Keeping Safe When Living or Traveling Alone

About 40 percent of United States adults are either single, divorced or widowed, and many of them live and travel alone. Although the solo life can be liberating and exciting, it also can increase vulnerability to criminals.
Here are some practical tips for keeping yourself safe when living in a single-occupant home or apartment and while traveling alone in the United States or abroad.


Home Safety Do’s:

• Know your neighbors. Even if you don’t socialize, it’s importance to introduce yourself and exchange phone numbers with a close neighbor in case of an emergency.
• Lock your doors, patio doors and windows. Add deadbolts to all exterior doors, which should be made of solid wood or metal, not hollow core. Place a wood or metal bar in the lower track of sliding glass doors,
• Install peepholes in doors, so you can see who is there before opening them.
• Install a security system or a life alert program. If you can’t use a security system, consider a using a “foghorn” device like the ones used at sporting events. A life alert program can be just as valuable for solo home dwellers as it is for sick or elderly people.
• Install a bedroom phone programmed to 911, and keep a flashlight by the bedside.
• Install an outdoor motion detector to light walkways and the sides of the house.
• Get a dog. It’s important to keep the dog indoors because an outdoor dog can become the first victim of a burglar.
• If you live in an apartment, park your car in a well-lit area of the parking lot.
• If you have a parking garage, park as close possible to the elevator.
• Always walk to your residence with keys in hand. In case of an emergency, they can be used as a weapon.

Home Safety Don’ts:

• Avoid advertising that you live alone. Tactics include listing only your last name and first initial in the phone book, reprogramming your answering machine to add the word “we,” answering “I’ll get it” when the doorbell rings, and placing only your last name on the mailbox if you live in an apartment.
• Never leave ladders or tools within easy reach, as a burglar can use them to break in.
• Never leave a spare key under the mat or flowerpot.
• Never leave a note on the doorway saying when you’ll be gone and when you’ll return.

When you’re away from home for an extended period, it’s important to stop your mail and newspaper delivery or have a friend or neighbor pick them up. If you’re away for a short or extended period, leave a $20 bill in plain sight. If it’s gone when you return, don’t step inside and immediately call 911.


Travel Safety Do’s:

• If you’re traveling abroad, and want to make sure that your destination is relatively safe, contact the U.S. Department of State: 202-647-5225. Whether your traveling abroad or domestically, it’s important for solo travelers to pass along a copy of flight and hotel information (including phone numbers) and other details to a trusted friend or family member.
• Assure that your hotel/motel doors lock properly, and keep them locked. If there’s a chain lock, use it.
• Ask hotel staff to mark your map with the location of your hotel and any areas you should avoid. Ask if it’s safe to use public transportation after dark.
• On the streets, be alert, not fearful. Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. After dark, try to walk on well-lit streets surrounded by other people. If you find yourself in a questionable area, duck into a public place to check your map or call for a taxi.

Travel Safety Don’ts:

• Avoid telling anyone your flight or itinerary information.
• Don’t use public transportation for more than one or two bags. A taxi is safer.
• Avoid looking like an obvious tourist. That means being prepared ahead of time, by checking with the concierge for directions so you look confident when you hit the streets. It also means looking like a local, dressing somewhat conservatively without obvious displays of wealth or jewelry.
• Avoid advertising your nationality. Unfortunately, being a United States citizen can make you a target. Don’t wave your citizenship with flag lapels or T-shirts, and be careful sharing your nationality with fellow travelers.
• Never give out a room number in a hotel or motel. If the desk clerk says the number within earshot of others, don’t be shy about requesting a different room.
• Don’t use the “do not disturb” hanger, which indicates the room is occupied.

Alternatively, don’t use the card to housekeeping that the room should be cleaned, which indicates that the room is unoccupied.