Security Tips

The following security tips were provided to U.S. Embassy employees by the Regional Security Office and may be useful for your own personal security.

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SECURITY NOTICE: SUMMER SECURITY ADVISORY, JULY 1, 2010

As the summer vacation time approaches the R egional S ecurity Office of the U.S. Embassy in Rome would like to remind the American citizen community to be extra vigilant. As the weather warms up we will spend more time out and about in Rome. The following are just a few of the many steps you can take to help keep you and your family safe.

While Walking:

Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you.
Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in any situation, leave.
Stay in well-lit areas.
Walk confidently, with your head up, at a steady pace on the side of the street facing traffic.
Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys.
When going to your car, walk with your keys in your hand.
Don’t walk alone at night and always avoid areas where there are few people.
If you are wearing an IPOD make sure that the volume is low enough to hear everything around you. This is especially important during the hours of darkness. Never take away one of your possible ways of being warned that there is going to trouble.
Be extra careful when people stop you for directions or ask for the time. Always reply from a distance, and never get too close to the car or person.

While Driving:

Keep your car in good working order and the gas tank at least half full.
Park in well-lit areas and lock the doors, even if you’ll only be gone a short time.
When you return to your car, have the key ready and check the front and rear seats and floor before getting in.
Once you are inside the car, drive away, do not sit to organize your belongings.
Drive with all of your doors locked.
If you have a flat tire, drive on slowly until you reach a safe, well-lit and well traveled area.
Exercise extra caution when using underground and enclosed parking garages. Try not to go alone.

While away on leave:

Arrange to have a friend or colleague to check on your home.
Secure your home at ALL TIMES (even when home). Close and lock all windows and doors.
Consider purchasing timers to turn on lights automatically at various times throughout the night.
Check outside lighting and replace light bulbs if necessary.
Ask a friend or colleague to periodically check your residence to ensure your furnace or air conditioning is functioning, and that timers and lights are working.
Unplug all unnecessary appliances such as televisions, stereos, and computers.
Make sure that all jewelry, important papers, currency, or other valuable portables are locked in a safe place.
Ensure all personal and home insurance policies are up-to-date and your coverage is adequate.

Have a safe summer!

General Security Recommendations:

Look:

Cultivate a 'sixth sense' about your neighborhood; know what is normal;
Anytime you leave your home or office, look up and down the street for any suspicious cars, vans, or utility vehicles;
Note people near your home who appear to be repairmen, utility crew teams, peddlers;
Remain alert while driving;
Know your "choke points" on your routes – those bottleneck spots you must traverse. Heighten your awareness of other vehicles, vans, motorcycles as you enter such choke points;
Determine if a pattern is developing with specific cars/motorcycles behind or near you.

Be suspicious of:

People watching for extended periods of time from street level, buildings, or cars;
Broken down vehicles - watch the person’s actions;
Work crews - do they belong there?
Individuals taking notes or photos;
People who leave the area when you do;
Cars parked in the same place for extended periods of time with occupants in the front seat;
Cars or motorcycles that suddenly pull out of parking places or side streets when you pass them;
Vehicles driving too fast or too slow, making erratic moves or abrupt stops;
Vehicles that stop or start as you do.

Be unpredictable:

Determine all routes available to and from work;
Vary your route;
Change departure times frequently (at least one- hour window);
If possible, frequently change vehicles ;
Stagger professional and social activities (don’t play tennis every Wednesday at 3).

Other helpful security recommendations:

Search the exterior and interior of your vehicle.
Look around and under the car for obvious devices, packages, bits of tape, wire, string, safety pins, clumps of dirt, footprints and other indications of tampering;
Look inside the vehicle through the windows;
Look for signs of forced entry around the doors, hood, windows and trunk ( a dirty car reveals fingerprints);
Look inside the exhaust pipe – invest in a blocking pin;
Check the gas cap for signs of tampering – look inside the neck of the gas tank;
Look around, on top of and under the tires – don’t forget the hubcaps;
Check the driver/passenger compartment; always start with the floor and under the seat, then work up;
Look for devices and wires attached to doors or wedged between the door and seat;
Check door panels for signs of tampering;
Look under seats, dashboard, floor mats and headrests;
Check the ashtrays, speakers, cigarette lighter, vanity and dome lights;
Check the sunvisor and glove compartment;
Check all electronic equipment; radio, clock, power windows.

Important Phone numbers:

Police - 113
Carabinieri - 112
Ambulance - 118
Fire - 115

Coping with emergencies

Advice for a Safe Stay in Rome

Daily Security Habits and Practices:

Vary your times and routes to and from work;
Keep your doors locked and windows closed (residence and vehicle);
Check the interior and exterior of your vehicle prior to getting into your vehicle and look for things that are irregular or abnormal;
Maintain a low personal profile by not doing anything that draws attention to yourself;
Identify and report to your local police authorities vehicles or persons possibly involved in surveillance of your activities;
Be alert to what is going on around you;
Make sure your colleagues and family are aware of your daily plans and know how to reach you;
Always be aware of your surroundings and report all suspicious activity to your local police authorities;
In traffic, always attempt to leave space in which to maneuver and always leave yourself an exit. Be prepared to take evasive action at any time;
Avoid choke points in travel and be wary of diversions;
If you are being followed or harassed by another driver, try to find the nearest police station, hotel or other public facility to call the police. Never lead the person back to your home or stop and get out;
Whenever possible, do not have a set day for shopping, errands and personal needs: be unpredictable;
Never give out your personal information such as family member and household staff names, addresses and telephone numbers in an open setting;
Ensure all of your family members are briefed on security measures.

Previous Security Notices