Parking Lot Safety...it happened in my small town.

So..it has happened...in a small town close to me. An attempted abduction. The woman was coming out of a store and another woman approached her and started conversation. As they talked, a suv/van crept slowly behind them. The woman noticed the suv/van and became suspicious.

The woman turned her car alarm on with her key fab and the other woman jumped into the van/suv and it sped off. Then she got into her own vehicle and headed straight to the police station to file a report. The video from the store is being reviewed...and that is the end of that story.

But, there is another part that I just found out about yesterday. My sister and I went to the cabin to work on it and she told me about her tale that happened a month or so ago. She was in the same store and a couple seemed to be following her. At first she wasn't concerned... it could be just a coincidence. But after a time of them following her, she varied her path.

She said she "lost them" in the store and when she went up to register to make her purchase, they were standing at the front of the store like they were waiting for someone. As soon as she got in line, they stepped in right behind her. She paid for her purchase and then went back into the store...she was feeling really uneasy and didn't want to leave. She stayed in the store for about 20 minutes more and then left.

Parking lots are one of the top 5 places that women get assaulted. Ted Bundy took a majority of his victims from parking lots. So, just wanted to offer up some safety tips and reminders to people. No, I am not saying we should be overly concerned...but to be cautious is not harmful and could be life saving.

Parking lot safety tips I've gathered:

1. Situational awareness. Make sure you know and are aware of your surroundings.
2. Have all your "stuff" ready before you arrive at your car. Which means to have your keys out, and car unlocked as you approach if the area is clear. Goal is to get to the car and inside quickly and safely. When exiting the vehicle, your car should be locked at all times while you are inside it, only unlocking it after you've gotten everything you need and are ready to walk into your destination spot.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for an escort to your vehicle. If you are unsure, it is better to be safe then sorry. Go back into the store and ask for an associate to escort you out.
4. Look for odd things as you approach your car. An adult sitting in the back seat of a car parked next to you, someone smoking or standing outside their vehicle with no purpose, someone trying to engage you in conversation as you walk out of the store and to your vehicle.
5. Park closer to the door, not way off far away from everyone, and in a well lighted area if it is night time.
6. Never walk next to the line of vehicles in the parking lot as you make your way to and from the store. Try to stay a little more toward the center of the driving lane if possible.


Anyone else got some tips they could add/offer? I know I probably missed a bunch. Anyhow, I just wanted to remind people...keep your loved ones close and be cautious. Live your life, but be aware. If my sister and the other woman hadn't been, they might've been on the missing persons list. That "gut feeling" might have been the only thing that saved them really. Who knows...


As always...thanks for reading and have fun, but be safe!

blend57

Videos:




For the runners/walkers:

to have your keys out

Keys can make a good weapon. Not the newer keyless keys, but if you still have the older keys....

a reply to: blend57

The woman turned her car alarm on with her key fab and the other woman jumped into the van/suv and it sped off.

Outstanding, quick thinking. Thats what those Key Fobs are for, to sound the alarm. Screaming help at the top of you lungs too. Might not bring actual help, but the perps want to remain as anonymous as possible, any attention drawn to them and they might not make a clean getaway.

Tell your kids that too. If confronted suddenly by strangers to turn and run screaming , Mommy, Mommy, as loud as they can.

Excellent advice OP.....awsome.....on a grim but slightly ironic note....one would not be safe in this parking lot with good samaritan bullets flying around trying to protect the clerk who was trying to protect the goods of the store owner which by proxy protect the storeowners money.

IMHO building the habit of requesting escorts going to and from parking lots and when jogging or walking is good practice for everyone....there are no safe areas....people are abducted from police dept parking lots and from inside shopping malls.

Stay on guard my friends....focus on situational awareness ,its a jungle out there.

originally posted by: snowspirit

to have your keys out

Keys can make a good weapon. Not the newer keyless keys, but if you still have the older keys....

There are some better alternatives to 'just keys'. Added to the keychain a quick jab in the ribs, a poke in the eye or a sinker basher to the noggin will usually grant a few moments of surprise to wrench free from an attacker.

Keychai n weapons

This is a good thread. Situational awareness is the key.

I am a guy, we live in the boondocks. Yesterday the wife an I drove into the city. We hit a few stores but at one I stayed in the car. passenger seat, windows down, engine running. Honestly carjack was on my mind the whole time. We have a nice little Cadillac CTS. I was scanning mirrors to see if anyone was approaching.

Carjacks and abductions are two very different things of course, but too just be aware of your surroundings is the key I think.

a reply to: blend57

Worst case scenario, if you are grabbed scream as loud as you can, kick as hard as you can and run as fast as you can.

Be safe out there folks.

originally posted by: snowspirit

to have your keys out

Keys can make a good weapon. Not the newer keyless keys, but if you still have the older keys....

It's a simple thing.

Just keep a few of the older ones around on your keychain. I carry a lot of stuff on my keyring for several purposes. One is because a larger amount of stuff is easier to find if I misplace it, but the other is that there are several useful things you can carry on your keyring ... like old keys that can be stuck out between your knuckles when you are heading to your car at night.

