During the year-end Holiday season hardened criminals, the marginally employed, and even some freelancing security personnel worked diligently to raise capital. Their efforts contributed to an apparent seasonal crime wave. The methods were the same as always and fell into a few categories. Basic categories of crimes repeated morning, noon, and night:
· Bag Snatching
· Bad Taxi Rides—ATM Express Kidnappings
· Burglaries and burglary attempts Some basic concepts to counter crime:
· Be alert
· Minimize your exposure
· Use security equipment
· Trust your instincts
· If you see something, say something--report it to RSO
Additional tips and in-depth security reminders are at the end of this tome. While I have your attention, one thing that has become a life and death matter is bags. Please do not carry them. Anywhere. Ever. You need to adapt to the environment that you are in--not pretend that you are back home. If you ignore this advice and insist on carrying a bag please recognize that all the information that you have received about how to safeguard your bag in the rest of the world can get you killed in Tanzania.
“Security Experts” may have told you to carry a bag with the shoulder strap across your chest or to carry a backpack strapped through both arms. That may be marginally effective in preventing a pedestrian criminal from easily running off with your bag--if he is alone and operating without confederates. But in Tanzania the more serious problem is vehicle-borne bag snatching. Strong straps across your chest make it difficult-to-impossible to get free if a criminal in a vehicle grabs the bag and drags you down the street. A few months ago a Greek doctor was killed during a bag snatch when she couldn’t free herself and the vehicle dragged her along until her head struck the curb. So please don’t carry bags. Just carry a bit of cash in your pocket and leave your bag at home.
If you are determined to ignore this advice then consider holding a bag in one hand so a criminal can easily steal it without killing you in the process. Below are incidents from the past couple of months that were reported to the RSO. They remind us about the importance of taking care of family and friends. Material goods don't matter too much, but if criminals are after poorly secured material goods they may end up harming someone and that really matters. This is a long notice. If you get tired of reading then skip to the end to refresh yourself on security tips. Please forward, print, and distribute to family and visitors.
Recent Incidents:
Thursday, January 17, 0420 hours, American Embassy residence attempted burglary of an occupied residence near Haile Selassie. Resident awakened to his dog barking and then heard the "chime" alarm tone as a window was slid open on the ground floor. He went downstairs and scared off a burglar who had opened the window and was prying at the grillwork with a metal bar. The intruder escaped over the back wall. The break-in attempt was at the back or far side of the house in relation to the guard booth and the guard did not hear anything. The mobile patrol responded within two minutes but the subject had disappeared.
Monday, January 14, 1000, American Embassy contractor office/technician housing home invasion, Sala Sala, Kawe, Dar es Salaam. A dozen people, at least one in a police uniform, came to the site and requested passport verification of three technicians. They refused to open the gate and several men jumped over the wall and attacked the technicians. At least one of the men had a firearm and the rest had iron bars. The technicians were badly beaten, tied up, and the entire house was ransacked for money and valuables.
Thursday, January 10, 1330 hours, an expat exited a restaurant on the road between Chole and the Doubletree and suffered a daytime bag snatch. Another expat intervened and plain clothes police officers on a motorcycle arrested the bag snatchers. Sunday, January 6, 0730 hours, an Amcit volunteer took an apparently legitimate taxi from a downtown hotel to the Ubungo bus station. The taxi pulled into a gas station and two men jumped in. Doors and windows locked. One man had a gun and went through the Amcit’s belongings, taking her money, credit and ATM cards. They toured ATMs until her credit limit was reached. They released the Amcit with her computer, electronics and other belongings. She lost around $760 USD. This kind of express kidnapping is becoming quite common. See "Taxi Times" at the end of this notice for some taxi-related tips.
