RESIDENTIAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Vulnerable Times for Robbery to Occur:

· Majority weekdays, Sundays and Holidays during daytime (not at night).
Some have occurred between1800-2200 hours. Easter week is the 10-day period considered the most critical time of the year for break-ins.

· Holidays and Holiday weekends - when occupants are predictably out of town.

Sundays - maids day off

· House empty, entire family out - church - visits.

· Although it is not the norm, a house can be "assaulted" while the tenant is inside. Entry is normally gained when the resident is entering his home (i.e., returning from a morning run, etc.)

Action:

· Consider investment in an alarm and if your residence already has one always set and test the alarm. Use security lights and interior timers for setting lights or stereos. Photoelectric cells can be purchased locally and wired into the existing switches for selected exterior lights to ensure that lighting is turned on and off during appropriate time periods.
· Designate Point of Contact for home with a key, alarm code / instructions, and emergency contact information.

· Ensure that all outside streetlights are working. If not, have your company contact and pressure the electric company.

· Be aware of the threat posed by overgrown grass and bushes in vacant/ adjacent lots particularly during the rainy season. Gardeners should be tasked as part of regular duties to cut back grass and shrubbery outside walls, etc. If you don't employ a gardener, hire one from a trusted neighbor or co-worker to cut back grass and shrubbery as needed.

· Do not leave belongings outside in garage or yard area unsecured. These areas are susceptible to thefts.

· Brief maids and family not to open doors until identity of person at the door is known.

· When any doubt about the identity of the person at the door, contact your company's security department or the business with which the individual claims to work for.

· All deliveries should be by uniformed, "expected" people i.e., pizza, newspaper. Company name should be visible and/or arrival by marked vehicle or motorcycle.

· Remember, without your request no delivery should happen. Be suspicious of any unexpected delivery or pretext to gain entry.

· Never give food or anything to beggars at your residence - they may "relocate" and never leave. Note: one street person fed by former Embassy families has remained for four years.

· Know your domestic employee's full name and have ID/ cedula info on file If possible, have your company's security professional conduct a criminal check and reference check of the employee.

· Report the termination, for any reason, of domestic employees to your company's security professional or administrators. Domestic employees (current and former) are involved (to some degree) in about 50% of all robberies. Many thefts are "inside" jobs or done on the basis of inside information.

· Report any "odd" or suspicious behavior by domestic employees such as requests for personal photos to your security professional or company's administrators.

· Generally, gardeners and outdoors workers should never be allowed in the house.