September 23, 2004

Pakistani cities are becoming increasingly unsafe. Munawar Ahmad offers several useful tips for protecting one’s life and valuables

Personal safety and security of valuables remains everyone’s concern. There is a dire need to understand the nature of volatile law and order situations in big cities. There are definite benefits and opportunities of advancement in such cities, but the potential threats and hazards to life and property are also of significant nature.

Due to the lucrative targets, criminals tend to adopt advanced tactics to gain easy money. These methods may take the shape of bank robberies, house breaking, car snatching, thefts and miscellaneous crimes.

Although it is the primary responsibility of the government to take active measures for the provision of peace and safety to the taxpayers, it is also the citizens’ responsibility to take proper safety measures and precautions at their end.

Here are a few practical tips, adherence to which will help minimize potential threats to the life and property of common citizens:

* Remember, your life is more precious than your bravery and any amount of valuables that you might be carrying. Hence, never offer any resistance to the criminals, i.e. car snatchers, thieves and dacoits. Extend them your full cooperation and try to register such points in your mind which can be of assistance to the police during investigation of the case.

* Display, at a prominent place in your home and office, a list of updated emergency telephone numbers of some near relatives, police, hospitals, fire brigade, etc., of your area. Educate even your children and servants to make use of these telephone numbers in case of an emergency.

* Have the CLI option on your telephones and do not attend any calls on your telephone or mobile phones unless you recognize the calling number. There have been instances of using this medium for making threats for ransoms.

* Remember any confidential exchange of communication can always be monitored or picked up by criminals. Telephones are not safe modes of communication. With little effort, the criminals can intercept your calls and use this information to their advantage.

* While out of the house, always keep in your pocket telephone numbers and addresses of some near relatives who may be contacted if you are confronted with an emergency or an accident.

* Have iron grills on all windows and doors of your houses and keep these carefully locked at all times. Have peepholes in the doors to view any visitors and do not open these unless you recognize the visitor.

* Consider having mutual inter-connecting electric bells with some of your neighbours. In case of an emergency in the house, ringing of these bells in neighbouring houses will act as a signal for them to call the police or come to your rescue.

* If you can afford it have a private security guard from a reputed company at an average cost of Rs4,000 to Rs5,000 per month. A few houses in your locality can also contribute. This provides extra safety against theft, robbery and allied offences.

* While travelling in a car, seat your children in the backseat and put in child locks.

* If you have employed armed security or personal guards at your residence and office, etc., ensure that they perform their primary duty of provision of security to your person, vehicle, house or office, etc. The tendency to employ them on other less essential tasks needs to be addressed for the sake of your safety.

* If an armed security guard is travelling with you, do not make him drive the vehicle, rather make him sit in the rear seat so that he remains vigilant and can react more efficiently at the time of need.

* Have all your assets insured through a recognized insurance company

* Never place or leave your keys with servants. They might get duplicates made and utilize these to break in when they are not in your service or hand these over to their accomplices who can break in.

* Do not keep excessive cash or jewellery on your person or at home. Spend a few hundred rupees and hire a safety locker in some nearby bank.

* For money transactions, make use of bank cheques, pay orders or bank drafts, etc.

* While going out for functions such as marriage occasions, it is advisable for ladies to put on minimum jewellery. Take extra precaution while you are on the way to or from the function by covering your jewellery in such a way that it is not visible to passersby.

* If, unfortunately, you are caught up in a difficult situation, try to keep your wits intact. Do not get panicky, remain cool, do not annoy or irritate the offender, act wisely and cooperate with them.

* Adopt different routes and variable timings for coming to and going back from your office and visiting places.

* Make sure to properly lock the doors and windows of your vehicle before embarking on any journey.

* Remain very vigilant while moving out and avoid blind corners. Try to move on main avenues, avoid short cuts and movement through isolated lanes.

* Keep your night movements to the minimum. If it is essential, move on well-lit roads at a good speed.

* Keep persons at home and at your work place informed of your whereabouts and expected timings of return as well as the possible routes that you will take.

* Do not stop your vehicle to give lifts to strangers or for giving alms to beggars. It could be a trap to kidnap you or snatch your vehicle. When you stop on traffic signals do not lower your window to give alms to beggars as sometimes they are informers for robbers.

* In case you suspect that some suspicious individuals are following you, try to rush towards busy streets, some police post, Rangers picket or some other law enforcement agency offices. Make a report of this incident to them and seek their help.

* Carry out your bank transactions from the main branches of banks only as they have better security arrangements. Remain vigilant and careful that no one is following you or taking keen interest in your activities in the bank. When you move out, ensure that suspected individuals are not following you.

* Keep a close eye on the activities of your domestic servants. Do not employ them without verifying their credentials. It is always advisable to employ servants with proper references only and to register them at the local police station.

* Do not discuss your personal information or programmes with your servants or in their presence as leakage of this information through them might prove helpful to criminals.

* Do not touch or pick up innocent-looking items like toys, boxes, valuables, etc., lying on the roadside or in shopping areas as these might be explosive devices.

* Avoid attending functions and gatherings where you suspect lack of adequate security arrangements.

Adherence to some of the above points have actually helped people in difficult situations. There is no end to human ingenuity and wisdom, which can lead you to more novel and innovative ways to ensure safety of your person and valuables.

The suggested points are just a guideline because it is always better to adopt suitable precautions than to repent at a later stage.

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