Easter: Let’s Take Care of Our Safety

Let’s start with pre-holiday shopping. When going to a store, we should not take unnecessary valuable items with us. Take only what we need: only as much money or only the payment cards needed to pay for the shopping. Most often, when entering a store, we put our jackets, bags, wallets or pouches in shopping carts. Absorbed in looking through the goods offered on store shelves, we completely forget about the items left in the cart. We do not pay attention to them. Then all it takes is this moment for a thief who is watching us to take a wallet or other documents left in the basket and leave with our money or payment cards. Our belongings should always be kept where we can see them at all times.

Pickpockets may appear in very crowded places (trains, trams, buses, shops). It is often difficult to recognize them in a crowd. They may be young, well-dressed men, elegant women, teenage boys, or even older men. They can be nice, polite and willing to help. They act quickly and most often in groups. They take advantage of every mistake and moment of inattention. As a rule, they exploit the crowd when people are boarding or leaving a vehicle, or while browsing goods in a shop. They often create the crush themselves and arrange situations that draw the victim’s attention away. Such a situation may occur both in a shop during holiday shopping and on public transport while travelling.

To avoid becoming a victim of pickpocketing, you should:

• keep purses and wallets in a closed inside pocket of a jacket or coat. Do not put them in side outer pockets, and under no circumstances in the back pocket of your trousers
• divide larger amounts of money into smaller sums and put them in several pockets
• we should also not carry more money than necessary
• a bad habit among many women is carrying money in baskets, open bags and plastic shopping bags. When boarding a train, tram or bus, always hold a handbag or briefcase containing money in front of you
• the proper way to carry a handbag is important. It should always remain within its owner’s sight. In a crowded vehicle, in a shop or at a market, it is best to hold the handbag in your hand in front of you
• avoid crowds whenever possible. Pay attention to people pushing for no reason and watching other people’s pockets and handbags. Remember that a thief is not interested in the goods displayed on the counter
• if someone presses against you or touches your luggage or pocket, carefully look at the people around you. A pickpocket would like to remain anonymous while “working”
• we also remind you not to leave documents, keys, items of clothing or any other valuables in cars.

During the period of increased travel, police officers will take care of travellers’ safety. More officers will be present on the roads and at bus and railway stations. However, we should remember that not everyone will be celebrating during this period; it is also an opportunity for criminals, who will take advantage of any opportunity to acquire our property. A seemingly friendly fellow passenger may turn out to be a potential thief.

So how can you protect yourself against theft? What can you do to travel safely? Here are some tips:

• exercise particular caution in places where there are large crowds, e.g. at railway stations, stops, on public transport, and when boarding and getting off a crowded train or bus
• do not leave luggage unattended during your journey. It is best to keep it with you at all times
• pay attention to small but often valuable items, such as cameras or mobile phones. When leaving the compartment for a moment, check that they have not been left on the table
• you should keep other valuable items or documents with you at all times
• take only the amount of money you need with you during your journey. Leave the rest in your account and take a payment card with you. If you must carry more cash, remember to divide it and place it in different parts of your luggage
• be cautious around people you do not know and do not accept any refreshments from them
• inform the train staff about people behaving suspiciously
• notify the police as soon as possible if your documents, payment cards, luggage or other belongings are stolen.

Also, before setting off on a journey or going shopping, we should remember to secure our homes.

Unfortunately, we can expect criminals not to be celebrating. Above all, remember to:

• properly close and lock entrance doors and windows to prevent strangers from entering the apartment; even when leaving for just a few minutes, they should be closed (e.g. when taking out the rubbish or going to the basement)
• ensure that no unauthorized person has access to our keys. Leaving keys in the locks makes them accessible, leaving our apartment wide open to a thief
• never hide a key under the doormat, in a flowerpot or in another supposedly secret place known only to us
• neither adults nor children should under any circumstances tell strangers about the property they own or where it is kept
• ensure that no stranger wanders around the stairwell without a reason. It is always worth taking a close look at and remembering that person’s description. If we suspect their intentions, we should call the police
• ask neighbours during our absence to keep an eye on the apartment and remove, for example, advertising leaflets from outside the entrance door, as they may indicate that the residents have been away for a longer period.

KWP Wrocław/ii