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Operational security applies to holidays too
Posted 12/19/2012 Updated 12/19/2012
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by Maj. Brent Adams
82nd Training Wing/XP
12/19/2012 - SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The holiday season is a time when individuals out there that would be eager to make your Holiday much less bright while helping themselves to your money or goods.
Below are some operational security (OPSEC) holiday tips to help keep your spirits bright during this time of year.
For the home:
1. Don't tip thieves off by advertising the fact that you and your family are traveling and not at home. Thieves are able to read your Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Same goes for any answering phone greetings. A known unoccupied home makes an attractive target. You can make your home look occupied when you're away by using timers on radios and lights. The recommendation is to use a random timer so the lights don't turn on at exactly the same time every day. Also, make sure to put a hold on any mail or newspapers to keep it from piling up.
2. Setup your gifts and Christmas tree away from a main window so burglars cannot scope out your goods.
3. Remove any secret keys under planters or door mats. These are the first places would be intruders will look. A possible option would be to give your key to a friend or a trusted neighbor.
4. If you decorate your home with lights, make sure to run them through outside outlets. Never run wires through an open widow crack.
5. Close your window blinds or curtains at night.
6. Properly dispose of all gift boxes after the holidays. Leaving a pile of boxes from that new 55″ flat screen TV is an open invitation to burglars informing them of your new goods.
For shopping:
1. Be wary of "shoulder surfers" as you take out cash from ATMs or pay for items with your credit card. Make sure to put receipts in a safe place 2. If you bought so many presents that you have to take a trip to the car to unload your packages so that you can buy more; make sure you place the items in your trunk and out of sight. Thieves are always watching store parking lots, so it's also smart to relocate the car to another parking space after loading the trunk.
2. Don't leave valuable items, gifts, or other items that thieves might be interested in, visible to people walking by your car. Store your valuables (and everything else, if possible) in the trunk of your car -- locked.
3. Never, ever leave your keys in your car (either with the motor on or off) while you quickly run into a store or to do some errand. And be sure to lock your car and close the windows, even for a few minutes. Car thieves are very fast -- it only takes a moment for them to steal your car. Don't think auto theft can't happen to you; it can.
Some common holiday parking lots scams:
1. The "parking lot peddler" or "white van" scams involve people who drive white vans parked in neighborhood malls displaying signs advertising very inexpensive, but supposedly high quality equipment, jewelry, and even artwork and furniture. The sales people promise that all products come with a "satisfaction guarantee." However, it's them that be very satisfied with your cash and long gone by the time you realize the merchandise is either defective, counterfeit or very low quality.
2. Another very different parking lot scam involves a driver that supposedly helps you back out of a parking space by waving you out, and then either runs into your car himself or works with a partner who collides with you. Another way of being set up for robbery or of obtaining your personal information.
For more information, contact 676-6676. |
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