Business & Tech

Group Warns Travelers of Increased Crime, Offers Tips

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has advice for locals who may be out of town this summer when crime rates increase.

Crime typically rises with the temperature, and locals planning to be out of town this summer are warned to be on guard against crooks.

The crime rate increases about 10 percent during the summer, according to the San Diego-based nonprofit consumer education and advocacy group Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

The group offers the following tips:

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

  • Travelers should be careful about broadcasting plans on social networking sites.
  • Have mail stopped or picked up by a neighbor.
  • Don't carry unnecessary credit cards and other documents, such as social security cards and other forms of identification that could be used by identity thieves.
  • Use travelers checks or credit cards instead of a debit card while away, and be on the lookout for skimming devices sometimes placed on teller machines.
  • Beware of unsecured Wi-Fi Internet connections, where sensitive information such as passwords and account numbers could be secretly monitored.
  • When staying at hotels, store wallets and anything containing personal information in a safe.

City News Service contributed to this report.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here