Mall Parking Lot Safety

Black Friday may be over but ‘tis the season, as it were, for shopping! Although one of the more hectic shopping days of the holiday season has passed, the malls are going to be more crowded than usual all the way up to the new year.

Generally this is a joyous time however, with the fun of purchasing Christmas and Chanukah gifts comes an increasing amount of burglary, assault, and carjacking crimes. Be smart and keep your safety and security high on your priorities list this year by following these tips for mall parking lot safety.

1.       Be aware and alert to your surroundings at all times as you are going to your car.  Notice who is hanging around the parking lot - especially at night.  If you are talking on your cell phone and not paying attention to what’s going on around you, you are exactly the person the perpetrator is looking to attack. 

2.     Have your keys in hand and be prepared to use them as a weapon. If used appropriately, your key can be a handy weapon to ward off an attacker. A secondary weapon would be to carry pepper spray on your key chain. 

3.       As you near your car, only unlock the driver’s side door with your remote.  If you have a clicker for your car wait until you are fairly close before unlocking the door. Also, only unlock your side.  When you press the remote button more than once, it will unlock all doors and someone may be 

       hiding on the other side of your vehicle waiting to jump in. 

4.       Before getting into your car (especially at night), check to make sure there is not someone hiding inside. Purchasing a dual personal alarm with a loud siren and built-in flashlight will allow you to check inside your car at night.  Make sure to always lock your car doors upon exiting so that you don’t make it easier for someone to sneak into the car.

5.       Manually lock your car doors. If you use your car clicker to lock your doors, it is possible for someone to pick up the signal and use it to unlock the doors as you walk away. By manually locking the car, you eliminate this risk.

6.       Don’t leave your valuables unattended.  This is a great time for the criminal to rip off your packages or your purse.  If you’re trying to get a baby strapped into the seat, look around to see who is nearby.  If it looks okay, get your child strapped in and then put your valuables in the backseat or trunk.  Always be looking around and monitoring the situation.  You don’t want to give someone the ability to force you into your car OR the trunk because you were not closely paying attention. 

7.       If you’re going to be shopping for awhile, be sure to wear comfortable shoes…and that’s not high heels.  If you are attacked as you
                   head to your car, you may not be able to get away quickly if you have on 3” 

                   high heels so nix the heels for some comfortable shoes.  

8.       Avoid parking near large vehicles or shrubbery or up close to a building – especially if you are alone. If you are walking out to your car alone late at night to an unlit area covered with shrubs, you may become a target for some predators.  If you can’t find a parking spot and have to park there, come back before it gets too dark and move the car closer to the entrance or have the mall security escort you to your car.  When returning to your vehicle, be leery of large vans with sliding doors parked right next to your driver’s side of your car.  If your gut tells you this doesn't feel right, go back into the mall and have security escort you out to your car.  If you decide to approach and enter your vehicle without security, do so from the passenger side but make sure you lock doors immediately upon entering then exit the parking lot right away. 

It may seem like a lot to take in but it's better to be safe than sorry, right? 

Have a wonderful time shopping this year!