Saturday, January 5, afternoon, A U.S. Embassy employee parked on Ohio Street in downtown Dar outside a new revolving restaurant. He intended to park on the property but the lot was full. He was directed to park on the street by an unofficial parking attendant. When he returned to his SUV he found that his vehicle had been broken into and an Ipod and other small items had been stolen. The U.S. Embassy, American Citizen Services records show 15 separate cases of vehicle borne bag snatching and Taxi/ATM/Express kidnappings were reported in the last three months. There were also several instances of ATM skimming reported with bank accounts cleaned out. Not all Americans report such crimes. Some examples are outlined below.
Sunday, January 6, 0955, an Amcit took a taxi to the airport. Along the way two men jumped in, told him they had guns, and took his ATM card and PIN number. They went to several ATMs until he reached his withdrawal limit. They returned his belongings and dropped him off at a taxi stand.
Wednesday, January 2nd, noon, Kipepo Beach, Kigamboni. An Amcit tourist starting a 30 day trip kept her backpack and other items in a banda/hostel. During lunchtime burglars entered, stole her pack, computer, camera, clothes, passport and $3,000 USD.
Saturday, December 29, 2012, 1700 hours, an American embassy employee and her husband parked in the rear parking lot at Shopper’s in Mkocheni. Daylight. Walled parking area. Guards around. About as safe as you can get. After parking the couple walked towards Shopper’s and stopped to discuss what they were going to buy. As they stood in the parking lot a light colored late model Toyota Lexus SUV drove towards them. A large well-dressed man leaned all the way out of the passenger window and grabbed the woman’s bag in a bear hug. As she was knocked down her husband reacted with lightning speed and grabbed the bag. They were both pulled down and dragged across the lot towards the exit. When the driver realized they were hanging on he tried to knock them off by heading towards a parked car. He miscalculated and hit the car’s front end, scraping down the side of his own car. In the nick of time they managed to disentangle themselves before the vehicles hit. They could have been killed. The SUV sped off. Two large, name brand guard companies are stationed at Shopper’s. They were of no use during the incident or afterwards and were not helpful to the robbed and injured couple. In fact, guards and a supermarket manager indicated that the guards were there to protect the supermarket and monitor cameras and were not responsible for the patrons or the parking lots.
Saturday, December 29, 0145, KK guards at an American residence on Chole heard shots fired and radioed for the mobile patrol. The Embassy mobile patrol arrived and about 60 meters from the American residence three men were lying in pools of blood. They had tried to steal from a construction site. Guards at the site saw them, radioed for support, and the responding (non-embassy) mobile patrol fired shots, apprehended the robbers, and badly beat them. Police arrived as well and learned that a truck was waiting for a call to pick up the materials. The police directed one of the robbers to call the truck but the Embassy supervisor realized that the robber was misdirecting the vehicle. He took the phone and talked the driver in. A truck with another three criminals arrived, saw the welcoming party, tried to escape, but ultimately was blocked in by the mobile patrol. The truck had fake license plates. Six people were arrested.
Thursday, December 27, 2045, at a house inhabited by Chinese workers adjacent to an Embassy residence seven men arrived and told the guard that they were expected visitors. The occupants were out at dinner and the guard let seven men into the garden. When the occupants returned they and the guard were threatened with machetes and forced to give up their money and the keys to their Toyota Land Cruiser. One resident was seriously injured and required emergency treatment. Neither the guard nor dogs on the property prevented the robbery or vehicle theft from taking place. The guard may have been involved in the crime.
Wednesday, December 26, 2000 hours, a 42 year old female Bulgarian expat arrived at her apartment building on Haile Selassie. She worked as a manager at a downtown casino. The gate guard, from a small guard company, had been offered 4 million TSH to allow other men to rob her and steal her vehicle. The men attacked her and she screamed. A resident in the building came out to investigate and looked around but was assured by the guard that everything was fine. At some point the robbery turned into a rape, strangulation and murder. The men tried to steal her car but broke the key in the lock. The guard ran off. The police tracked down the guard and some of the others involved in this tragic incident.
