Last summer, Arthur and Diane Riegal were on a family camping trip in southern France near the village of Salon-de-Provence. Late one night, while the Riegals and their two teenage daughters slept in the back of a rented motor home, someone broke into the front of the vehicle and stole the family’s security pack containing credit cards, driver’s licenses and passports. Stranded without identification or access to funds, the family learned that local police suspected a caravan of thieves staying nearby had possibly sprayed a “sleeping gas” through the motor home’s screen windows before forcing the door lock.
About 10 years earlier, Gene and Marcia Raponi were returning to their New York City hotel after breakfast at a nearby restaurant. As Mrs. Raponi opened the door to their room, a man suddenly appeared behind them with a knife. He forced the couple into the room, ripped out the phone cord and threatened Mr. Raponi—who used a wheelchair—by pressing the blade against his throat while demanding money and jewelry. The thief fled the hotel with cash and rings before the Raponis could summon help.
More recently, two colleagues on a beach in Rio de Janeiro were attacked as dusk fell. A man armed with a knife approached them, but they managed to fight off the attacker and escape unharmed.
Could any of these incidents have been prevented? Not always, but the victims could have reduced their risk. While travelers cannot eliminate every danger, smart precautions can lower exposure to threats and reduce the odds of becoming a target.
Airline travel is a primary security concern for many passengers; airports often trigger heightened awareness about risk. Since 9/11, travelers commonly wonder whether people nearby on a plane would help during a life-threatening event at altitude. That unease is now one of many uncertainties experienced before boarding.
Travelers will encounter additional security measures at U.S. and many international airports. The Transportation Security Administration is testing advanced X-ray technologies (referred to as AT) to improve carry-on screening and overall airline security. New systems such as the Rapiscan 620DV, which offers horizontal and vertical X-ray views of carry-on luggage, and the Smiths Detection HI-SCAN 6040aTIX, which uses multiple independent generators and sensors, are cost-effective upgrades that will be deployed more widely in coming years.
“The TSA is working behind the scenes to protect airline passengers and crew, including behavior detection officers, bomb appraisal officers, federal air marshals and TSA K9 teams, in addition to the visible security checkpoints,” said Lara Uselding, a Transportation Security Administration spokesperson. “Travelers themselves should also go into heightened security mode as soon as they arrive at the airport—prepare for checkpoint procedures and stay alert to any unusual circumstances in the terminal or departure lounge.”
Despite technological and procedural improvements since 9/11, some aviation professionals remain concerned about serious threats. In a 2008 Consumer Reports piece, David Mackett, president of the Airline Pilots Security Alliance, warned about individuals using flights to study security measures and suggested the potential for further attacks.
For those traveling internationally, it’s wise to check current travel warnings from the U.S. State Department for updates on dangerous or unstable destinations and areas where U.S. assistance may be limited due to embassy closures or staff reductions. Travel advisories change with political developments, and the State Department updates the list as needed. Travelers should also review information on foreign terrorist organizations and the regions where they operate when planning trips.
“Travelers must understand the threats that could occur when traveling to certain destinations—risks like road safety, past attacks on visitors, local police effectiveness and public transportation conditions—and plan itineraries with care, taking online government warnings into account,” said Todd Brown, executive director of the Overseas Security Advisory Council and a special agent with the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. With long experience in sensitive regions, Brown notes that global travel safety requires extra vigilance, particularly for families.
Hotels can also be targets for criminal or terrorist activity, prompting many properties to increase both uniformed and plainclothes security. High-profile attacks on hotels in several countries have led hotels worldwide to tighten procedures and strengthen physical defenses. Measures now common at many hotels include concrete barriers near driveways, under-vehicle checks, key-card access for elevators and stricter identification for staff such as kitchen and housekeeping workers.
“Private security firms can provide protection for business travelers abroad in many forms and to varying degrees,” said James Spratt, a retired New York City Police Department sergeant now working in private security. While very few companies can offer armed escorts on commercial flights, executive protection firms typically partner with local counterparts to arrange armed protection once a client arrives in-country.
Spratt emphasized the value of having a security plan. He referenced the Mumbai attacks as an example where companies lost crucial time determining whether employees were in the affected area and locating them. Outsourcing crisis response and employee tracking to a security firm with local capabilities can speed extraction and protection during emergencies.
The three incidents described at the start of this article reflect just a handful of the many frightening travel experiences that occur worldwide. The Riegals, despite parking in a public campsite and locking their motor home, now say they would also have closed the sliding windows over the screens before sleeping. Leaving photocopies of passport and credit card numbers with a trusted friend back home helped them navigate consular paperwork before reaching the U.S. consulate in Paris.
The Raponis now exercise greater caution in hotel corridors and avoid approaching their room door if they suspect someone is nearby. The two men on the Rio beach acknowledged that they had ignored local tourist office warnings to avoid the area after dark, a lapse they believe contributed to the incident and one they would not repeat.
Travel safety matters more than ever as travelers face a range of potential threats. While no strategy guarantees complete protection, staying focused, planning carefully and remaining alert on the road can significantly reduce risk and improve the odds of a safe trip.
ID Alert
If you are a victim of identity theft or lose important ID documents, act immediately.
• In the United States, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4339, which handles identity-theft complaints.
• Abroad, contact local police and the nearest American consulate for assistance.
• Notify your credit card companies, local law enforcement and any relevant agencies, such as:
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service: 877-876-2455
• Social Security Administration: 800-269-0271
• Internal Revenue Service: 800-829-0433
• Major credit reporting bureaus: TransUnion 800-680-7289; Equifax 800-525-6285; Experian 888-397-3742
Test your knowledge of identity protection with the Identify Theft Quiz available through U.S. Department of Justice resources.