Good Security Practices and Recent Incidents

March 14, 2012

U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam

Crime is an issue that affects all of us. All U.S. citizens, their family members are urged to stay alert and to use caution both at their residences and while outside. Attempted and successful home invasions, muggings and assaults continue.

Avoiding risky situations and employing simple security practices can make a huge difference to your safety and that of your family.

What you can do is simple: maximize your security awareness, minimize your security risks, and minimize the harm that might befall you if all else fails.

Vehicles:

• Lock your doors.
• Close your windows.
• Set the alarm (if you have one) when you park.
• Secure bags in the trunk or leave them at home. Bags attract thieves. Cars are glass boxes. If you leave a bag on the seat someone may break the glass.
• Don't take Bajajs, Daladalas, or hail unknown taxis on the street. Come on! Don't be cheap with your life; get a legit taxi from a car service, hotel, or restaurant. If you are driving around late at night be especially cautious when stopped at traffic lights. In order to avoid assault at isolated intersections some drivers refuse to stop at lights and decide to proceed cautiously after slowing down. That may help to avoid an assault but it also means that all intersections are really dangerous at night whether you have a green light or not.
• When driving in traffic ensure you leave adequate space between your car and the vehicle ahead. Maintaining a space cushion in front of you is particularly important when stopped in traffic. The practice enables you to maneuver your way out of a sticky situation.

Pedestrians, Joggers, Cyclists:

If you are going to proceed with these activities then maximize your awareness and minimize the down side:

• Ban backpacks and purses. They attract thieves.
• Select routes where you can run, walk, or bike on the shoulder. Consider heading "counter flow" so you can see the traffic (if it is safe to do so).
• Don't wear headphones. If you insist, then only wear one earpiece so you can listen to the area around you.
• Don't be alone. Make a friend. Walking, jogging, or biking alone is a bad idea.
• Where/When: Location and time of day are key factors. Never walk, run or bike after dark. You're invisible to traffic but highly visible to thieves.
• Consider wearing bright reflective clothing so you stand out, especially during the evening hours.
• AVOID walking/biking near: Crowded bus stations particularly Ubongo Bus Station in Dar es Salaam, local beaches at night particularly Coco Beach on Toure Drive, South Beach Ferry area or any place where there aren't houses on both sides of the road. Assailants like to hide in/escape to areas with brush and/or areas with crowds.

Maximize Awareness/Minimize Risk:

• Download your wallet and your stuff. No flashy watches, jewelry or Ipods. Just carry a concealed cell phone and the minimum amount of cash that you need that day.
• DO NOT CARRY ATM, CREDIT or DEBIT CARDS or you may find yourself on a tour of a lifetime visiting ATM machines until your credit limit is maxed out.
• International criminal groups are stealing debit and credit card information using sophisticated card skimming hardware and software. In February, three different Americans affiliated with the Embassy found unauthorized purchases on their cards after they utilized ATMs at the Sea Cliff and Slipway. There is a history in Dar and other areas of Tanzania of card "skimming".

Recent Incidents Reported to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy:

The following are some of the criminal incidents that were reported to the U.S. Embassy in the past several weeks. The majority of these incidents occurred in Dar es Salaam. However, similar incidents have occurred in various parts of the country particularly Arusha, Morogoro and Iringa and have been reported to us as well. Many of the situations were avoidable and victims were chosen by the assailants because they appeared to be wealthy or vulnerable. The incidents where the robbery or assault was not successful (or which could have been worse) were due to simple and smart security actions like locking doors and windows.

03/07/2012. The IST Lower School Administration building was broken into by a group of burglars. Around 0230 the group attempted to break into the Cashiers Office when guards and police intervened. Five people were arrested. Had they been successful they would have learned that little money is stored there because most transactions are electronic.

03/01/2012. Three Americans affiliated with the Embassy reported that their debit/credit card information was stolen while using ATMs at Slipway and near the Sea Cliff. The victims' ATM card information was scanned by a card reader attached to the ATM. The reader recorded the users' information and a small camera recorded the users' PIN number while they entered it on the keypad. In late February two Bulgarian nationals were arrested when they retrieved one skimmer. However they were released days later because electronically "skimming" data is not contemplated in the present Tanzanian penal code.

