Don't be a target

t's no fun to be the victim of a crime. At worst it can be a traumatic, life-changing event-or even deadly. At best, it can be frightening and inconvenient. All of these consequences are magnified if you're the victim of a crime on the road.

The good news is that if you're targeted while traveling, the assault is more likely to be of the "give me all your money" variety. Physical assaults are rare and are usually committed by someone the victim knows, so exposure to that risk drops when you're around strangers. The bad news is that you may feel more vulnerable when you're in unfamiliar surroundings and your attention is focused on getting the job done.

Thieves consider travelers to be good targets. Business travelers, especially, are likely to be carrying cash, laptops and other valuables; they're often in a hurry and easily distracted; and they're unlikely to risk missing a flight to report a crime or to make a return trip to serve as a witness.

Though most people take precautions every day to stay safe, they often let their guards down when they're on the road. Travelers tend to get caught up in dealing with stressful details and forget to pay attention to what's going on around them. Leave yourself plenty of time to be alert and aware. Note who is around you and what they are doing. Avoid isolated areas. Locate exits and safe spots. And "don't assume you can spot a potential thief by his or her appearance," cautions Jens Jurgen, editor of Travel Companions newsletter. "They could look like ordinary people-a student, a business traveler, or a 'nice old lady.'"

"Having safety awareness doesn't mean you have to become paranoid," says Samantha Schroeder, co-author of "Travel Safely." If you make crime prevention and awareness daily habits, you can relax on the road.

A few basic steps can help reduce your chance of being targeted. And though these strategies may seem like common sense, "you'd be surprised how many people don't follow them," says business travel consultant Kevin Coffey.

Here are some tips from the experts:

Before You Go

• Pack light. Clean out your purse, briefcase and wallet; take only the essentials. Carrying a lot of stuff not only raises the risk it will be lost or stolen, it also slows you down.

• Keep your plans close to the vest. Let only those who really need to (your family or a friend, one co-worker) know where you are and how to reach you.

• Pack your valuables in your carry-on bag. Put only clothes and replaceable items in luggage you'll be checking.

• Take a rubber doorstop with you. Wedge it under the inside of the door when you're in your hotel room-it virtually guarantees no one can open the door, even with a key, without you knowing it. Keep in mind that if there's a medical emergency or fire and you can't get to the door, a doorstop will also slow down rescue workers trying to reach you.

• Secure your home before you leave.

En Route

• Know the drill. Pickpockets and other thieves often work in pairs and use techniques like bumping into you or creating a distraction to get your attention off your bag or purse or wallet. Don't fall for diversions. Common sites for such ploys: shuttle bus stops, public phones and ticket counters.

• Keep in physical contact with your luggage at all times. On the phone, put it between your legs; in the bathroom, put it on your lap. Don't use the hook in the stall or set your bag on the floor-in either place, it can be easily snatched before you can react. At the airport security gate, keep your belongings in hand until you're ready to walk through the metal detector-don't set them on the belt prematurely.

• Especially at the airport, "regardless of what happens around you, don't take your eyes off your purse or laptop," says Jack Reiby, communications officer of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives. "Nothing can ruin a business trip faster than losing your laptop with all the information you need for the meeting on it."

At Your Destination

• Ask for a room away from stairwells and elevators, to minimize the risk of being surprised. Or ask for a room near the elevator to avoid walking down long corridors-whichever makes you more comfortable. Don't stay on the first floor, because it has more entry points.

• Never put the "please make up room" sign on your door. It just advertises the fact that the room is unoccupied.

• Keep your hotel key with you all the time. Don't leave it with the front desk when you go out.

• Don't open the door to your hotel room without confirming that someone you know is on the other side. If the person claims to be staff and you weren't expecting him or her, call the front desk to verify.

• Don't invite anyone to your room, even a colleague, unless you are completely comfortable with that person.

All the Time

• Before it happens, think through what you would do in a dangerous situation. Mental rehearsal can help you make decisions and react more quickly and safely. Practice in your mind how you want to handle a mugging or other unwanted encounter.

