Staying Safe Over the Holidays

With the holidays approaching, New York Law School (NYLS) wants to ensure our community is enjoying a safe and happy time with their friends, families, and loved ones. NYLS’s new Vice President for Security and Community Affairs Dennis DeQuatro, a retired New York City Police Department Deputy Chief and former head of security at UBS Arena and Madison Square Garden, is sharing some safety tips to help our community members make the most of their holiday plans.

Holiday Safety Tips

• Check for travel advisory or warnings for a specific region or country you will visit on your vacation. If you are traveling outside of the country, visit travel.state.gov/ for international travel, passport, and visa information.
• Avoid delays and confusion at the airport. Check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website to “Know Before You Go.”
• Avoid sharing specific travel plans or vacation updates publicly on social media or by word of mouth, particularly any details about how long you’ll be away from your home.
• Always let a trusted family member or friend know your travel plans. This should include departure and arrival times and whether you will travel by car, plane, or some other means. If your plans change or get delayed, let someone know.
• Remember that laws vary from state to state and from country to country. Be cautious as to your behavior especially when traveling to another country and take the time to learn about the area you will visit.
• Always check with your health insurance to see if you are covered in the state or country you are visiting. You may need to consider some type of travel insurance.
• Use a trusted or well-reviewed sitter for your pets if they are left behind while you travel. If you would like to travel with your pet, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has more information about traveling with a pet.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi and use a VPN whenever possible.
• Before traveling, unplug electronics at home to reduce the risk of fire.
• When shopping online, only use trusted websites—particularly around the holidays when there may be an increase in scams promoting fake travel deals, online retailers, or charities—and when possible, use third-party financial institutions such as PayPal or Google Pay to avoid providing your credit card information.
• Establish fraud alerts on your credit cards and banking institutions.
• Watch out for fake shipping delivery notifications. Only track shipments through official sites or apps. Never click on links from unsolicited email and text messages. If you would like to receive notifications about expected packages, FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service have informed delivery services that you can sign up for on their official websites.
• Stay alert and keep valuables close in populated areas or while among large crowds.
• If using a backpack, purse, or similar bag, be sure the bag is closed at all times and if possible, use a bag lock. Never leave your personal property unattended or hanging off the back of your chair.
• If you are using a vehicle while shopping and you plan to put packages or bags into your car then go back into the store or mall to continue to shop, be sure to place the packages out of view and move your vehicle to a different section of the parking lot to avoid your vehicle from being broken into, in case someone is watching.
• Never drink and drive. Have a designated driver or use a rideshare program or public transportation.
• If using a rideshare program, be sure to verify the information of the vehicle and driver on your app before getting into the vehicle. Ask the driver to confirm your ride without divulging information that can be used to deceive you. For instance, “Who are you picking up?” rather than “Are you here to pick up Susan?”

Stay tuned for more safety advice from Vice President for Security and Community Affairs Dennis DeQuatro in an upcoming series of articles, “Safety and Security Tips for NYC Students.” 

We wish our NYLS community members a safe and happy holiday season.