02/28/2012. A U.S. Embassy employee suffered a drive by purse snatching outside of a popular restaurant in Dar around 2100 one evening. Two assailants utilized a four door sedan and drove past her just as she was locking her car. A partial license plate number was obtained and reported to police.

02/21/2012. An American temporary employee at the U.S. Embassy staying at a Hotel on Msasani had her passport and wallet stolen from her room.

02/19/2012. A foreign diplomat suffered a nighttime burglary and most items from the ground floor were taken. The diplomat and his family locked themselves in their safe haven on the second floor and no one was injured.

02/2012. Six men claiming to be police officers demanded entry into a house on Msasani, Pieta Lane. A recently hired maid let them in and they tied up the guard and the occupants of the house and stole valuables. Police believe that the maid was involved and facilitated the break-in.

01/22/2012. An American citizen working for the USG in Arusha was robbed. Cash, a laptop and his ATM card were taken. Subsequently his bank account was drained of $600 USD the day after the incident.

1/19/2012. At approximately 1845 a U.S. Embassy employee was walking home on Mwaya Road returning from Shoppers plaza. Two assailants in a four-door sedan attempted to grab her purse but she successfully evaded them. The vehicles license plate was obtained and reported to police.

1/15/2012. At approximately 1930 a temporary USG American employee was a passenger in a Tanzanian registered vehicle traveling along Coco Beach. A young man ran alongside the moving vehicle and grabbed a USG laptop computer from the Americans lap. The passengers grabbed the laptop and the robber dropped off (very risky for all involved). The American kept the laptop but the screen was broken.

01/10/2012. A group of four or five burglars attempted to break in to a British expatriate's house on Haile Selassie. The occupant had secured all the doors and grills. The burglars tried for 20 minutes to get in to the residence but were unsuccessful. After failing to gain entry, the burglars decided to try another house. The second time they managed to break in to and invade a house on Chake Chake. They assaulted the resident, tied him up, and stole various valuables as well as one vehicle.

01/10/2012. An Embassy employee's car was broken into outside of a local restaurant. Two white four-door Toyotas were seen at the location with license plates matching those of previously reported criminal activity. Police were notified about the vehicles.

12/23/2012. A Peace Corps Volunteer visiting from Zambia with his girlfriend arrived at the Ubungo Bus Station late at night. They got into a taxi and the driver stole their money, laptop and cell phone. He drove them around to different ATMs but was unable to withdraw money because the Volunteer provided the wrong PIN numbers (very risky).

Drive by bag snatching in Dar es Salaam have been reported in recent months outside many establishments on the Msasani Peninsula to include Sea Cliff, Slipway, IST and many other places where expatriates tend to congregate. Bags and backpacks are risky. Reportedly one or more restaurants on the Msasani Peninsula in Dar es Salaam were robbed--along with their customers at dinnertime. Allegedly in these cases a group of robbers surrounded the restaurant, robbed the cashier and the patrons and departed. Fortunately there were no reports of injuries. This mode of robbery has also been reported at restaurants in Dar es Salaam where shots were fired in the air.

In Sum:

Maximize your awareness and minimize your risks.

• Share this notice with family, friends.
• Please report emergencies and crime incidents to the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section office so we can assist you as well as learn from the incident. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!

Embassy Registry and Contact Information:

We urge all Americans traveling and residing in Tanzania to sign up with the embassy using the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This can be done quickly and easily on-line through the United States Department of State at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

Tel: [255] (22) 229-4000 (Embassy switch board)- You can reach the operator by dialing ' 0'. Someone is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

To reach the Consular Section directly dial: [255] (22) 229-4122- Monday-Thursday- 8am-4pm and Friday 8am-10am

The Consular Section is open for routine American Citizen Services by appointment only.

Website: http://tanzania.usembassy.gov
Email: drsacs@state.gov

Embassy of the United States of America
686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
          (any taxi driver will know how to get there)