The holiday season is a great time to spend time with family and friends to enjoy the holiday festivities. The holidays are also a particularly busy time of year for many families. As you put up decorations and gather friends and family together to celebrate, keep these safety tips in mind.

Shopping Safety and Security Tips

Shopping malls are a popular place to visit during the holiday season. As with any place with large crowds, it’s important to be prepared and safe so that you can enjoy the holiday experience to the fullest.

Tips to consider when you are traveling:

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
• Dress casually and comfortably.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.
• Always carry your Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.
• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Pay for purchases with a credit card when possible.
• Keep cash in your front pocket.
• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

Travel Safety and Security Tips

Often, the holiday season is a busy travel time for everyone. Here are some safety and security tips for you to consider to make your trip a memorable and relaxing time.

Tips to consider when you are traveling:

• Make sure your home looks lived in.
• Stop mail and cancel all deliveries, or ask a friend or neighbor to make daily collections.
• Hide empty garbage cans.
• Have a friend or neighbor keep your yard maintained.
• Put an automatic timer on several lights and on a television or radio.
• Leave your blinds or shades in their normal position.
• Leave a key with a trusted neighbor.
• Store valuables in a safe deposit box.
• Tell a neighbor you trust about your departure and return dates. Supply that neighbor with phone numbers in case of an emergency.
• Ask the police department to periodically check your residence.
• Lock all windows and doors, including the basement and garage.

Security Tips for Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Use

Tips to consider when using an ATM:

• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

A situation involving civil unrest or disturbance can take multiple forms but typically involves a protest or demonstration. It is imperative to plan for such events so that you have the opportunity to have a plan in place, increase security measures, add additional officers, communicate with the tenants and work with local police officers. Below are some tips for you to consider.

Pre-event Actions

• Review the following with Building Management:
  • Main point of contact for issues (Manager, Security, etc.)
  • Lock-down procedures for the building (# of people gaining access to the building, temperament of crowd in the building, complete lock-down or only limiting to badged employees, etc.)
  • Communication to building tenants on any changes to access control
  • Additional staffing needs
  • Templates for internal mass messaging to building employees and/or tenants
  • Worst-case scenario (Safe zones within building, Chicago Police Department intervention, etc.)

• Conduct a site survey of all access points and camera systems
  • 1^st floor windows, doors/locks are in good working condition (no cracks/loose hinges)
  • Unmanned areas are secure or can be secured if needed (dock, emergency exits – do not block exits)
  • Camera views are functioning and recording

• Inform staff of possibility of increased traffic
  • Remain vigilant with all post orders (Visitor Management processes)
  • Observe and report activity around perimeter of the building (Increased traffic, temperament of crowds, direction of crowds, protest signage/verbiage)
  • Review security officer processes
    • Maintain Professionalism – do not engage protestors
    • Be polite
    • Communicate with management
    • Document everything
    • Lock-down processes (Manual lock or access control software)

Event Actions

• Follow information via news channels and from management to monitor when activity may be increased in your area
  • Ready mass communications
  • Boots on the ground – Conduct perimeter and interior patrols prior to event.
  • Stay in the lobby or near CCTV controls during the event
  • Communicate as often as possible with management (Client and Titan)
  • Be ready to respond to emergency situations
  • Be prepared to hold over security, engineering, or management staffing

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4  (855-777-8274).

The 43rd Annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 10, 2021. The Marathon will begin with the wheel chair participants at approximately 7:20 a.m., the main race starts at 7:30 a.m. Titan would like to provide the following information to keep both spectators and runners safe and provide up-to-date information on events surrounding the marathon.

More than 35,000 runners from 50 states and 100 countries will be running on Sunday. The course runs through 29 neighborhoods in Chicago and is approximately 26.2 miles in length.

Starting Times

    7:20 a.m. – Men’s Wheelchair Start

    7:21 a.m. – Women’s Wheelchair Start

    7:23 a.m. – Handcycle Start

    7:30 a.m. – Wave 1 Start (Red)

    8:00 a.m. – Wave 2 Start (Blue)

    8:35 a.m. – Wave 3 Start (Orange)

Road Closures

Click here to view a map with the full list of road closures

Course Map

Click here to view a map of the course

COVID-19

All participants must be fully vaccinated or provide a negative coronavirus test result from within the previous 72 hours.

Private Security Partners

• Report suspicious packages and behavior, make sure staff know it is common for marathon runners to stash gear along the route
• Focus security cameras towards race and critical assets, ensure your DVR is recording and that staff are trained on gathering video.
• Please consider staffing camera control rooms even if not generally staffed on the weekend
• If you have uniformed security personnel, please place them in forward positions along the race route
• Minimize the number of false suspicious activity calls by notifying the police if you are using undercover personnel

Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) Training Videos

The DHS has developed training videos on suspicious activity indicators to assist with
recognizing the kinds of suspicious behaviors that may be related to terrorism activities.

• https://www.dhs.gov/nationwide-sar-initiative-nsi/online-sar-training
• https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something/are-you-ready-to-seesay
• https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something#

Safety Tips

• If you see something suspicious, report it
• Carry water and stay hydrated
• Choose a landmark to meet at in case you are separated from your group
• Utilize the buddy system
• Remain alert and be observant of surroundings
• Leave any valuables at home
• Do not jump any barricades
• Secure handbags and wallets
• Stay calm and pleasant
• Follow your own instincts
• Leave yourself room to move quickly
• If you see an unattended bag, alert police as quickly as possible

As always, if you “See Something, Say Something”. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call 855-RPRT-2-S4 (855-777-8274).

Incidents involving active threats or active shooters remain a concern. Fortunately, there are tangible actions we can all take before, during, or after such an incident to make ourselves, our neighbors, our coworkers, and our communities safer. The following overview provides general guidance to minimize or mitigate the impact of violent assailants, and includes links to additional informational resources.

Before – Prepare and Prevent

• Foster a respectful work environment and report deviations
• Recognize the signs of deteriorating mental health and stability 1.) Unusual stress or “trigger events” at home or at work, 2.) Significant changes in appearance or hygiene, 3.) Behavioral changes such as isolation or outbursts
• Develop and maintain a current, all-hazards emergency operations plan
• Prepare facility with training and education, alert system(s), and multiple exit routes

During – Respond

• Notify: Call 911 when safe to do so, providing street address and floor number, and alert building occupants of situation via public address and/or mass notification systems.
• Secure: Lock down the building, including all access points such as entrances, loading docks, and garages. To avoid additional risk, only first responders should be allowed to enter.

Take Action: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommends the following courses of action when faced with an active threat.

• Run, rapidly move away from the threat. Evacuate only if escape route is available and it is safe to do so.
• Hide, shelter in place when evacuation is not an option, Hide in a secure area, away from suspect’s view.
• Fight, incapacitate the aggressor. Directly attack the perpetrator only as a last resort and if there are no other options.

After – Recover

• Follow instructions by security and first responders
• Assist neighbors/coworkers who may be injured or traumatized
• Perform accountability checks and report to first responders
• Help law enforcement gather potential witnesses
• Take care of yourself, make use of counseling or employee assistance program services

Additional Resources

• Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/cisa/active-shooter-preparedness
• Federal Bureau of Investigation: https://www.fbi.gov/about/partnerships/office-of-partner-engagement/active-shooter-resources
• Ready.gov Website: https://www.ready.gov/active-shooter