Parking Lot Security Tips
Parking lots come
in all shapes and sizes from the giant high-rise or subterranean
multi-level structures to the flat lots of a small retail center
with only a few stores. While parking lots provide a great service
by allowing us access to retail and office centers, they sometimes
create a substantial risk. What
determines the relative safety of a parking are governed by three
factors. They are 1) the nature of the parking lot, 2) the crime
history, and 3) the location.
The nature of a
parking lot is best described by the design and how and when it is
used. The crime rate of a parking lot can be affected positively or
negatively by its' design. Large
high-rise or subterranean structures can have poor visibility
because of walls, pillars, and elevation changes. Large flat
parking lots attached to a regional mall can offer a car-thief great
visibility to watch for security and great escape routes. The time
of day, traffic, and the use of the parking lot makes a difference
to its' relative safety. As you can imagine, late at night some
parking lots can become remote with no available witnesses to watch
over the area. A parking lot outside of a nightclub will have
different problems than a lot adjacent to a day-use only
professional office building. At nighttime,
lighting is an important condition
that allows us to see potential threats and thereby deters some
criminals. You should be able to see and identify someone at 100
feet. If lighting is inadequate, park somewhere else.
The most common
property crime in a parking lot is
theft. Where else can you find such a selection of automobiles
left unattended--it's a thief's dream. The most frequent crimes are
auto vandalism and auto burglary. Thieves think nothing about
smashing out your car window to steal a stereo, a portable
telephone, or some item left on the seat. What they need is a
little time and no witnesses. Some parking lots are notorious for
auto thefts and auto burglaries because they are located adjacent to
excellent escape routes such as freeway on-ramps or major
thoroughfares. See our site on
Auto theft Facts. Flat parking lots are preferable to thieves
because of ease of visibility and ease of escape. Multi-level pay
lots offer some deterrence because of the access control and the
requirement to pass the toll booth upon exit.
Valet parking is considered safer
because the attendant goes out into the lot and unauthorized persons
would stand out in this special parking area. If you are a woman
alone, consider using valet parking at hotels and where available,
especially at night.
To reduce your
exposure to such crimes remember these tips:
-
Park only in a well-lighted and a
highly-visible location
-
If you cannot see 100 feet at night, park
elsewhere
-
Park in higher traffic areas of the lot,
if possible
-
Move your car during the day to improve
its' location
-
Remove all interior valuables from plain
view
-
Lock your doors and roll up all windows
-
Use a highly-visible steering wheel
locking device
-
Use a car alarm and alarm decals, if
available
-
Use valet parking for greater security, if
available
The most common
violent crimes committed in urban
parking lots are stranger-on-stranger purse snatch and strong-arm
robbery, and occasionally carjackings and abductions. If you think
about it, we are all strangers in a
large parking lot. Violent criminals can
blend in with the rest of us and get in close proximity
fairly easily. Criminal predators can walk right by us and we will
allow it because of the public setting. Next time you go to a large
shopping center sit in the parking lot for a few minutes and observe
how easy it would be for a criminal predator to approach and attack
you or your family. Shoppers often walk to and from their cars
totally consumed by their thoughts and thinking about what they are
going to do next. Next time, watch shoppers as they approach their
cars fumbling for their keys. They will turn their backs and
attention completely away from those nearby to load their shopping
bags into the car, and get children and infants installed inside the
vehicle. Most shopping center and parking lot abductions and
carjacking occur precisely at this point.
Parking lot
robbers are usually opportunists who look for the
easiest person to victimize. They
cowardly prey on older persons and women most often and prefer to
attack them away from witnesses or security officers. These
predators like to hang out in the parking lot looking for potential
victims. They will pretend to talk on a telephone or watch from
inside a car. They will try to get close to their intended victim
before they strike. Most victims have said that they
never saw the robber approach. You must
stay alert at all times. If a suspicious male approaches, change
directions. If he appears to follow, look him in the
eyes and yell at him to STOP.
However, do not stand your ground and confront him. Get out
of there, if you can. Run toward other people and point him out.
You can always apologize later, if you are mistaken. If no other
people are close by, go into the closest store or office building
and call the police.
To protect
yourself or your family in this setting the best defense is
awareness. Awareness will allow you
to anticipate the potential danger and plan ahead for the next time
you go to a parking lot. Planning includes selecting a safer time
to shop (daylight) and arranging not
to shop alone, if possible. You can plan where to park
(i.e. not next to a large enclosed van) and park in high traffic
areas. You can plan to scan the area for suspicious
males before parking and exiting your
vehicle. You can also plan not to park or exit your
vehicle if suspicious males are in the area. Families should agree
in advance to exit and enter their vehicle quickly and lock the
doors. Families should be trained to look around their vehicle
before approaching and retreat if anyone suspicious is loitering in
the area. They should be trained to return quickly to the shopping
center and alert mall security or call the police. This all becomes
second nature after a while. A little awareness (educated-paranoia)
is healthy and can keep your family safe.
-
Be aware and alert to male predators in
the parking lot
-
Plan when to go and where to park.
Closest is not always best
-
Do not get out of the car if you see
suspicious males. Follow your instincts
-
Upon return, scan the area around your car
as you approach it
-
Teach your family to enter and exit the
care quickly and lock all doors
-
Yell at a man to stop following you,
without stopping to confronting him
-
Return to the store or office if anyone
looks or acts suspicious
§
Call the police or notify security of any suspicious
activity
I hope
you found these ideas helpful
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