When planning a long trip, you must consider where to rest after driving for several hours. You need to rest in a secure location to ensure you are safe from criminals. Crime can happen anywhere, even in areas with no crime reports; hence you need to be alert at all times.
When driving on the interstate and you get tired, you can find the next interstate rest area to rest before continuing with your journey. However, criminals see rest stop areas as a place to target unsuspecting individuals and steal their valuables. Here are risks to look out for when selecting an interstate rest area.
Petty Theft
When you stop at an interstate rest area, you need to be on the lookout for petty criminals, especially when it is dark. Some rest areas are crawling with petty criminals looking to steal your wallet, handbag, or phone. They usually snatch your wallet or phone when you take it out of your pocket and run away.
Muggings
If you must stop at an interstate rest area, especially after dark, you must look out for muggings. When the rest area has few people, it is easy to get mugged because there are few witnesses. Before you leave your car, ensure you have parked in a well-lit area with many people around you.
Carjackings
Another risk you should be on the lookout for when choosing an interstate rest area is carjackings. Some criminals are only interested in stealing cars and usually wait at rest areas to steal cars. To avoid getting carjacked, avoid using interstate areas that are poorly lit, isolated and empty.
Car Break-ins
Criminals know that most people leave valuables in the car. When looking for an interstate rest area, you should be on the lookout for car break-ins. To avoid your car getting broken into, park it in a well-lit area, avoid leaving valuables visible in your car and lock it before leaving the parking lot.
Violent Robberies and Homicide
Serious crimes such as robbery with violence and murder also occur in rest areas. If an interstate rest area has a history of violent crimes, you should not stop there. Experts also suggest that you should not stay at a rest stop after midnight, even if the area has no history of crimes.
Finally
Your safety is very important; hence, you must be careful when selecting an interstate rest area. You can use rest-stop apps and information from other divers to determine which rest-stop area is the safest.
Author Bio-
Thomas Bouve has had an intensive IT career in innovative transportation projects and now works at Rest Stops Ahead. During a 4-year tour of duty in the Navy, LCDR Bouve received critical computer training which he directly applied to various logistics programs. After his military service, Tom was appointed Chief, Research and Analysis Division within the U.S. Department of Transportation.