Here There and Everywhere

Warden Notice 2009-3

Kuwait City, Kuwait
March 5, 2009

MEMORANDUM

To: All American Wardens

From: Consular Section

Subject: Warden Notice 2009 – 3

Please circulate the following message without additions or omissions
immediately to all American citizens within your area of responsibility.

Begin Text.

While the general security condition in Kuwait remains unchanged a recent
assault on an American is a good reminder of the need for security awareness.
Earlier this week a western woman shopping at the Sultan Center in Salmiya was a
victim of an attempted sexual assault at that location. After finishing her
shopping, the woman placed her purchases in the car and went into a store. While
there, she went to the bathroom. As she opened her stall door to exit, a man
was standing there. He pushed her back into the stall and groped her. The
woman fought her way past him and reported the incident to security. The man
unfortunately got away. The woman believes the same individual may have been
following her while she shopped earlier in Sultan Center.

Americans are reminded, as in the past, that it is very important to keep an eye
on who may be observing your activities while shopping or conducting normal
activities in Kuwait. Surveillance is not something that is just done by
terrorists – almost every criminal who commits a crime conducts some sort of
surveillance on their target either seconds, minutes, or hours before trying to
commit a crime or assault a person.

Western women in Kuwait should be particularly vigilant because their dress and
freedom of movement can attract attention, in part because many local women are
dressed much differently. Especially when shopping or going to other public
places in Kuwait, or anywhere in the world, keep the following in mind:

1.Surveillance – think about who may be watching you. If it feels wrong, it
probably is. Alert the local security personnel or store management of anything
you feel is suspicious – Do not keep this information to yourself.

2.If you think you are being followed, make every effort to stay in a very
public place until you can either make contact with the local security personnel
or have some sort of an escort. Do not proceed to your vehicle or enter a
public restroom, thus giving the person following you an opportunity to get you
alone so they can rob or assault you.

3.Exiting/returning to your vehicle – this is the time when all people are
vulnerable because our mind is focused on getting out of the car, watching
traffic, trying to control children, or placing packages in/out of the car.

Especially when returning to your vehicle, it is not a bad idea to look around
your vehicle exterior to search for people or suspicious items. Once in the
vehicle, lock your doors and make sure your windows are up at all times.

4.Last, think about fighting your attacker, especially if the attacker wants to
take you to another location. Do not let that happen.

Once again, the general security level for Kuwait remains the same.

End Text.

March 6, 2009 Posted by intlxpatr | ExPat Life, Kuwait, Living Conditions | 13 Comments