FAQs
Crime
Every business owner, manager and employee plays a part in making businesses safe. Here are some things you can do to help prevent robbery:
• Have at least two employees open and close the business.
• Do not release personal information to strangers.
• Keep purses and personal valuables locked in desks or lockers.
• Install a robbery alarm.
• Place a surveillance camera behind the cash register facing the front counter. Replace videotapes regularly.
• Vary times and routes of travel for bank deposits.
• Don’t use marked “moneybags” that make it obvious to would-be robbers you are carrying money for deposit.
• Keep a low balance in the cash register.
• Cooperate with the robber for your own safety and the safety of others. Comply with a robber’s demands. Remain calm and think clearly. Make mental notes of the robber’s physical description and other observations important to law enforcement officers.
• If you have a silent alarm and can reach it without being noticed, use it. Otherwise, wait until the robber leaves.
• Be careful, most robbers are just as nervous as you are.
• Keep your business neat and clean. A tidy, orderly place of business is inviting to customers, but not to robbers. Dressing neatly also sends the right message.
• Stay alert! Know who is in your business and where they are. Watch for people who hang around without buying anything. Also, be aware of suspicious activity outside your place of business. Write down license numbers of suspicious vehicles if visible from the inside of your business.
• Encourage the police to stop by your business.
• Learn the names of the officers who patrol your area.
• If you see something suspicious, call the police. Never try to handle it yourself. It could cost you your life.
• When leaving home, do not carry valuable things with you, like expensive jewelry. If you must carry a purse, hold it close to your body, and do not make it apparent to others.
• If it is necessary to carry valuable items, keep them in different locations.
• In crowded places, beware of pickpockets. Check your personal property after having been bumped or squeezed.
• If something has been taken, or if you suspect pick-pocketing activity, shout for help and then inform the nearest police officer.
• Do not carry many valuable items in a lady’s handbag. Do not carry handbags by using shoulder straps.
• Keep it in mind that pickpockets may be of any age or either sex, that they are often smartly dressed and carrying newspapers or something else that they can use to cover their activities.
• If you see a snatching, shout loudly and ask for help in restraining the pickpocket. Notify the nearest police officer immediately.
• Lock unused doors.
• Avoid working alone. If you must work alone, turn on a radio or TV so that robbers will think there is someone with you.
• Vary the schedule and route you take for your bank deposits each day, keep only the necessary cash on hand.
• Make sure your cash register is clearly visible to passers-by.
• Avoid placing signs or displays near windows, because they block visibility from the street.
• Keep “bait” money in a compartment of the cash registers. The bait packet should be separated by face value as other bills. Record the serial numbers of these packets to give to the police if you are robbed.
• When taking out the trash, re-enter by using the front door or take it out with another employee.
Traffic
1. Plan your routes in advance and leave early so you won’t have to rush
2. Practice defensive driving techniques (no one “wins” in a road accidents)
3. Call the nearest Office to report dangerous drivers
4. Control your temper, AND
5. Don’t underestimate the other driver’s potential for aggression
IF CONFRONTED BY AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER:
Get out of his or her way
Do not challenge the driver
Ignore obscene gestures, AND
Make sure your seat belt is fastened
Fire
Your home is your most valuable property. You would do every thing to make it comfortable. But have you bothered to make it safe too? Every year many homes and properties are destroyed by fire. It is tragic that some people are even killed. Such disasters can be prevented by taking some simple precautions. Here are some basics of fire prevention and safety practices. If you haven’t taken any safety precaution; now is the right time.
Most fires are preventable if simple precautions are taken.
1. Do’s and Don’ts
• Ensure electrical safety and don’t overload
• Don’t leave electrical and cooking appliances unattended
• Doubly check that lights and heating applicants are put off while leaving home/office and retiring to the bed.
• Look out for the children playing with fire
• Good house keeping is good fire prevention
2. Be advised that you do not become the fire victim this winter
3. The property owners to take precautions within their premises
4. The respective agencies to ensure the fire prevention within their establishment
5. Your Fire Drill (In the event of fire)
• Alert all the occupants and evacuate the building quickly
• Call Fire Brigade at #110
• Try to extinguish fire only if you can
• Account that your family members are safe
• People trapped inside or missing should be immediately reported
RESCUE EMERGENCY SERIVCE
Fire Service Division, RBP, Thimphu also extends Rescue Service to the public of Thimphu. The Rescue Team of Thimphu Fire Station with one Rescue Truck responds to all distress (SOS) call from the public.
Some tips on Fire outbreaks
1. For trapped person at home / workplaces / building collapsed/ factory accident/ landslide / fire / person found being carried away by river, etc.
2. Trapped persons at road traffic accidents and motor vehicle fires.
3. The children, people, and animals found trapped under various situations where grave injury or death would be caused to the victim.
1. The Rescue teams of regular fire service personnel from Fire Station will respond immediately to the emergency scene.
2. Will extricate the trapped people to safety; stabilize the condition; minimize the risk to save them from the hostile environment. Provide first aid to the victim.
3. Arrange for the quick evacuation to hospital. Inform the hospital for the ambulance service.
Where and how to make the call?
1. Call at Fire Station hot line dial 110 from fixed line or from any mobile services.
2. Give the brief nature of the incident, risk, location, and your name.
Cyber Crime
Cyber crimes come in various forms, affecting individuals and organizations alike. Some common types include:
Phishing: Scammers create fake websites mimicking legitimate ones, like a bank’s, and prompt users to enter personal information such as passwords and credit card details.
Email Hacking: Cybercriminals hack the email accounts of legitimate users and impersonate them to solicit money from contacts or redirect business payments to fraudulent accounts.
“Nigerian” Email Scam: Scammers claim to be officials with money “temporarily held up” and request fees or taxes for a supposed transfer, which never actually occurs.
Lottery Scam: Victims are told they’ve won a prize but are asked to pay fees to claim it. Real lotteries never request payment before prize collection.
Malware is a term that encompasses various malicious software, including:
Viruses and Spyware: They can be installed without consent, leading to device malfunctions and data theft. Spyware monitors user activity, capturing sensitive data like passwords.
Adware: Software that displays unwanted advertisements, sometimes tracking your browsing habits. Anti-adware software can help block these. To protect yourself, keep software up-to-date, install legitimate antivirus programs, and avoid unauthorized downloads.
To secure online transactions:
Protect your device: Keep software updated, use strong antivirus software, and secure your router with a password.
Create strong passwords: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid reusing passwords across accounts.
Verify websites and links: Type web addresses manually or use trusted bookmarks to avoid phishing links. Look for “https” in the URL to ensure site security.
Use a secure computer: Conduct financial transactions only on your own devices and private networks for better security.