Here are a few tips to use when shopping or enjoying a meal at a restaurant and it’s all about increasing awareness of your personal safety.
-
Be aware of your surroundings:
Make practicing situational awareness part of your everyday life. When parking your car at a mall or shopping center, select a well-lit space in a crowded part of lot with close proximity to an entrance, whenever possible.
When you return to your car, scan your surroundings and trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, ask for help. If something feels off, speak with mall security and don’t hesitate to ask a security guard to walk you to your car upon leaving.
-
Stay Focused:
Avoid the distraction of texting, phone calls and headphones while you’re shopping or walking to and from the mall.
-
Hide valuables:
Once parked, place any valuables such as cell phones, shopping bags, gifts, out of plain view. Place them under your seats or locked in the trunk of your car to lessen the potential of a break in.
-
Leave your purse at home:
Consider leaving your purse at home and placing your keys, money, ID and credit cards in your front pocket. If you must carry a purse, consider a cross body messenger style bag.
-
Your exit strategy:
As you walk through the mall, keep an eye out for the nearest exit. Should you ever need to evacuate the building quickly, you’ll want to know your closest options.
-
See Something, Say Something:
If you see something suspicious, don’t hesitate to report it to mall security.
-
Leaving safely:
Don’t hesitate to ask mall security to escort you to your vehicle if you are hesitant about returning to your car alone.
When walking to your car, don’t linger. Walk with focus and purpose with your keys in your hand to ensure you can get into your car easily and use your keys as a weapon, if needed.
Once in the car, lock your doors, fasten your seat belts and leave the mall parking lot.
Parking lots are not the environments to check your phone, make calls or relax.
-
Bring a friend:
When in doubt, don’t go it alone! Bring a friend along for added enjoyment, and safety!