Tuesday, December 25, 0640, one of Santa’s helpers scaled the wall of an occupied American embassy residence on Toure Drive. He was spotted by a guard who radioed for assistance and chased him. While the would-be-burglar tried to escape back over the wall he grabbed the spikes on top of the wall, kicking at the guard. The guard hung on, a battle ensued, and the two ripped down many of the anti-climb spikes. Other nearby guards arrived and the burglar was subdued and handcuffed. He was badly cut on the leg by one of the spikes. The guards and resident staunched the blood flow. Masai gathered outside the gate and were prepared to stab and finish him off had he been released to them. Eventually the police arrived and took him away. The burglar claimed to be a local fisherman. The good news is the kids in the house were so focused on Christmas that they didn’t hear the altercation or subsequent arrival of the mobile patrol, RSO, and police.
Thursday, December 13, 0530, an Amcit volunteer traveling with a group went to the Ubungo bus station. After other passengers got on she realized that her backpack had disappeared. She lost her computer and other electronics worth $2,400 USD.
Wednesday, December 5, 1944 hours, a guard posted at a vacant embassy residence on Old Bagamoyo Road reported gunfire during a robbery. A businessman was targeted. Motorcyclists preceded him and followed him from his downtown office to his house in the Mikocheni beach area. When he pulled up to his gate there were a couple motorcyclists waiting and then he was blocked in from behind by other motorcyclists. Assailants fired weapons at his vehicle (radiator & tire), ordered him and a passenger out and then stole a laptop computer with business information. Six motorcyclists were involved and the ordeal took around 30 seconds. The victim reported that he had seen the motorcyclists on the road and they may have peered into his vehicle when passing him. This is not uncommon. If someone is following you to your home don't stop! Drive around the block or go to a safe place. In general, when you arrive home don't drive all the way up to your gate and stop. Rather leave a few feet of space and honk from the street until the gate is opened. That way you can drive in, or drive down the block if someone appears. If you drive up to the gate it is easy to be blocked in by a vehicle from behind.
Monday, December 3, a seasoned American expat arrived at the old Dar es Salaam airport terminal after a flight from Zanzibar. She hailed a legitimate taxi with a green stripe. As they headed downtown three men jumped in. They were rough and threatened her at first. She spoke to them in Swahili to try to create a bond and personalize the situation. They took her ATM card and PIN number. They toured ATMs until her withdrawal limit was reached. They returned her computer and when she pointed out that her iPhone could be tracked they returned that as well. They asked where she wanted to go and dropped her off a block away.
Sunday, December 2, 1720 hours, grease fire on stove at embassy residence. Resident moved burning pan to sink and sprayed water which spread the flames. Guards heard commotion, shut off main power to the house (electric stove) and used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. Do your domestic servants and family members know there is an extinguisher in your kitchen and how to use it? Sunday, December 2, Kipepo Beach, Kigamboni, afternoon, two male American Embassy official visitors went jogging along the beach. Initially they ran together but then one stayed close to the ocean and the other close to the woods. Two men emerged from the brush menacing him with a machete and a large knife. They took his money, watch, sunglasses and shoes.
Saturday, December 1, American tourist arrived at the old Dar es Salaam airport terminal after a flight from Zanzibar. He took an apparently legitimate taxi with a green stripe. The driver took him to his hotel without incident and offered services. He provided a cell phone number. American called the number next day but a different driver appears. Enroute three other men entered the taxi. He was beaten and robbed of multiple items including camera equipment, credit and ATM cards. Toured ATMs until his credit limit was reached. After being released the American noted the vehicle had no rear license plate or other information he could use to identify it. September through December - multiple DAWASCO water meters stolen outside perimeter walls of U.S. Embassy properties. The Embassy had moved the water meters from inside the properties so that DAWASCO meter readers would not have to access the property. DAWASCO meter readers don't necessarily wear uniforms, have ID badges, or arrive in official vehicles. Now that the meters are outside they are susceptible to night time theft. They will be encased in grills.
