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Tag Archives: Travel Safety Tips

Surviving a Drive-Through

Posted on by Posted in Security, Self Defense, TravelSec 4 Comments

My three year old son and I went out for a “man day” to spend time together.  I had to go to Wal-Mart and Man-Depot (how he says HomeDepot) to get stuff for my real job.  On the way back we stopped to get lunch at Carl’s Jr. (one of the greatest burger chains ever!), he was half asleep so I decided to go through the drive-through.  I ordered and then sat in line reassuring my kid that his kid’s meal was on the way.

I never really liked drive-throughs.  It seems like such a great idea, but… the words of an old cop in California always come back, “don’t get caught in the drive-through it’s like getting caught with you pants down.”  While I haven’t heard of very many crimes committed at drive-throughs I just get nervous being boxed in.  Back at the Carl’s Jr drive through I looked around like I always do and found that there really isn’t anyway out except over the curb and up this giant hill to the freeway.  Luckily I drive a big F250 Super Duty Diesel 4X4 and it would make it without a problem.  I looked at the minivan in front of me with kids jumping up and down in the back seat and the little BMW behind me.  Neither one would have any hope of getting out.

Don’t get caught with your pants down at the drive through.  Drive around the building first, if there isn’t a way for your vehicle to get out when you are in the middle of the line, go inside.  It’s just a rule I live by to make sure I stay safe and keep my family safe.  Having an exit in mind is a normal part of my life.  Anytime I go somewhere I’m always looking for another way out.  I think I picked up the habit working for the armored car company, but I don’t remember, I’ve just always done it.  When I walk in someplace I look for the exits and how the area is laid out.  I do the same when I drive into a parking lot.  It could save you in an emergency and just lets you go around crowds on normal days.

Stay Safe,

Ben

Improvised Hotel Security

Posted on by Posted in Security, TravelSec 5 Comments

This last week has been incredibly busy!  I don’t think I’ve stopped working yet to start a new week, but “I’m loving” it.  Saturday I taught an Intro to Defensive Pistol class (to everyone there, you guys rock!), Sunday during the day I played bass in the church band, and here I am writing this in a hotel room 400 miles from home so that I can be in New Mexico early tomorrow morning and back home by the time you are reading this.

In my craziness (this was an unscheduled trip) I didn’t pack everything I normally take.  I got to the hotel late at night, so I didn’t get to drive around and look at the area like I would have like to (but I did stay here once last month, so that does help).  I am also tired, so that makes it harder.  I really just wanted to share a couple little tips about hotel rooms.

First, I like the second story (tonight I’m stuck on the first because it’s the only thing they have available).  This is an outside hotel, which I don’t really mind.  I prefer the second story because it’s harder to do a smash and grab, and it’s just easier for bad guys to victimize people on the first floor.  Most bad guys are lazy, so that would put me out of harms way for (my guess) about 50% of the dirt bags out there.  I don’t mind the second story because if worst comes to worst I can always spider drop/jump form the second story to get down.  Anything higher and I may not make it without breaking something.

This is a little something I improvised in the room to help me if someone does try to come through the door while I’m sleeping.  A cheap ironing board is about the noisiest thing on the planet.  If the door opens it will fall and give me some warning.  The table isn’t much of a doorstop.  Normally I carry actual doorstops that I shove under the door.  If nothing else, the table will ma

ke a good thing to trip over.  None of this, including the dead bolt on the door, is going to stop someone from coming in.  It’s there just to slow people down so I can wake up and address the problem.  I also put the office chair in front of the window for the same reason.

I didn’t leave anything of value in my truck, it’s all in the room with me.  If someone breaks into my truck while I’m away from home it sucks more then normal.  I will have my clothing set up to go for the morning before I go to bed.  My keys and all my important stuff are ready to go.  If someone breaks in I won’t have time to put on jeans and boots, but if the fire alarm goes off, or there is a real fire, I can grab my stuff and go.
Stay Safe,Next time you are in a hotel look around and think about how you would handle someone trying to break into your room and what you would do if there was a fire and you had leave in a hurry.

Ben

PS  I think I’m going to add a doorstop to my normal carry bag, just so I don’t forget.

 

Hotel Danger

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Do you take extra steps when you travel to stay safe? When you are traveling is the easiest time to have things stolen.  Hotel rooms feel safe with there 5 locks on the door, but really aren’t.  Here are a couple quick tips for keeping your stuff yours at a hotel.

  • Park your vehicle in a well lit area, preferably where you can see it.
  • Lock your car doors and take everything inside with you.  Don’t leave anything visible in your car. I mean anything!  Make it look like your car is empty of everything.
  • Bring a coupe things extra with you to your hotel; a mini alarm to put on the door, a door wedge, and a flashlight .  Put the alarm on the door, wedge under the door as a lock, and the flashlight on the nightstand next to you.
  • Keep your pants and shirt near the bed with all your normal stuff in the pockets.  Car keys, wallet, money, and anything else you may need in a hurry.  Ladies, place your purse somewhere you can’t miss it, like on top of your close.  Also have enough close to go outside if it’s cold.  Just incase of an emergency you don’t want to run out of the hotel without close on or your car keys.
  • When you leave for the day, take anything valuable with you and leave the TV on so people think there is someone inside the room.
  • Get a room below the 8th floor.  That is how far fire truck ladders can reach.  And that is about as far as I want to run down stairs if the elevator is not working.  In smaller hotels I like the second floor.  I can still jump if I need to, but it’s hard for someone to break into the window.
  • Only stay in hotels that are in good areas.  If you get to your hotel and it looks creepy, go to another hotel.

Stay Safe,

Ben