Safely on vacation - make your car holiday-ready

Safely on vacation
Safely on vacation - make your car holiday-ready
#safetyonvacation
To ensure that you reach your destination safely and get home again, we cordially invite you to our campaign days:
June 19 in Lippstadt and June 21 in Soest.

On the two campaign days, we will provide information on how to make your vehicles and your home "holiday-ready". We will talk about securing loads, the right behavior in traffic jams, distraction at the wheel, but also about home burglary. 
In addition, we offer an on-site vehicle check: profile, tire pressure, etc.

Lippstadt Action Day Soest Action Day  
Wednesday, 19 June 2024, 10 am - 3 pm Friday, 21 June 2024, 10 am - 3 pm . June 2024, 10 am - 3 pm
Parking lot Kaufland, Bökenförder Straße Parking lot Kaufland, Senator-Schwarz-Ring  

 

We have already put together some tips for a relaxing vacation for you here:

 

Book your vacation online

If you book your vacation online, be aware that there are fake sales platforms on the internet, so-called fake stores. On these platforms, fraudsters offer products for advance payment that do not actually exist, including air travel, for example. Once the victims have paid, the money is gone.

Tips

  • Be careful with supposed bargains or allegedly limited offers. Check the product and price with other providers.
  • Type the name of the online store into a search engine to find out negative experiences from other customers or ask a consumer advice center about the store.
  • Never pay in advance. Choose secure payment methods, e.g. on account. When buying online, never use payment services such as Western Union or paysafecard.
  • If you have already transferred money to a fake store, contact your bank immediately to find out whether you can reverse the payment. For other payment methods (e.g. cash transfer), contact the service provider immediately to have the transaction stopped.
  • Save all evidence of your online purchase (purchase contract, order confirmation, emails) and keep it.
  • Report it to the police.
Protect your own apartment or house

Burglars don't go on vacation, on the contrary, they use yours!

What you can do:

  • Ask friends, relatives or neighbors to make sure that your house or apartment appears occupied, e.g. by emptying the letterbox, operating the blinds and/or lights at irregular intervals, etc.
  • Not everything has to be perfectly tidy. Especially on the terrace, in the garden or in front of the door, everyday objects give the impression that the house is occupied and that someone could come home immediately.
  • Sensitize your neighbors not to tell anyone about their absence, not even the parcel carrier.
  • Report any suspicious observations immediately to the police on 110.

What you should avoid:

  • Annswering machine messages informing you of your absence may be well-intentioned, but they are invitations to burglars.
  • What applies to the answering machine is also relevant for social media. A post with "Hooray we're in the sun for two weeks now" is not quite as ideal.
Before departure
  • Make copies of your identity documents (passport and vaccination card), payment cards and tickets before you leave. Keep these in a separate place in your luggage.
  • Make a note of the 116 116 blocking emergency number or save it in your cell phone so that you can block your debit or credit card immediately in the event of theft.

 

Going on vacation by car or motorhome - check your vehicle before you set off

Technical check

  • Do an all-round check of your vehicle (oil level, operating fluids, air pressure, lighting, etc.) and, if necessary, the trailer / caravan.
  • Caravans in particular can easily be incorrectly loaded or overloaded. If you are unsure about the payload, have your vehicle weighed beforehand

Check your equipment

  • Are the warning triangle, first-aid kit and high-visibility vest(s) in the correct condition and in sufficient quantity? Have the regulations for a possible trip abroad been checked?
  • Do the other items of equipment, such as roof box or rear carrier, comply with the regulations? When transporting pedelecs and e-bikes, it is essential to ensure that the bike carriers are designed for the weight!
  • When transporting pets, also ensure that the prescribed safety elements are in place.

Check your route

  • Inform yourself in good time about the traffic volume on the planned route, also think about roadworks and increased risk of traffic jams on your route.
  • Plan sufficient breaks and, if you are traveling with children, find out in advance about rest areas with safe areas for playing and exercising.

Loading the vehicle

  • In general, heavy luggage should be loaded first if possible. Suitcases can be secured with lashing straps. Attention must also be paid to the permissible total weight. Please note that heavy luggage affects the handling of the car, i.e. braking and overtaking maneuvers become longer.
  • When loading, all items must be secured in such a way that nothing can slip or fall off during the journey. Remember that even supposedly light objects can become projectiles in the event of emergency braking or an accident.
  • Pack the suitcases tightly and secure the load with a net to the trunk if necessary.
  • Items that are needed in the event of a traffic accident, such as the warning triangle, first aid kit and high-visibility vests, should always be to hand.

When children are traveling

  • Always transport children in the child seat prescribed for their age and weight!
  • Have provisions (important: sufficient amount of liquid) with you for longer waiting times
  • As a driver, do not be distracted by your children - a quick glance, a small movement and it can happen.
Going on vacation by car or motorhome - during the journey

I'm off - what do I need to bear in mind when driving?