Wednesday, November 28, 1100 home invasion adjacent to a U.S. embassy residence. Nine men claiming to be police officers talked their way past the guard at the unlocked front gate. They claimed they were investigating a crime, asked to speak to the residents, and asked for all the residents to assemble in one room. Once everyone was together they were tied up, threatened, and their home was ransacked. The intruders were fast and had a clear plan, leaving two of their team at the front gate, while others handled the residents and others conducted a search.
Tuesday, November 27, mid-day, Mbezi Beach expat residence. Several men claiming to be Tanesco inspectors arrived to read the meter and the guard granted them access to the property. The men claimed there were irregularities with the meter. They threatened the guard with arrest unless he called the resident who was away at work. The resident lured the inspectors to his workplace at a major international institution. The men stayed outside the institution and threatened to disconnect power from the residence unless they received 3 million TSH. The expat refused and eventually the men departed. Tanesco confirmed that it was a scam.
Sunday, November 25, in the early morning hours a Canadian woman was murdered by assailants in the outskirts of Arusha. The woman was an NGO volunteer who had made several trips to Tanzania over the years and had lived here as well. She was met at the airport late at night by two men; a grown Tanzanian orphan that she had previously befriended and a friend of his. She took a taxi from the airport late at night with these two men. In an isolated area they ordered the taxi driver to leave them on the side of the road. They sexually assaulted her, murdered her, and stole all of her belongings. The police have identified the suspects and recovered some of the stolen items.
Saturday, November 24, 2023, two American Embassy official visitors departed their hotel on the Msasani Peninsula in a hotel-affiliated taxi. The driver took Nyerere Road towards the airport. Two pedestrians darted across the road in the darkness slamming into the radiator, windshield, and fender. The driver tried to proceed but ultimately the vehicle broke down. The Americans called the embassy and were picked up by police in the area. This is a reminder that even short term visitors should program the Marine Post One telephone numbers into their phones.
Wednesday, November 21, 0018, Zantel building next to CAC 4 at the embassy. Transformer fire on wooden telephone pole detected by Embassy guards. Guards radioed the mobile patrol supervisor and they used embassy fire extinguishers and mobile patrol extinguishers to fight the fire with police FFU. They called for fire and police support and kept the fire from spreading on the grass to the Zantel diesel tanks for their generators and also kept it away from the Embassy CAC 4 area. It took about an hour of on and off firefighting by guards and FFU before firefighters arrived.
Saturday, November 17, afternoon, Mkwawa Road near COMRES, USAID contractors 4x4 vehicle was stolen from office parking lot. CCTV camera review indicated that the guard used a stick to move the cameras. The guard took a sleeping potion to make it appear that he wasn't complicit in the theft of the vehicle.
Monday, November 12, at 0200, an Amcit couple arrived at the train station from Zambia. They took a taxi to a hostel. Enroute they noticed that the child locks were engaged and they couldn’t open the doors. A car followed them and the taxi pulled into an alley. Three men got in, sat on their laps, and assaulted them, pulling off their jewelry and valuables. For the next three hours they were driven around to different ATMs for withdrawals and were followed by different chase vehicles. They believe the driver was complicit but also that he was scared of the violent men in the chase vehicles who loudly argued amongst themselves.
Sunday, November 11, 0130, burglary in occupied U.S. Embassy residence at a housing compound. Between 0130 and 0530 a burglar climbed over the perimeter wall and started sliding open downstairs windows of the house nearest the wall. This area was the furthest from the guards stationed at the front gate. The intruders managed to slightly pry the grillwork open so that a very small burglar or child could enter the downstairs area. They exited via the kitchen door carrying a 52" flatscreen TV, computers, and other electronics. Although the alarm wasn't set the family was securely locked in their safehaven upstairs.
