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Shopping Centers
Shopping centers come in all sizes from the giant regional malls to the small strip-
center with only a few stores. What they have in common is a parking lot. This is where
your family is at greatest risk because of the "nature" of a shopping center parking lot.
The most common violent crimes committed in the parking lot 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 walk to and from their cars totally consumed by their thoughts and thinking
about what they are going to do next. 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
carjackings occur precisely at this point.
Awareness is Best Defense
To protect your family in this setting the best defense is awareness. Awareness will
allow you anticipate the potential danger and plan ahead for the next time you go to a
shopping center. 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 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. A little awareness (educated-
paranoia) is healthy and can keep your family safe.
Be aware and alert to predators in the parking lot
• Plan when to go and where to park
• Do not get out of the car if not safe to do so
• Scan the area around your car as you approach it
• Teach your family to enter and exit the care quickly
• Return to the store if anyone looks or acts suspicious
• Call the police and notify mall security of any criminal activity
• Office Buildings
• Data Centers
If you're an owner or property manager of a shopping center, then the safety of your
clients and/or customers is very important to you. Shopping Centers come in all sizes
from the giant regional malls to the small strip-center with only a few stores. What they
all have in common is a parking lot. The most violent crimes committed in the parking
lot are purse snatching, strong arm robbery, carjacking and abductions. Whether it's
theft of a store, or stealing cars while customers are shopping, thieves will take
whatever opportunity is given them. MSI has security officers that are fully trained to
combat this threat.
Shopping centers come in all sizes from the giant regional malls to the small strip-
center with only a few stores. What they have in common is a parking lot. This is where
your family is at greatest risk because of the "nature" of a shopping center parking lot.
The most common violent crimes committed in the parking lot 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 walk to and from their cars totally consumed by their thoughts and thinking
about what they are going to do next. 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
carjackings occur precisely at this point.
Awareness is Best Defense
To protect your family in this setting the best defense is awareness. Awareness will
allow you anticipate the potential danger and plan ahead for the next time you go to a
shopping center. 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 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. A little awareness (educated-
paranoia) is healthy and can keep your family safe.
Be aware and alert to predators in the parking lot
• Plan when to go and where to park
• Do not get out of the car if not safe to do so
• Scan the area around your car as you approach it
• Teach your family to enter and exit the care quickly
• Return to the store if anyone looks or acts suspicious
• Call the police and notify mall security of any criminal activity
• Office Buildings
• Data Centers
If you're an owner or property manager of a shopping center, then the safety of your
clients and/or customers is very important to you. Shopping Centers come in all sizes
from the giant regional malls to the small strip-center with only a few stores. What they
all have in common is a parking lot. The most violent crimes committed in the parking
lot are purse snatching, strong arm robbery, carjacking and abductions. Whether it's
theft of a store, or stealing cars while customers are shopping, thieves will take
whatever opportunity is given them. MSI has security officers that are fully trained to
combat this threat.
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