| When choosing a motel or hotel, you should all ways | | | | area and it will be harder to get them back to testify |
| ask the following questions: | | | | in court. Inside the room secrets When you enter |
| (1) What type of on-site security do you have? (2) | | | | the room, look under the counter where the sink is |
| Are your rooms inside or outside rooms? (3) What | | | | and against that wall usually where the two rooms |
| type of security measures do you have in place for | | | | join. You are looking for a camera or a peephole. |
| each room? | | | | Usually there is a crawl space for plumbing between |
| Guests who stay above the first floor greatly reduce | | | | rooms. |
| their chances of being a victim of a crime from | | | | I have actually seen cases where an employee had |
| outside forces. | | | | punched a hole in the drywall under the counter to |
| UPON ARRIVAL | | | | look into the room: it gives a perfect view of almost |
| Do a visual check of the layout in case of | | | | the whole room. If you should happen to discover |
| emergency. What kind of lighting has been installed in | | | | this in your room, call law enforcement not the front |
| the parking lot, around the grounds, pool and rooms? | | | | desk, make sure a report is made, let law |
| Check your room to see what security measures | | | | enforcement make the contact with the |
| have been installed. | | | | establishment and contact your attorney. Also find |
| Explain to the children what you are looking for so | | | | another place to stay. Guest that stay in an inside |
| they understand the importance of it, and explain to | | | | room are less likely to be the victim than ones that |
| them to never open the door (even if they think | | | | stays where the room opens to the parking lot. |
| they are helping) before you approve it. | | | | Remember that not all, if any, motels /hotels conduct |
| A chain type lock is one that does not provide | | | | background checks on all of their employees. |
| sufficient security and gives the false sense that it is | | | | A device can be bought on eBay for about $ 49.00 |
| safe to open the door. (not a good device to use at | | | | that detects hidden cameras in rooms, tanning beds, |
| home either) Peepholes are good and should be used | | | | changing rooms, etc. This is good investment. You |
| before opening the door to see who is there. | | | | have been told for years never leave valubles in your |
| There are two types of peepholes: one is called a | | | | room when you go out, which includes going to the |
| 160 that just shows who is standing in front of it and | | | | pool. Now you need to add to never leave your |
| the other is called a 180 that gives you a much wider | | | | identification in a room when you are not there. |
| view of who is standing in front of the door and | | | | This leaves you with two choices: |
| beside it. A lot of motels and hotels are putting two | | | | (1) Carry it to the pool or other areas with you. (2) |
| peepholes in the door: one is placed lower for children | | | | Lock it in the trunk of your vehicle. |
| (a very good safety feature). Deadbolts are a good | | | | I am not sure about trusting in-room safes, you |
| safety device and should always be used. If you | | | | would need to ask the mangers about the safety |
| travel a lot and want extra security, a device called a | | | | features, If possible make sure no one else has a |
| doorjamb is sold at Lowe's for about $ 20.00. It fits | | | | key or combination to it. Never prop the door open |
| under the doorknob and wedges between the floor | | | | to go to ice machine or your vehicle; it gives a thief |
| and the doorknob or handle. It folds down and is | | | | a chance to obtain entry into your room. Make sure |
| easy to carry and can be used at home as well. Do | | | | to keep the room key or room card with you at all |
| not answer the door by just opening it. | | | | times. If lost or misplaced, notify the front desk at |
| First, find out who is there. If the person identifies | | | | once. The lodging industry has a liability and |
| himself as an employee call the front desk to confirm | | | | responsibility to keep its guest as safe as possible |
| it. | | | | and most try very hard to do just that. |
| Seventy percent of communication is non-verbal. In | | | | Most industries have what is called industry standards |
| other words, if you show fear opening the door, it | | | | by which they set acceptable operating procedures. I |
| already gives the intruder the upper hand in the | | | | have been asked often about the use of personal |
| situation. Use peepholes first. Moving the curtain back | | | | alarms in a hotel/motel room. If you use one, the |
| and looking out the window is as bad as opening the | | | | goal would be to get the activated device outside of |
| door. A smooth talker that sees you are startled or | | | | the room so others could hear it. Never let a child go |
| frightened might be able to get you to open the | | | | any where with out an adult that you really trust. |
| door. The face to face gives him or her the | | | | They are targets to criminals. |
| advantage. | | | | If you stay at a motel/hotel that does not have any |
| Motels or hotels just off the interstate are perfect | | | | of these security features, I would consider making |
| targets for criminals of all kinds (theives, child | | | | the stay a very, very short one or continue on trying |
| predators and many others). Traveling families make | | | | to find a motel/hotel with the adequate safety |
| the perfect victims, They are not familiar with the | | | | measures. |