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Parking Lots
All too often it is easier for business owners to ignore crime problems because they feel it
will be too difficult or impossible to break the crime trend. Fortunately, Metropolitan Security
& Investigation has everything you need to fight back. There are some things you can do to
improve security, deter crime, reduce potential liability and make your customers feel safer.
Keep in mind; in places where parking lot security measures have been implemented,
customer use has actually increased because they feel safer.
Generally, increased customer use means increased profits. This fact can be used to justify
the increased cost related to any security improvements. A decrease in customer use will
definitely translate into decreased profits. These are a few areas evaluated in a thorough risk
assessment.
Parking lots come in all shapes and sizes from the gigantic high-rise or subterranean multi-
level structures to the flat lots of a small retail strip-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.
Nature of a Parking Lot
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.
Property Crime
The most common crime in a parking lots is theft or vandalism. 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. Sometimes the explanation is that they are located adjacent to excellent
escape routes such as freeway on-ramps or major high-speed 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 video-monitored toll booth upon exit. Valet parking is
considered safer because the attendant goes out into the lot for you to retrieve your car.
Another benefit is that unauthorized persons stand out in this special parking area that is
supposed to be accessed by attendants only. If you are a woman alone, consider using
valet parking at hotels and where available, especially at night.
Remember these parking lot security 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 or brake pedal locking device
• Use a car alarm and alarm decals, if possible
• Use valet parking for greater personal security, if available
Violent Crime
The most common violent crimes committed in urban parking lots are stranger-on-stranger
purse snatch and strong-arm robbery, and occasionally carjacking 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 you see a
suspicious male approaching you, 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.
Family Security Plan
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 anyone following you, without stopping to confront him
• Return to the store or office if anyone looks or acts suspicious
• Call the police or notify security of any suspicious activity
All too often it is easier for business owners to ignore crime problems because they feel it
will be too difficult or impossible to break the crime trend. Fortunately, Metropolitan Security
& Investigation has everything you need to fight back. There are some things you can do to
improve security, deter crime, reduce potential liability and make your customers feel safer.
Keep in mind; in places where parking lot security measures have been implemented,
customer use has actually increased because they feel safer.
Generally, increased customer use means increased profits. This fact can be used to justify
the increased cost related to any security improvements. A decrease in customer use will
definitely translate into decreased profits. These are a few areas evaluated in a thorough risk
assessment.
Parking lots come in all shapes and sizes from the gigantic high-rise or subterranean multi-
level structures to the flat lots of a small retail strip-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.
Nature of a Parking Lot
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.
Property Crime
The most common crime in a parking lots is theft or vandalism. 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. Sometimes the explanation is that they are located adjacent to excellent
escape routes such as freeway on-ramps or major high-speed 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 video-monitored toll booth upon exit. Valet parking is
considered safer because the attendant goes out into the lot for you to retrieve your car.
Another benefit is that unauthorized persons stand out in this special parking area that is
supposed to be accessed by attendants only. If you are a woman alone, consider using
valet parking at hotels and where available, especially at night.
Remember these parking lot security 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 or brake pedal locking device
• Use a car alarm and alarm decals, if possible
• Use valet parking for greater personal security, if available
Violent Crime
The most common violent crimes committed in urban parking lots are stranger-on-stranger
purse snatch and strong-arm robbery, and occasionally carjacking 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 you see a
suspicious male approaching you, 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.
Family Security Plan
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 anyone following you, without stopping to confront him
• Return to the store or office if anyone looks or acts suspicious
• Call the police or notify security of any suspicious activity
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