• Get in touch with your "natural warning system," and when it alerts you, listen to it. "Trust your instincts. If someone or something makes you uneasy, avoid the person or leave," advises the National Crime Prevention Counsel.

• Act confident and calm even when you're not. Check maps before you go out, so you know where you are going.

• Don't keep all your money in one place. That way, if you are robbed, you won't lose it all.

• Keep tip money in a front pocket or other easily accessible place so you won't have to take out your wallet frequently just to get a dollar or two.

• Keep at least a quarter of a tank of gas in your car. Don't risk running out of gas in a place you don't know.

• Use the buddy system. Whenever possible, walk with someone you know and trust.

• If you carry a purse or bag, keep your wallet and money in an inside pocket where it's harder to remove. If you carry your wallet in a pocket, put a rubber band around it, making it difficult for someone to slip it out of your pocket. And don't keep it in a back pocket, known worldwide as the "sucker's pocket"-put it in a front pants pocket or an inside jacket pocket.

• Keep your car, house and hotel doors locked whether you are inside or out.

• Have your keys out and ready to use as you approach your car or room door.

If You Are Confronted

There is no one right way to deal with a confrontation. Remain calm and size up the situation (including where you are, whether the attacker has a weapon, what he or she wants, etc.) and your options.

• If an assailant wants your money or property, the safest response is to hand it over. But if it is a sexual assault, you're safer if you physically resist, including the basics-yelling and running.

• Remember you can always say "no." For example, if the person
  sitting next to you on the plane is becoming intrusive, asking personal questions, or making advances, tell him clearly to leave you alone. Report the behavior to the flight crew, and switch seats.

• If you are attacked, yell. "Your voice is an effective safety device, and it is always handy," says Stacey Ravel Abarbanel in "Smart Business Travel."

In travel, as in the rest of life there are no guarantees. But by taking a few preventive steps, you can help ensure your trip goes smoothly.

Be Prepared

Here are a few resources to help you stay safe:

• The D.C. Self-Defense Karate Association/D.C. IMPACT offers workshops and classes on violence prevention and self-defense. Call (301) 589-1349.

• "Family Travel Safety Tips" from the National Crime Prevention Council. Call (202) 466-6272 or go to www.ncpc.org.

• "Foiling Pickpockets, Bag Snatchers and Other Travel Related Crimes/Scams," 1998 ($3.95 each; $6 for two). A special issue of Travel Companions newsletter. Call (516) 454-0880.

• "General International Travel Advice" from the National Business Travelers Association. Call (703) 684-0836 or go to www.nbta.org/pubs/travel.

• "Lies, Cons and Stolen Briefcases" (audiotape) by Corporate Travel Safety, 1998 ($14.95). The group also offers seminars on preventing theft for business travelers. Call (818) 225-1991 or go to www.
  corporatetravelsafety.com.

• "Safety and Security for Women Who Travel," by Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer, Travelers' Tales Inc., 1998 ($12.95). Call (800) 998-9938 or go to order@oreilly.com.

• Travel Can Be Murder: A Business Traveler's Guide to Personal Safety, Terry Riley, Applied Psychology Press, 1998 ($17.95). Riley also conducts crime-prevention workshops for business travelers. Call (408) 439-0922.

• Smart Business Travel: How to Stay Safe When You're on the Road by Stacey Ravel Abarbanel, First Books Inc., 1994, is out of print, but worthwhile. Check a library.

• The Transportation Department offers a recorded message providing information on security threats to transportation systems. Call (800) 221-0673.

• The State Department provides information and warnings on trouble spots overseas. Call (202) 647-5225 (also the number to call if you are the victim of a crime overseas) or go to http://travel.state.gov/ travel_warnings.

Travel Safely at Home and Abroad by R.W. Worring, W.S. Hibbard and S. Schroeder, Uniquest Publications, 1998 ($12.95; quantity discounts available). Call (406) 443-3911 or go to uniquest@irfs.com.

When she's not writing about government travel, Lauren R. Taylor teaches personal safety and self-defense with the D.C. Self-Defense Karate Association. Contact her at ltaylor@govexec.com.