The body of Michael Wachholtz, a 26-year-old waiter at Bahama Breeze off Courtney Campbell Parkway, was found Jan. 6 inside his 1992 Jeep Cherokee at a Town 'N Country apartment complex. Jason Galehouse, also 26, remains missing.

Galehouse, a florist, vanished after leaving Club 2606 on North Armenia Avenue with two unidentified men.

Police have not linked the two cases or concluded the men were targeted because they were gay.

But Tampa police, gay rights organizations and personal safety experts are suggesting precautions for club patrons.

Cpl. Rick Sementilli, who has patrolled Ybor City streets for the past four years, suggests using common sense.

Be Vigilant

Always be aware of your surroundings, Sementilli says. And try to park close to the nightclubs, in well-lighted garages that have security cameras. It's not worth saving a few dollars, parking blocks away from Seventh Avenue or in private lots that often are dark and have no security measures, Sementilli says.

It's always better to have a friend with you, too, Sementilli says, and don't accept drinks from strangers or leave your drink unattended.

"You never know the kind of person that will be at the club," Sementilli says.

Responding to the recent disappearances, Equality Florida, a Tampa-based gay rights organization, is warning club patrons to be "particularly cautious about yourselves, your friends and your surroundings."

"Do not leave public places with unknown individuals," says Brian Winfield, the organization's spokesman.

And don't let your friends leave with strangers.

There have been dozens of reports of harassment of gays in the Tampa Bay area, Winfield says. In 2002, antigay violence jumped 33 percent in Florida, he says.

Two gay nightclubs in St. Petersburg, The Station and The Platform, have added security since the recent disappearances, owner Kris Doubles says.

A security guard was hired for the parking lot both clubs share, and Doubles posted memos asking staff and patrons to exercise caution.

Patrons are "scared or they are mad," Doubles says of the disappearances and death. "Or they are more aware."

Trust Your Instincts

Personal safety at nightclubs knows no borders. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a British personal safety group named after a real estate agent who vanished in 1986, suggests a series of precautions on its Web page.

* Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

* Be aware that alcohol and drugs prevent you from being in control. If you are going to drink, know your limit.

* Trust your instincts; they warn you of danger.

* Make a note of the telephone number of a trustworthy taxi company and an emergency contact. Keep it in your pocket.

* If you feel ill or light-headed, tell the bartender or the waiter and ask for a taxi to take you home.

* People always feel more confident as part of a group. It can help you feel and be safe. But it also can lead to aggression or conflict if you are not in control.

Sementilli agrees. He says people who go out with friends sometimes drink and fight in public.

Going out with friends is safer, but it "doesn't give you a license to go crazy," Sementilli says.