Also, walk with a purpose. Don't carry yourself like someone who is easily cowed. Act alert and aware and in charge. If you come off as in control, then people who are looking for an easy mark are less likely to tangle with you.

knowledgehunter0986

My sister and I were talking about self defense classes. We took a few and what they said was that it is really hard for someone in that situation, who isn't trained, to take the offensive stance instead of the defensive one. That is why they wish you to continue training/courses/practicing...in order to make it second nature to you to fight back.

intrptr

I thought it was pretty awesome that she set her alarm off as well. Makes you wonder when she knew to do so..what triggered it? Was it just the gut feeling or was something said that caused her to take that step? The whole story hasn't really been released yet that I'm aware of. But, she did the right thing and that is all that matters.

I really just wanted to bring awareness around this. Spring/summer right around the corner here in my area...and I think that is when we kind of relax more, are more susceptible to things like this maybe. The weather, outdoor activities, family gatherings,etc.. and with it happening so close and I was looking it up anyways, I just thought I'd share the info that I found.


Thanks for the responses and the additional safety ideas.

blend57

One other thing ... PUT THE CELL PHONE AWAY!

a reply to: blend57

Good advice - I would add: carry your keys with the pointy part between your first two fingers, pointed inward toward your palm and held tightly. It becomes an instant weapon. If someone attacks you from behind, you shove backward and aim for the eyes...but just keep punching back and you will hit something that is going to cause some pain.

I now have a fob for my car, but I carry a key on the same key ring just for this purpose. I learbed this years ago in a self defense class and it came in handy once.

ETA: Sorry I didn't refresh my screen and everybody posted similar. My Bad. But come to think of it a LE once told me that if they get you, you're probably not coming back...keep thinking that while you jab!

a reply to: blend57

Sorry to hear this happened to you.

I attended many safety meetings at the big company I worked for and the civilian safety advisories changed and evolved over the years but here's a few we found quite useful for the crime ridden pit of despair big city we lived in.

1) Shop in groups, not solo.
2) Never go out after dark if at all possible and if you must, take a cab there and back.
3) Conceal carry and have it ready whenever traversing parking lots or parking garages.
4 Trust no one you don't know and never talk to strangers.
5) Situational awareness is everything. You should practice it with your concealed firearm when in public by maintaining a constant look out on your six o'clock. Wherever possible, keep moving and if you have to stop, do so with your back to a column, post, or display case such that you can't be sneaked up upon. If you're concealed carry is in a handbag, swing it around in front of you so the creep in line behind you can't grab it.
6) Never go into gas station convenience stores.
7) Always refuel in the early a.m. in daylight, never at night and never at lunch time.
8) When shopping or walking through a mall, (bad idea to begin with), never make eye contact and keep your head moving about to check to see if you're being followed or scoped out.
9) Avoid eating out if at all possible; if you want to "socialize", invite several of your friends over to your place and order take-out.
10) Avoid ATM's like the plague.

Most of my friends killed in the big city where we lived were killed, in order of number of occurences:

1) Restaurants (3); then
2) Bar/Lounge parking lots (3); then
3) Mall parking lots(2); then
4) Gas station parking lots (1).

That's about all I can add at this time.
Thanks

Missmissie173

Yes, car keys are a good thing to use in this scenario. One thing that I forgot to mention is being aware of what you have on you that can be used as a weapon. If you have car keys, great..but there are also other things usually we don't think about. A pen, your purse, a jacket, even a cell phone. Those are all things that can be used to harm an attacker.

When I go running I try to take something with me that I know can be used as a weapon but maybe is not viewed as such by your average bystander. And some people I know purposely carry the same object with them at all times for that reason. (not talking a gun, but another regular item that they can use in an emergency scenario)

TonyS

Lots of good advice..but I don't think you would have much of a life if you did all those things..lol. I don't think I could ever stick to all that. Sounds like a very rough area you live in.

This did not happen to me, it happened to my sister. I've already had my own life or death experience though...so, I know kind of what my own reactions are..although no two scenarios are ever the same I don't think. But having gone through something similar caused me to always know my entrance/exit points, make sure I sit with my back to a wall if at all possible, and be more aware of my surroundings. I am very purposeful when walking, and always have my stuff out and ready to go before I reach the car. It also made me realize that we are never really safe, yet, we can't stop living because of that. And I refuse to let my "incident" stop me from living. Although, again, I am more cautious than most I think.

Thanks for the additional responses/information

blend57

originally posted by: blend57
Anyone else got some tips they could add/offer?

Learn how to be 'mindful', and be so.
There comes a moment when we draw our last breath.
There is not anything that can be done to put it off or move it closer.
All we can do is to be mindful until then.
Take reasonable precaution, if that is your bent.
If you are going to be involved, you will be involved, no matter how many 'rules' you follow.
Ultimately, be Mindful (thoughtlessly so)!

The top caution is be aware of your surrounds before you enter your destination and after.

Even if the move benevolent person approaches you always be on guard. Sometimes women and children are used to bait a victim.

Park in a well lit area at night and in the day, both easy view of the public-ie not behind or side of a building or closed off by bushes and trees. I like that the video mentions caution about being sandwiched between larger vehicles.

Carry mace if anything at all. Even a small pocket knife. These can come in concealed containers, such as lipstick.

In a more risky area of known for robberies, especially don't sit in the car alone or even at all with others-video says careful to anywhere I'd assume-, go into the store/building. Specifically the store has many ads on the windows blocking view of the public or the space if not close to the store.

Bring your dog(if one has one) with you whenever in a car if at all possible(caution with temperatures if they have to stay in the car), as a bark or sight of a dog in a car can help ward off would be robbers, etc.


I see now some of these were discussed in the video, will keep it as is for highlighting the tips.