  • Navi or cell phone should be placed in the holder before setting off, then "hands off"!
  • Drive with foresight and remain calm even in stressful situations.
  • Observe the regulations on forming an emergency lane if a traffic jam forms or traffic comes to a standstill.
  • In the event of a breakdown or accident, secure your vehicle and get behind the crash barrier with all vehicle occupants. Wait there for the breakdown service or emergency services to arrive.
Theft from a car, caravan or two-wheeler

If you stop briefly on the road in your car, caravan or two-wheeler, e.g. to refuel or
visit a service station, be vigilant. A brief absence is enough for thieves to steal valuables from your
vehicle or even drive away with it.

Some groups of criminals lure travelers away from their vehicle under a pretext. They draw attention to supposed damage to the vehicle or ask to be shown the way on a map.

Tips

  • Park your vehicle in busy and well-lit parking lots.
  • Keep an eye on your vehicle at all times if possible, even during a short stop.
  • Do not leave anything valuable in your vehicle, hidden or in the trunk - even if you are only leaving it for a short time.
  • Never leave any clues to your home address or house keys in plain sight. Burglars could take advantage of this.
  • When you get out: Remove the ignition key, lock the windows, doors, trunk, sunroof and fuel filler cap.
  • Keep your vehicle locked while driving to prevent flash thefts (e.g. from the trunk while stopped at a junction).
  • If you are staying overnight: Remove all luggage from the trunk.
  • You can also use mechanical anti-theft devices (e.g. steering wheel lock) or security technology (e.g. anti-theft alarm system) to protect against thieves.
Traveling by bus, train, plane or boat - beware of pickpockets

There are often lots of people at train and bus stations, ports and airports. Such crowds are very popular with pickpockets: they grab them at lightning speed to disappear into the crowd with the stolen valuables.

Tips

  • Always carry your means of payment, ID documents, tickets and other valuables on your person (e.g. in a lockable inner pocket of your clothing, in a neck pouch or in a belt pouch) when traveling, traveling by ship or flying.
  • Always keep an eye on your luggage. Thieves take advantage of even the slightest inattention.
    • Train travelers should not leave valuables and luggage unattended if possible. When you leave your seat, take both with you or ask trusted passengers to look after them.
    • Bus passengers should not leave their valuables on the bus, even during short stops or sightseeing tours, unless the driver or other trusted persons remain on the bus to look after them.
    • Shipping passengers should never leave their means of payment, papers and valuables in plain sight in the cabin, but should place them in the ship's safe.
    • Air travelers should go immediately to the baggage carousel at their destination airport to collect their suitcases.
  • Report obviously abandoned baggage immediately to the security staff or the police.
With the caravan on the campsite

As the driver of a caravan or motorhome, you should look for a campsite to spend the night before nightfall.

Tips

  • Pitch your caravan/motorhome or tent only on official campsites. "Wild" camping is usually not only prohibited, but also more risky.
  • Lock your caravan or motorhome while you are away.
  • Secure your vehicle with an alarm system and install a securely anchored safe (motorhome safe).
  • Secure bicycles or pedelecs mounted on bicycle racks with additional locks.
  • A drawbar lock protects you against the possible loss of the entire caravan.
Safe at your vacation destination

Always keep an eye on your valuables, especially in places where there are many tourists, e.g.
near tourist attractions or on the beach. Hotels and campsites are also frequently visited by thieves.

Protect yourself from pickpockets

  • Only take as much cash, payment cards and jewelry with you as necessary.
  • Always carry your means of payment and ID documents in closed inside pockets of your clothing, in breast pouches or in (invisible) belt pouches.
  • Pay particular attention to your valuables in crowded places.
  • Make sure that no one can see how much money or credit cards you have with you when paying. When paying, make sure that no one can see you.
  • Do not under any circumstances keep important items in easily accessible compartments or outside pockets of your rucksack.
  • Always carry bags with the fastener side facing your body, on the side facing away from the road, so that passing cyclists, moped riders or motorcyclists cannot snatch them from you.
  • Do not leave money, ID documents or valuables in your car at your vacation destination. Open the (empty) glove compartment to show that there is nothing to take.
  • Never leave your belongings unattended or unsecured, e.g. when bathing.

Beware of scammers

  • If you need to change money, go to a bank. Never change your money on the street, no matter how tempting the exchange rate is. You could make yourself liable to prosecution or end up with counterfeit money or no money at all because it was snatched from you.
  • You should only buy tickets for excursions or tickets for events at the hotel or at
    official points of sale, not from "hawkers" on the street. These could sell you invalid tickets under circumstances.
  • If you need medication in your vacation destination, only buy it from official pharmacies or pharmacies that are recognizable as such. In other places, there is a risk that you will buy counterfeit preparations whose composition and health effects cannot be assessed.
  • Do not fall for "pity scams" in which accidents or breakdowns are faked in order to steal from helpful travelers. Other "crooks" present themselves as compatriots who have allegedly had all their money and identity papers stolen in order to ask you for cash for the journey home. Of course, they promise to pay the money back in Germany - but this does not happen. In such cases, refer them to the nearest German embassy or a German consulate. In emergencies, you can get help there.
  • Agree on a binding price before using services such as cab rides, excursions or
    guided tours.

The Soest police wish you a happy and relaxing vacation!

Action day in Lippstadt
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Safely on vacation

Come along and get tips from the expertsSoest District Police Department
Action day in Soest
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Make your car holiday-ready

We for you on siteSoest District Police Department
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In urgent cases: Police emergency number 110