as ‘Traps.’  Traps involve prearranging items in a manner known only to the person who sets them.  For example, personal items in a hotel room may be laid out in a pattern you establish prior to heading out for the afternoon meeting, or an evening meal.  Should you return to your room and notice the pattern has been disturbed, alarms bells sound indicating that someone has been in the room during your absence, or worse, is lurking in the closet or bathroom.  Who among us hasn’t seen the savvy foreign agent, dressed in his tux, pluck a strand of hair from his head and tack it skillfully across the doorframe before heading to the hotel casino?

These simple security practices can be applied at home as well.  The ‘Traps’ can be as intricate as you like.  However, simple traps work best and should employ redundancy.

Try it, and remember the next time something seems out of place it probably is.  Be Safe!

As we approach the sixth anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history, we cannot help but to reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  For many of us it will remain a period frozen in time; serving as an ever present reminder of the great lengths our enemies are willing to go to demonstrate contempt for the American ideal. 

Citizens of this great nation were joined around the world by our friends and allies—as smoke and ash drifted from the rubble of ground zero—and swore a solemn pledge, “Never Again.” 

John F. Kennedy once said, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.”

As we reflect on our personal lives—and how each of us was affected by the loss of so many innocent souls—let us not succumb to complacency.  Our vigilance is as important today as it was the hour the twin towers fell. News making events around the world serve as a reminder that our enemy is weakened, but not defeated.

In the days following 9-11, President George W. Bush addressed the nation before a session of the U.S. Congress.  His speech renewed our spirit-describing the difficult road ahead. His words that evening were heard around the world.  And to our enemies he spoke directly of American courage and fortitude, promising, “We will not falter, and we will not fail.”  This message exemplifies the efforts that we here at DCI strive for every hour of every day. 

Our fellow Americans and honored guests must not be allowed to forget the danger that continues to fester in the hearts of those that wish us harm.  Reach out today and each day ahead to touch the life of someone close to you—whether family or friend.  Compassion is food for the soul and the world we share is our common bond. 

Share your experiences. Let us never forget the lives that have been sacrificed so that others may remain safe and free.  DCI wishes to extend profound gratitude and support to the untold numbers of men and women around the world that serve as our nation’s vanguard.  Stay safe!