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Personal Security Basics

July 21, 2014

 

To get a sense of your personal security preparedness, we can conduct a basic audit ourselves using the checklist provided below. Please note that this is a rudimentary analysis and cannot replace an audit conducted by professionals or competent authority.

 

  1. Do you have  the emergency number of police?
  2. Do you have the photograph and address of your maid servant/driver duly verified?
  3. Do you latch the door of the house?
  4. Do you have an eye view / eyelet / security system in your door and do you use it?
  5. Is the security staff in your building from a verified agency?
  6. Is a visitor register maintained and at what frequency is it checked by you/ your society members?
  7. Do you have a caller id in your phone – landline?
  8. Do you have adequate protective grill on your windows and are they open-able in an emergency?
  9. Do you take the same route to work daily?
  10. Do you allow the grocery delivery man to deliver the provision to your kitchen or stop him at the door?
  11. How careful are you with your Main Door Keys, especially the spare ones/
  12. Do you call your aged parents living alone at least once in a day to check on their well-being?
  13. Does Your Building Security check the vehicles parked in the society premises?

 

If the answers to more than 5 of the above is ‘No’ – You are at low risk

If the answers to more than 7 of the above is ‘No’ – You are at moderate risk

If the answers to more than 10 of the above is ‘No’ – You are at high risk

 

While the above audit can give an indicative bearing on the overall status of preparedness. Below are some points which if we are mindful of can help improve the level of our personal security.

 

  • Every phone call that is received, the identity of the caller should be established before carrying on the conversation.If it is an unknown person, the contact number can be taken and the call made subsequently to the caller.
  • Special instructions should be given to aged persons, children, servants and others for unknown caller making telephone calls when the flat owner is not present at home. They should not volunteer any information to the unknown caller even if he gives a reference of a relative or a friend.
  • In case of blank calls, the owner can approach the MTNL authorities and keep his own phone under observation.
  • If threatening calls (even for extortion) are received, then the Senior Police Inspector of the nearest police station, the Regional Anti-Extortion Cell or Anti-Extortion Cell in the Crime Branch may be approached.
  • Do not disclose your tour programs, appointments or meetings etc. to the persons who are not concerned about it.
  • Telephone numbers of nearest Police Station, Police Control Room, neighbours etc. should be readily available.
  • In case of blank and abusive threatening calls, the owner can get call transferring facility on his mobile phone and get the identity of the caller fixed.
  • It is advisable to have a watchman in the office and maintain a visitors’ register in which names and addresses of all the persons coming from outside should be noted.
  • Appointment of employees in business premises should be done only after proper verification.
  • The cleaning staff that opens the office/shop in the morning should be briefed about making a thorough check of the premises.
  • Nominating of substitute workers if a regular worker going on leave, to be done with caution.
  • Park in a well-lighted area.
  • Lock your vehicle properly.
  • The registration number, engine to be etched on all glasses of the vehicle.
  • Ensure to have a secondary locking system for safety of your vehicle.
  • Do not handover keys of the vehicle to roadside mechanics ,
  • Verify the credentials of your driver.
  • In case of theft of petrol cap, change the ignition switch quickly.
  • Punch-out keys & other keys must be kept carefully.
  • Parking place for the vehicle should be secured and the vehicle should be fully checked before commencing the journey for the day.
  • While driving you should remain alert to vehicles / two wheelers who appear to be keeping close distance with your vehicle. Similar attention to be paid while stopping at red signals.
  • If travelling in a chauffeur driven vehicle, the driver should also be aware of all the security instructions.

 

This information has been provided by Eureka Forbes.

 

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