Holiday Shopping: Protect Yourself In The Parking Lot
Millions of shoppers will be using retail parking garages this holiday season, but did you know that parking lots are among the most likely locations for would-be-attackers to prey on unassuming victims? Recent findings show that more than 80% of reported crimes at retail and shopping establishments took place in the parking lot.
Why?
Perhaps the most significant factor, is that in addition to shoppers having their hands full as they move to their cars, parking lots are a naturally reflective “transition time.” These are locations when our minds are often not in-the-now.
Moving to our vehicles is a time when the mind — however subconsciously — is most likely to either reflect back to whatever we were just doing or projects forward to what we are about to do. This means were are less likely to be situationally aware of our immediate surroundings, and more vulnerable to attack.
Be aware of this disadvantage. Make the following best practices part of your everyday “parking process” and help bring your mind back to the present. Increasing your situational awareness will drastically reduce your likelihood of being attacked.
Remember: Effective self-defense begins long before a physical altercation. Awareness of your surroundings, awareness of your environment, and awareness of what looks ‘out of place,’ prepares you physically and mentally for what may come next. Being aware and engaged with your environment also promotes a confidence that is often your first line of defense in convincing a would-be-attacker that they will have a greater chance of success targeting someone else.