Friday, November 9, 2345, guard conducting a foot patrol radioed for support after finding a man hiding in the bushes of a U.S. Embassy residence. When the mobile patrol arrived the guards handcuffed the man. The police arrested him but he was later released to his family members as an Emotionally Disturbed Person who lives in a nearby property.
Tuesday, November 6, 1930, Shopper’s on Haile Selassie. Expat parked, withdrew funds from ATM, and went shopping. She exited the supermarket and a security guard escorted her to her car and helped to unload the cart, then he walked back to the store. The expat walked to the driver's door and was yanked from her feet, and ultimately dragged by her handbag down the road. After some distance she was able to extricate herself. Guards and Masai, in the area, haplessly and ineffectively watched.
Saturday, November 3, at 1800, an American expat working in Dar took a taxi from the Kariakoo district, and was express kidnapped. She was accosted by four men, screamed, tried to open the door, but no one nearby came to her aid. After she was punched in the face she decided to cooperate and spent the next few hours driving to different ATMs until her limit was reached. She engaged the men in conversation in Swahili and in the end they took a lot of money but left her with her camera and laptop.
Tuesday, October 16, 0100, Haile Selassie, robbers broke into a Tigo store and Bureau de Change which is located directly behind an Amcit residence. The stores had guards. A pickup truck from another guard company drove up with six uniformed guards aboard. They dismounted, tied up the two store guards and ransacked the stores--stealing 50 cell phones.
Saturday, October, 13, an Amcit couple asked the bellhop at a major hotel to arrange for a taxi to the airport. Two men were seated in front and the taxi driver stated that he needed to buy gas. Another man entered and the men demanded their ATM cards and PIN. They only had one ATM card so the criminals could only withdraw a bit of money. After a couple of hours they were dropped off with enough money to take another cab to the airport.
Friday, October 12, adjacent to an American Embassy residence, a guard and two Masai conspired in the theft of 100 million TSH in building supplies. The guard was arrested.
Thursday, October 4, noon, a recently arrived American Embassy employee had her purse stolen from the seat of the taxi in which she was riding. While stopped at a light a male reached through the open window and stole the purse which contained $200 USD, cell phone, house keys, and ID.
Tuesday, October 2, 0330, burglary at occupied residence adjacent to an American Embassy residence. The victim awoke after hearing funny noises, realized that a computer and other items were missing and he couldn’t find his residential guard. Nearby embassy guards radioed for support and the mobile patrol and police responded.
Wednesday, September 26, 1900, U.S. Embassy employee parked her vehicle outside an apartment building near Toure Drive. Unknown assailants broke a small window and stole the vehicle toolkit. Fortunately a Madonna CD was spared.
Tuesday, September 25, 1250 hours, a guard and gardener stole 120 liters of fuel from the generator of an American Embassy residence. A nearby guard saw what was going on and contacted the mobile patrol which arrived and arrested them. The team had a gas pump and additional gas cans.
Friday, September 21, 2000, four Amcit volunteers were walking along Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road when a white four door car with tinted windows drove by and the passenger grabbed one woman's bag. She was knocked down and dragged. She managed to extricate herself suffering minor injuries and the loss of personal electronics, money, ID, and bank cards.
Wednesday, September 19, morning, adjacent to an American Embassy residence. A Chinese businessman withdrew 15 million TSH from a bank. As he returned to his residence he stopped outside his front gate. Five motorcyclists brandishing weapons accosted him, took the bag with money, and drove away.
Tuesday, September 18, 1730, Slipway. An Amcit expat working at an NGO used an ATM. An elderly man approached her and asked if she wanted a taxi. She did. He found a cab and she explained where she was headed and received a price quote for a rate that was much cheaper than she expected. She tried to sit in front of the taxi but was directed to the back seat which she thought was odd. She also noticed the windows were darkly tinted. The taxi headed in the wrong direction and then two men entered, sitting on either side of her. She screamed and tried to escape when the taxi was stopped and people were nearby. They strangled her to stifle her screams and hit her in the face. The old man left the taxi and was replaced by a younger man who threatened to kill her. She offered her bag and cash but they demanded her ATM PIN. She spoke to them, asking about their families to try to create a bond. After about an hour and a half of driving around to different ATMs she reached her withdrawal limit. Her U.S. passport and 10,000 TSH was returned to her.
