Shopping Hazards

Wow!  You just spent a small fortune at the mall!  You are walking back to your vehicle with all your packages in hand, wait are you alone, in the dark?  Do you remember where you parked the car?  Did you hopefully park under a well lit area?  You don’t have your keys in your hand and you are now fumbling with the shopping bags to get them out, you are half-way through the lot, at this point, and then it happens.  You are approached by someone. 

What could you have done better with this scenario? 

 
While shopping can be a fun event you do need to take safety precautions.  When walking to your car are you looking around to see if anyone may be following you, how about where you parked?  Are you checking to see if anyone is lurking in the vehicle next to you?  Did you look under your vehicle and others while you are heading towards the car?  Are your hands loaded down with packages?
These are all things criminals look for prior to their attack.  They are looking for the women who have no clue so to speak, women who aren’t paying attention to what’s around them.  You should try and use a shopping cart if at all possible to carry your belongs out and if you can’t or you are unsure ask the store to have a security guard walk you to your car. 
 
One of the many mistakes women make is they don’t have their car keys readily handy.  Before you leave the store these should already be in your hand, you can also carry them so one of the keys is between your fingers so if you should get approached you can use them as a weapon.
 
Try not to talk on your cell phone while walking alone in parking lots.  Your caller can wait until you are securely in your vehicle and on your way before you speak with them.  If they want you that bad they’ll call you back shortly. 


Always park your car so it’s in a well-lit area in the store parking lots.  Most grocery, malls and the like have lit parking areas.  There is no reason to park in a darkened area.  This just attracts criminals.  Criminals do not want to be noticed and certainly not recognized so these low lit areas are a perfect spot for them.
 
Pay attention to your surroundings at all times, don’t allow yourself to be prey to a criminal.  Show confidence in your walk, make sure you have your keys ready to go, check under the vehicles and around your vehicle for people and by all means don’t bog yourself down with a bunch of packages so your hands are full.  By doing that you have just made the criminal’s job too easy.
 
Carrying self defense weapons can help ease the uncertainty of being out alone at night.  Purchase yourself a selfdefense spray for your keychain.  This will serve not only as a protection device but will ensure you have it with you and in ready mode at all times.