Cheap car hire Taiwan - Crime Information

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Crime Information

CRIME INFORMATION: Although Taiwan is considered a medium risk location for crime, the overall violent crime rate in Taiwan remains relatively low. Travelers should avoid business establishments such as massage parlors, illegal "barbershops", and illegal "nightclubs" because many of these establishments are run by criminals and are located in high crime areas. In contrast to their counterparts, legal barbershops prominently display the usual grooming services, and illegal nightclubs have no advertisement and are publicized by word of mouth only. Public transportation, including the buses and the subway, is generally safe in Taiwan, but women should exercise caution when traveling alone in taxis late at night. In the past few years there have been several incidents of violence committed by taxi drivers against solitary female passengers. In the central and southern parts of Taiwan, incidents of purse snatching by thieves on motorcycles have been reported.

Local police departments have foreign affairs sections that are normally staffed by English-speaking officers. Police contact numbers for the major cities in Taiwan are as follows: Taipei (02)2556-6007, Kaohsiung (07) 215-4342, Tainan (06) 222-9704, Taichung (04) 2327-3875, Taitung (089) 322-034, ext. 2122, Pingtung(08) 733-6283, ext. 2122.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police, and to the American Institute in Taiwan, at Taipei or Kaohsiung. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad. It is available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, contact AIT Taipei or AIT Kaohsiung for assistance.