Sunday, September 09, 2030, Msasani Beach front - home invasion of an expat and his family. Six armed men scaled a beachfront wall and accosted the spouse and a domestic employee in the backyard. They entered the residence and held the family at gunpoint. The adults were tied up and the expat was hit with the flat side of the panga (machete). The men ransacked the house and departed after only 20 minutes. The guard at the front gate did not realize that anything was amiss.
Previously Reported: Saturday, August 18, early evening, two individuals wearing police uniforms and armed with machetes overpowered a guard at a three house compound on the Msasani Peninsula. One house was locked and they were unable to gain access. At another house they viciously attacked and tied up a recently arrived Swiss national. He died of his wounds. Post script: The Tanzania Police Force conducted an investigation and learned that one guard didn't show up for work that shift. The TPF further determined that the perpetrators had obtained police uniforms from an officer who had been fired. The uniforms and other evidence were recovered and the assailants arrested.
Friday, July 6, Mlimani City Shopping Center, a female international institution employee was approached by a well dressed man who called her name and claimed to be an old school mate. She didn’t remember him, but he knew about her school, previous work, and mentioned some former colleagues by name. They had a conversation and she ordered a bottle of water. Later she woke up in her car in front of her house. Apparently he had put something into her bottle of water. She had been robbed of jewelry, phone, credit cards and cash.
Previously Reported: Thursday, May 24th, between 0700 and 1700, at an Embassy contractor's residence in Mbezi Beach, a gardener/guard was overpowered by unknown individuals who assaulted and tied him up. The assailants then used a welding torch to cut through grillwork on the house and burgled the residence. When the contractor returned home he found that the gardener/guard had succumbed to his wounds and died.
Previously Reported: On Saturday, May 19, around 0200, six assailants overpowered a guard at an Amcit expat residence on Mwaya Street near Funky's. The guard was bound and gagged before he could hit his panic button. Some of the gang cut screens on the porch, others worked on a door. They slid open one door but couldn't defeat a bar lock to gain entry to the house. Others hammered and pried at another grill. The banging on the bars awakened the residents who hit their panic button. Meanwhile the residents locked themselves into their safe haven and yelled at the assailants. The assailants didn't care and didn't depart until the mobile patrol arrived and then they all disappeared.
Zanzibar Updates: There were numerous reports of bag and camera snatching in Stonetown. There were also some reports about smaller hotels falling victims to a gang of invaders who tied up lone night time guards and robbed guests. Larger hotels with more established security might be a good option. There was also some religious violence that included throwing acid in the face of a Muslim cleric and the shooting of a Priest on Christmas Day. Zanzibar is a great place to relax but you cannot afford to let your guard down. Minimize what you bring with you and do your best to maintain alertness--even while on vacation.
Security Reminders: This is a reminder that whether in the U.S. or overseas there is always the potential for the threat of harassment, violence, or criminal acts. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase your security awareness. Keep a low profile while commuting, doing errands, or pursuing leisure activities.
Pedestrians, Joggers, Cyclists:
Activities such as jogging, cycling and walking in areas such as Coco Beach are risky. If you are going to engage in them then maximize your awareness and minimize the down side:
· Ban backpacks and purses. They attract thieves.
· Select routes where you can run, walk, or bike on the shoulder. Consider heading "counter flow" so you can see the traffic (if it is safe to do so).
· Don't wear headphones. If you insist, then only wear one earpiece so you can listen to the area around you.
