CRANBERRY TWP — While terrorist attacks on hotels are rare, numerous threats still lurk for the hospitality industry.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and municipal law enforcement teamed up Nov. 13 at the seminar “Safe & Secure Hospitality” to help hotel personnel with protective measures and planning for emergencies. The seminar was held at the Hilton Garden Inn. (Editor's note: This seminar was held the same day but prior to the deadly terror attacks on several sites in Paris.)

“In today's world, it's crucial that business and government work together to create a more secure environment, whether it's from crime or emergency situations,” township public safety director Jeff Schueler said. “We all have a responsibility to protect our community, employees, guests or the environment.”

Threats and crimes that can be a potential harm to hotels include shootings, cyber attacks and human trafficking.

Township police Sgt. Chuck Mascellino said a majority of crime in Cranberry is drug-driven.

“We don't have a lot of violent crime,” Mascellino said. “But what we do see comes back to drugs.”

He said Interstate 79, Routes 19 and 228 are “major corridors” for people to smuggle weapons and drugs.

He said the most common drug practice in the township and the county is making methamphetamine when chemicals are mixed in unassuming containers like water bottles.

“It's a dangerous situation,” Mascellino said. “We don't want to touch that stuff.”

[naviga:h3]Active shooter threat[/naviga:h3]

Bob Winters with Homeland Security discussed an active shooter or bombing situation.

“It's not just the people who are injured or wounded who are the victims,” he said. “It's going to be every person within the place of employment.

“Quite frankly, everybody within the community is going to suffer something from these kinds of attacks, and they should remember these have wide-scale impacts that last for a long time,” he continued.

He said behaviors that could be interpreted as warning signs of a shooter include vague or overly emotional responses to questions or conversations, constantly bringing up problems at home or constantly talking about firearms or weapons.

If a shooting does occur, people should run from where gunfire is heard. If people can't escape, then hiding is the next recourse.

“It's totally situational,” Winters said.

If escaping or hiding are not options, taking action is the last resort. People could find weapons or items such as scissors or pots to try to stop or fend off the attacker.

Winters said hotels and other businesses can prepare for such situations with good communication among employees through phones, announcements and social media.

Employees also should have a mental map of escape routes, and they should assume leadership roles to guide guests out of buildings.

Winters explained how easily accessible bomb-making information is on the Internet.

He said the most common power supply for homemade explosives is batteries. However, other ingredients for bombs including acetone, drain cleaner and hydrogen peroxide can also be easily bought.

Winters said there are some telltale signs of a homemade bomb, include an item being misshapen, emitting a strange odor, smoking or have odd markings.

He also explained how bombers choose their targets.

Common steps taken include surveillance and planning.

“They're going to be looking for the physical attributes of a place,” Winters said. “There's going to be an awful lot of information on the Internet.”

Winters said if an undetonated bomb is found, people should not go near it because of the possibility of the bomb being motion-triggered.

“If you can see it, it can see you,” he said. “Distance is your friend.”

Instead, emergency services should be contacted immediately.

“You pay taxes for such services. Don't hesitate to make the call,” Winters said.

Warning signs of people possibly planning a bombing include asking weird questions to employees regarding security and work times, observing the target building from another location and taking photographs of non-photogenic areas.

Bombers may use vehicles that have damaged locks, no license plates or are visibly overstuffed.

Winters said people should not confront bombing suspects. Instead, he said they should take pictures of suspects or vehicles with their cell phones.

[naviga:h3]Cyber Attacks[/naviga:h3]

Bradford Willke of Homeland Security explained how easily cyber attacks can be conducted on hotels through hackers using the free Wi-Fi service in lobbies.

“He (hacker) could be anyone off the streets,” Willke said. “It's a wild west out there.”

Citing large-scale cyber attacks in recent years against Target and banks, Willke said password management is key to protection.

He also said when an attack is detected in a computer system, the actual breach may have occurred long before.

“You're going to play whack-a-mole,” Willke said. “You've got to be very suspicious that you saw it (breach) over here, but you missed it way back here. If you don't, you're going to recover the problem.”

Willke said updating technology with patches and employing a good antivirus software are keys for computer hygiene, including installing protective software in new computers before plugging into public networks.

“Somewhere between six and 60 minutes, 98 percent of those systems that went unpatched with no antivirus or firewall just right out of the box are going to be compromised,” he said. “Automated tools wait for new technology.”

[naviga:h3]Human trafficking[/naviga:h3]

Frank Mulkears, Homeland Security investigators supervisory agent, explained how hotel managers and personnel can detect possible forced labor or sex slave activity.

“Some may appear to be willing, but the level of coercion that's exerted upon them by the people who are controlling them make it a human trafficking crime,” Mulkears said.

“When it crosses state lines is when the federal government has authority,” Mulkears said.

He said some methods people use to control others include isolation, preventing phone calls, the removal of documents and violence.

Some signs of potential human trafficking include victims looking uneasy or nervous around those whom they're with, having few or no possessions or not having documents of identification. Younger people also may accompany older men or women against their will.

“They're hidden in plain sight,” Mulkears said.

Mulkears said agencies working together is the best way to combat human trafficking, and that people who suspect forced labor or sex trafficking should call authorities.