Greetings,

In a previous post we wrote about personal safety when using an ATM machine.

Knowing your surroundings play a major role in keeping yourself safe.

Let’s continue with part 2 of Personal safety at an ATM machine.

• Choose an ATM that looks and ‘feels’ safer, even if it is a couple of miles
  out of the way.

• Try and limit your use to daylight hours. Take someone with you after hours,
  if you can.
  
  
• When you drive up to an ATM location, scan the area for any suspicious persons.
  If you see anyone suspicious standing nearby or sitting in a car, drive away.

• When you approach an ATM on foot be prepared and have your access card ready.

• Memorize your personal PIN number to prevent loss and speed the transaction.
  After inserting your card and your PIN number keep an eye out behind you.

• Never accept an offer to help or request for help from a suspicious male ahead of
  you at the machine. If anyone suspicious or seemingly dangerous approaches
  terminate your transaction and leave immediately, even if it means running away
  and leaving your ATM card in the machine.

• First, tell the suspicious male in a loud, firm voice to “back-off’ and leave you alone.
  This is designed to startle the person and give you time to flee, if appropriate.
  When you receive cash from the machine put it away immediately, extract your
  card, and walk away.

• If you use your car at a drive-thru ATM machine the same rules apply.

• Keep the car in gear, with your foot firmly on the brake, while using the
  ATM machine.

• Keep a close eye on your rear and side view mirrors during the transaction.

• Robbers almost always approach from the rear on the driver’s side. If you see
  anyone approaching, drive off even if it means leaving your A TM card behind.

If an armed robber confronts you, just give up your money without argument.
The cash is not worth serious injury or death.
Get to a safe place and call the police immediately!

As always, we hope you find these tips and guidelines useful.

If you have some comments on personal safety or security and you would like to share,
please help your fellow man or woman and leave us your comment.

Thanks for reading and stay safe,

Trapper

PS…have you picked up your copy of our 40 reports on personal safety and security?

It’s available at: http://www.personalsafetyebook.com/PPP.html

Tags: atm machines, crime, personal safety, personal security, robbery

Greeting,

In this world of convenience, one of the most used is an ATM machine.
They simply have been incorporated into our lives. They are great to grab
some quick cash while on the run, but still, depending on the location and
time of the day, especially evening, still pose a bit of risk.

For personal safety and security sake, let’s do a little planning ahead so we
use them safely, with no injuries.

As always and as we have spoke about in other posts, be aware of your
surroundings. Just because a ATM machine is open 24/7 doesn’t mean it
is always safe to use it.

* Did you know most ATM robberies occur at night between 8:00pm &
midnight?

* ATM robbers are usually males under 25 years of age.

* ATM robbers usually position themselves nearby waiting for a victim to
approach and withdraw cash.

* Most ATM robbery victims are women and were alone when robbed.

Most victims claim that they never saw the robber coming. ATM robbers
use a gun or claim to have a concealed weapon when confronting their
victim and make demands for their cash.

Your personal safety and security is at stake when using an ATM machine,
here are a couple of tips to make the transaction a little safer.

* Use only ATM Machines in well-lighted, high traffic areas.

* Don’t use ATM machines that are in remote areas or hidden in such away
like behind buildings, behind pillars, walls or away from public view. Beware
of obvious hiding places like shrubbery or overgrown trees.
Robbers like to have the element of surprise and no witnesses.

* If the lights around the ATM machine is not working, stay away, find another
machine.

* as stated earlier, avoid ATM machines next to obvious hiding places.

* Have your card ready and leave quickly, don’t count your cash in public.

* Beware of offers for help from strangers during an ATM transaction.

* Don’t fight with or attempt to follow the robber.

* Drive or walk to a safe place and immediately call the police!

Above all, it pays to know your surroundings and a little planning ahead can
make your night out more enjoyable.

Please remember, the above article are just tips to help keep you safer and make
you more aware of your surrounding.

Join us tomorrow for part 2.

Sincerely,

Trapper

PS…over 40 reports on personal safety and security can be found at
www.personalsafetyebook.com/PPP.html including a
FREE report on ID Theft

Tags: atm machines, campus security, crime, ID theft, personal safety, personal security, robbery