Tourism Safety Tips

· Park your car in a well - lit area. There is no parking permits required in public spaces such as heritage sites and beaches.

· Don’t leave parcels on the seat; rather put them in the boot. If carrying goods on an open bakkie, watch out for persons standing aimlessly at traffic lights or persons who ask questions and during that time, stand next to you blocking your view to see at the back of the vehicle.

· Don’t leave your car unlocked.

· Install immobilisers, alarms, or a gear lock and ensure that you make use of the system installed. Before walking away from your vehicle, check that it is locked as some would - be thieves use immobiliser jamming devices.

· Have your keys ready to unlock your car when approaching it.

· Ensure you have enough fuel in your car.

· Always check your car before entering / make sure no one is hiding inside.

· Never pick up hitch hikers.

· Don’t stop at a body or seemingly injured person, lying on the road. Drive on and report the accident.

· Always be alert at gates, driveways or garages.

· Don’t stop to eat or rest on lonely roads.

· Do not change a flat tire in a quiet area.

· Don’t get out of your car, if the vehicle is bumped from behind, under suspicious circumstances.

· Repair broken windows and locks.

· Ensure that your hired vehicle shows no advertisement of the hire company to avoid being recognised as a tourist.

· Avoid carrying large sums of cash and or other valuables such as expensive jewellery cameras, video cameras, etc.

· Carry your camera/video camera in a shoulder bag and not hanging loosely around your neck.

· Carry your wallet in an inside pocket or wear a money-belt.

· At night, stay clear of dark, isolate areas. Stick to well-lit busy streets.

· It is better to explore in groups: there is safety in numbers.

· A policeman/traffic officer will be glad to direct you if you get lost.

· Street children and beggars may approach you for a handout - Social workers

· Counsel is against giving money.

· Don’t be fooled by con-artists or strangers who offer you the opportunity to get rich quickly.

· If you want to call a taxi, your hotel or the nearest tourist information office can recommend a reliable able service.

· To avoid injury, never resist physically, should an attempted robbery be made on you.

· Try to remain calm; “DO NOT PANIC”.

· “THINK” - Your mind is your first line of defence.

· Evaluate the situation: is someone near? Can you escape? Make as much NOISE as possible.

· It is not recommended that you resist your attacker unless the use of force AT THE MOMENT could lead to your escape.

· Be prepared to let your bag or package go if someone tries to snatch it - it is better to lose your goods than your life.

· If your instinct forces you to resist, do not hold back. YOU MUST hurt your attacker. Press your thumbs into his eyes. A kick in the groin or shin is also effective.

· Use your elbow to dig into their body, if you can.

· You have to immobilize your attacker until help comes or you can get away!

· If resistance does not work, concentrate on his identity, try to notice things such as age, height, hair, race, scars, tattoos, a limp, his clothing, speech, accent and patterns.

· Try to leave your fingerprints wherever you can. Also try to leave small personal items behind, such as an earring, a stick of lipstick or a scarf link - anything that can be traced to you.

· Potentially victims have avoided attack merely by talking their way out of a situation.

· Report the attack as soon as possible to a police station / other official.

· ATM users should take extra caution during the festive season/end of the week or month {payday} because criminals are on the prowls, looking for easy pickings.

· If possible, use ATMs you are familiar with or choose well-lit, well situated ATMs, such as in shopping malls/centres.

· Do not go to ATMs laden with parcels and shopping, as one cannot concentrate fully on these, your transactions and bystanders all at the same time.

· Do not accept help from strangers and never give your PIN code to strangers, even though who claim to be working for the banks.

· Be aware that criminals work in teams - one distracts you, while the other tries to steal the card and money.

· ATM users should be on the lookout for foreign or suspicious devices attached to, or close to the ATM, that may be used to scan cards or read PIN numbers.

· If you suspect that you are being followed, get yourself to the nearest public place or police station as quickly as possible or approach a police official.

· Beware of cards swopping at ATMs press Cancel should somebody try to distract you.

· Be cautious of well-dressed strangers offer to phone the bank on your behalf. When your card gets stuck they will ask for your PIN number. Your pin number is not needed to cancel a card.