Bad guys love parking lots because there is usually not a ton of foot traffic, people are distracted, there is low lighting, and every car can provide the perfect hidey hole to sit and wait for a vulnerable target. All they must do is pick a spot where they are not easily seen, crouch and be ready to pounce.
They also love parking-garage stairs and elevators. These are uncontrolled transitional spaces that can be a benefit to the bad guy. Criminals can be at arm’s lengths from you, and you don’t know it until it’s too late. These close quarters sever you from others, can remove the option for you to run, your screams can’t be heard and the short distances between you and the bad guy can limit your response time.
Below are a handful of things that a criminal focuses on when choosing a parking lot to commit a crime.
- Stealing a car. Statistics show that 22 to 23 percent of all cars stolen were stolen from parking lots at night or when left unattended for long periods of time.
- Breaking into a car and stealing what’s inside the vehicle. Break-ins are up 25 percent from previous years.
- Simple vandalism
- Carjacking your car immediately after you park, when you are getting out. They also will target you while you are getting back into your vehicle. Studies show that 19 percent of carjacking occurs in parking lots.
- Target an individual for robbery, with or without physical assault.
- Sexual assault. I am unable to find any stats on the percentage of people sexually assaulted in a parking lot, but I can tell you that every 68 seconds another person is sexually assaulted in the United States. I can also tell you that 1 out of every 6 women and 1 out of every 33 men have been a victim of attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
- This is a bit outside the box but 70 percent of all “hit and runs” involve parked cars and most of these are in parking lots.
Now that we know what can happen, let’s focus on how to avoid being one of these stats. It is easier than you think.
- Park in well-lit parking lots
- Park near the entrance
- Park on “main” levels to avoid elevators and stairs. You could also consider getting some exercise and only using the parking lot ramps to get you to your destination.
- Walk in the middle of the isle/ramp as opposed to hugging the right or left side on the aisle.
- Have your pepper spray, a flashlight or both in your hands as you move about
- Stay off your phone
- Don’t listen to music and remove any earbuds
- Are you with kids or another person that may need your attention? Have a talk with them about expected behavior and the end goal. Consider bringing another adult with you if you know you will have many distractions while in public. Two heads are better than one.
- Be aware of what is in front of you, beside you and behind you. You can do this by just scanning the area and really look and see with a purpose.
- Walk with determination. Keep your head up and look confident.
- Eye contact for three seconds with another person in the parking lot is acceptable. If you move from a casual glance to a 5-10 second stare, that could invite the bad dude to challenge you.
- Be aware of cars cruising around, passing one point over and over again. Cruising around is not normal behavior in a parking lot. If you see that same car more than once, avoid it.
- When walking around a car, pilar, corner, etc., walk wide around the corner to avoid the closer distance with an object that could be hiding a bad dude. The same rule applies to another person. Give them space.
Recently, I was visiting a family member at the hospital. I entered when it was daylight and exited when it was dark. I followed all the suggestions above (that applied) and was appalled at what I saw on my 75-yard walk to my car. I passed no less than 10 people coming and going and not one person was aware of anyone or anything. They were on their phones or had earbuds in. They were distracted, had their hands and arms packed with items and never looked around. I actually saw one person get out of their car and stand there for several minutes with their door open while they gabbed on the phone. I told my husband that I have never felt so safe in a parking lot before because I was deselected just by looking around. All the other people were vulnerable targets. It was criminal’s playground.
I am not asking you to live in fear or never get in an elevator, I am asking you to be proactive and think ahead. I have said this before and I will say it again, you do not choose when and where an assault will happen, the bad dude does. Let’s ruin his day and not the other way around.
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