· Don't be alone. Make a friend. Walking, jogging, or biking alone is a bad idea.
· Where/When: Location and time of day are key factors. Never walk, run or bike after dark. You're invisible to traffic but highly visible to thieves.
· Consider wearing bright reflective clothing so you stand out.
· AVOID walking/biking near: Toure Drive, Coco Beach, Ubungo Bus Station, South Beach Ferry area or any place where there aren't houses on both sides of the road. Assailants like to hide in/escape to areas with brush and/or areas with crowds. If you go to the South Beach Ferry or the Ubungo Bus Station then arrive and depart in a secured vehicle.
Maximize Awareness/Minimize Risk:
· Download your wallet and your stuff. No flashy watches, jewelry or Ipods. Just carry a concealed cell phone and the minimum amount of cash that you need that day.
· DO NOT CARRY ATM, CREDIT or DEBIT CARDS or you may find yourself on a tour of a lifetime visiting ATM machines until your credit limit is maxed out.
· International criminal groups are stealing debit and credit card information using sophisticated card skimming hardware and software. There is a history in Dar of card "skimming" and RSO strongly urges you not to use ATMs but instead to obtain cash from the Embassy cashier. Also advise your TDY personnel to bring and cash checks at the Embassy rather than to utilize ATMs.
Vehicle Security:
· Carry your phone(s) with you at all times with the ringer on.
· Vary your times and routes; change your schedule and routine.
· Be aware of your surroundings.
· Lock your doors.
· Close your windows.
· Set the alarm (if you have one) when you park.
· Secure bags in the trunk or leave them at home. Bags attract thieves. Cars are glass boxes. If you leave a bag on the seat someone may break the glass.
· Secure (and hide) all electronic items: cell phone, GPS, IPod, I Pad, computer, and handheld radios.
· If you are driving around Dar late at night be especially cautious when stopped at traffic lights. In order to avoid assault at isolated intersections, some drivers refuse to stop at lights and decide to proceed cautiously after slowing down. That may help to avoid an assault but it also means that all intersections are really dangerous at night whether you have a green light or not.
· When driving in traffic ensure you leave adequate space between your car and the vehicle ahead. Maintaining a space cushion in front of you is particularly important when stopped in traffic. The practice enables you to maneuver your way out of a sticky situation.
· Refill your gas tank anytime it is half full to avoid running out of gas at a bad time or place.
Taxi Time:
· Take legitimate taxis from a car service, hotel, or restaurant. See Management Notice No. 08/2013 dated January 13, 2013, which provides a list of legitimate car and taxi services.
· Photograph the front or back of the taxi showing the license plate and send it to a friend.
· Ask for the driver's name and cell (implies future business) and send it to a friend.
· Test the doors and windows before you get in. Child locked doors and tinted windows are a bad sign. Find another cab.
· Don't take bajajs, daladalas, or hail unknown taxis on the street.
· Don't take taxis hailed by people you just met.
· Don't take taxis that have other passengers in them.
· If a taxi stops for gas get out.
· If a taxi stops for other passengers get out.
Residential Security:
· Lock all doors and security grills--especially at night. Your guards should check to ensure that they are secured while making their nighttime rounds.
· Ensure windows and fire escape grills are secured.
· Secure your safe-haven at night. Ensure your emergency radio, cell phones, and telephones are in place and function.
· Use your alarm system. Ensure the members of your household know where the alarm panic buttons are and how to use them.
· Advise your guard and test your (and his) panic buttons on a monthly basis.
· Your first warning that there are intruders may be the sound of your alarm, which the guard will activate if there is danger.
· If the alarm sounds or you believe someone is trying to forcibly enter your property or home, move your family to the safe haven and secure it.
· Activate the alarm using the panic button or keypad if it hasn't been activated already. You must employ the security measures for them to be effective.
In Sum:
Maximize your awareness and minimize your risks.
· Share this notice with family, friends and TDY personnel.
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