Be safe on holiday

Front door

How to avoid being a target for crime

Being the victim of a crime while you’re on holiday, whether at your holiday destination or at home, can ruin a relaxing break.

But if you take some sensible precautions in advance, you can reduce the risks.

Before you go

Ask a friend or neighbour to help by:

Closing the curtains when it gets dark
Picking up junk mail
Keeping the garden tidy
Parking their car on your driveway

Keep the house looking occupied

Use automatic timer switches to turn your lights on and off - don’t forget the bedrooms
Cancel milk and newspapers
To prevent mail from piling up, use the Post Office’s “Keepsafe” service. For a small fee, they can hold back the delivery of mail for up to two months

Don’t advertise your absence

Avoid discussing holiday plans in front of strangers
Cut the lawn before you go and trim back any plants that burglars could hide behind

Keep your home secure

Consider leaving important documents and valuable items with other family members or a bank
Put bicycles or similar valuable items in the house rather than the shed
If neighbours keep your keys, tell them not to put your last name, address or even your house number on them in case they fall into the wrong hands
Make sure that you’ve locked all outside doors and windows, and set the alarm, if you have one

On your journey

Don’t put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination
Keep valuables like cameras, jewellery, cash and passports in your hand luggage, so they are with you all the time
Put an extra padlock on your case
Put a belt around your case - this will help prevent it bursting open
Don’t leave your luggage unattended at the airport; it may be removed by security staff - or a thief

At the airport destination

Collect your luggage as soon as possible
Check to see if it has been tampered with. If you think it may have been, report it at once!
If you want to exchange currency, try and have the exact amount of money ready. Don’t produce a wallet bulging with cash

At the hotel

Don’t keep your passport, sterling or foreign currency together
Keep your travellers cheques in a separate, safe place, like a safety deposit box
If you use a safety deposit box, detach the fob from the key and place the fob in the box, after memorising the box number. Then, if you do lose the key, you won’t also lose all your money!
If theft is a problem in your hotel, then consider hiding valuables in your room. A ‘can-safe’ looks like a normal tin of food, hair-spray or drink, but the bottom unscrews to let you store small items away out of sight

If you are worried about someone getting into your room while you are asleep

Use a temporary door lock
Position a personal alarm (the type with a pull string to activate it) round the door handle. Then if anyone opens the door while you are asleep they will set off the alarm

Out and about

Use a bag with a strap that goes across your chest
Don’t put anything valuable in your bag
Don’t wear an expensive watch or jewellery
Keep cash and credit cards in a belt or pouch close to your body, not in your pockets
Take care of your personal safety - at home and on holiday

There is every conceivable ‘con’ going on in most busy holiday locations; from the photographer who promises to forward the picture, to the time-share sales person. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you.

And don’t forget to have fun!

This page was last updated on 15 November 2010