Security and safety advices

At home...

Keep your doors and windows locked.
Don't open the door to strangers.
Good outside lighting can save you problems.
Dogs are a great deterrent to crime, doesn't matter the size.
Check the gas fittings every month (dryer, stove, hot water heater).
Check the area of the hot water heater for soot... Soot means the heater needs adjusting.
Check the wall sockets for scorch marks... indicates faulty wiring.
Be aware of any odor of burnt rubber or plastic... it could mean faulty wiring.

Stay alert, its a jungle out there.
Keep the doors locked and windows rolled up.
Put your purse under the seat or in the glove box.
If stopped by the police, especially women alone:
- Do not roll down the windows more than a few inches.
- Do not give him your passport.
- Do not go with him.
If involved in an accident:
- If you can move the vehicle, get out of traffic, but stay in a well iluminated and public area.
- Avoid secondary collisions.
- If the car cannot be moved, stay in the car until help arrives.
- Information you want from the other driver:
- - Name
  - Address
  - Telephone
  - Insurance company
- Record:
  - Time
  - Place
  - Car: make, model, color
  - License plate
- Call your insurance company as soon as you can.

Leave your crown jewels at home.
Keep a good grip on your purse, but don't fight too hard, YOU COULD GET HURT.
Have your car key ready in your hand on the way to your car.
Observe the area around your car for suspicious individuals.
If you feel you are being followed or sense anything unusual, go back inside inmediately.

Observe the area around the cash machine for suspicious individuals.
Use your body and hands to obscure the keyboard so that others cannot see your codes.
Quickly verify your withdrawal and place the money in your purse or pocket.
Take your transaction receipt with you. The information can hurt you.
Stay in the cash machine booth until you are comfortable in leaving.

At the time you receive your credit card, check that your name had been written correctly.
Once you receive it, sign it with pen, never with a marker.
Do not cover the space you signed it with scotch tape, because you could not use it in the cashiers.
The card can be easily damaged, do not expose it to direct sunlight, high temperatures or water.
Do not leave it next to keys, coins, metals or electric appliances.
In case your card is stolen or lost in national territory report it to any branch of the corresponding bank inmediately.
When it happens out of the country of origin, report it to any branch of the corresponding bank in the locality affiliated to the credit system according to your credit card (Master Card, Visa, American Express, etc.).

Make sure the taxi driver starts his meter.
If the taxi has no meter or says it is "broken", settle on a price before you depart... or get out and find another taxi.
Always have change available for taxis... they never will.
Taxis and public transportation can charge 20% extra after 10:00 pm.
Taxis going from the D.F. to the State of Mexico will charge double the meter reading.
Taxis with "Sitio" written on the side are always more expensive, but since they operate from a dispatch, they are safer.
On the Metro during crowded hours, an adult or child will cut men's back pockets or womens purses with a razor. A second child will come by and pick up the wallets.
At the airport... taxi drivers will take multiple passengers with you and charge double the correct fee. If its busy and you don't want to wait, make sure it is agreed you will only pay your portion of the fare... not the whole fare and certainly not double.
Always use the official taxis at the airport. It is very dangerous to use the "pirate" taxis.
Make sure the gas station attendant zeros the gas pump.

Burglar alarm systems that don't call for a response are better than nothing, but not as good as one that does. Make sure the company who will respond has the resources to get you quickly.
Systems that sense movement and automatically turn on outside lights, can scare off a burglar before they make an attempt to get in. The systems that set off a bell or horn when the burglar breaks in, can scare them away after they are inside. Both are better than just one.
Put up signs that say you have a security system, even if you don't.
What the bad guys don't know can help you.
Keep at least a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Fire extinguisher systems built into the hood of the stove are even better. Remember, stoves are usually gas here in Mexico. A grease fire can have severe consequences.
Check with your insurance agent. Many insurance companies in Mexico provide fairly substancial discounts for fire and security systems.

Prevention:

Remain aware of people around your house and office. Kidnappers must watch their victims to identify the time and place they are most vulnerable.
Vary your schedule and routes. Do not establish a pattern that can be exploited.
Educate your family (husband, wife, children, domestic employees) and office staff about the problem. Have them report any suspicious event or person.
If you see a suspicious person record the following information:
- Sex
- Height
- Weight
- Hair
- Complexion
- Clothes
- Car... make, model, year, license plate number
Let them see you record the information. It lets them know that you know... they just might figure you are too much trouble.

If the worst happens:

DON'T BE A HERO! The bad guys are in it for the money... they would prefer to have you safe and sound for lots of reasons. Don't do something to make them panic and hurt you. Focus on gathering information. You will probably be blind folded to prevent you from recognizing where you are being taken. Concentrate on street sounds... they can help identify the route followed and where you were taken. Listen for names, phone numbers, addresses... anything that help identify the bad guys afterwards.
Try to make yourself as "human" as possible. Let them know you have family... love your kids... relate as a real person. Remember they are in control. You will gain nothing by telling them how you really feel about them.
Stay as active as possible:
- Establish a schedule of exercise.
- Maintain you personal hygiene.
- Keep the area where you are being held clean.
- Ask for books and reading material.
- Mentally develop solutions to business problems.
- Do what ever you can do to keep your mind and body occupied.

Mexican Emergency Response: 080
Red Cross: 557- 57-57 to 60
Fire Department: 527-15-71 / 786-37-00

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