No one knows better than the police which tricks criminals are using on unsuspecting tourist. By Rachael Jackson and Budget Travel
Orlando. Be wary of discounted, multi-day theme-park tickets sold at shops on International Drive near Universal Studios or outside Disney World and the city Kissimmee, says Detective Mike Atwood of the Orange County Sherriff’s Office. Touts working for some whops wait outside the parks when they close and buy multi-day passes from people who don’t need them anymore. The shops then resell the tickets, which may have a couple of days left on them, to tourist at a reduced rate. The parks prohibit the reselling of passes and attendants will turn you away if you’re caught trying to use one.
Philadelphia. Take your GPS device with you when you park in tourist areas, such as around the Liberty Bell. Lieutenant Frank Vanore says thefts of the gadgets from cars rose dramatically in the first four months of 2008 compared to the same period last year. Don’t leave even a trace of a GPS unit in your car-such as a stray ord coming out the glove compartment or the imprint of a suction cup on the windshield. “Take a couple of minutes and completely wipe down the windo,” says Vanore.
Washington, D.C. Police launched a campaign this year to remind people to lock their car doors at gas stations-thefts of items from unattended cars at stations went up nearly fivefold from 2006 to 2007. There has also been a steep rise in robberies of iPods and cell phones on the Metro, with criminals simply snatching the devices out the hands of distracted passengers. Police advise riders to conder not using the white apple earphone, because the color is a dead giveaway for iPods. “The last thing you want to do is make it easy for the bad guys,” says Officer Josue Aldiva.
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Tags: car doors, cell phones, D.C.
Police, D.C., Frank Vanore, gas stations-thefts, GPS, Josue Aldiva, Mike Atwood, Orange County Sherriff's Office, Orlando, Philadelphia, Rachael Jackson, United States, Washington
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