Avoid Being Targeted in a Parking Lot

Parking Lot Safety

8 min readNov 21, 2020

[Updated 12/23/2023]

Some of the most vulnerable areas that people face on a daily basis are transitional areas. These are areas where you are transitioning from one environment to another and where the attacker can easily come and go.

Parking lots are perfect examples of transitional areas. People are getting in and out of cars and walking to and from their destinations.

Criminals like these areas because it’s easy to hang around without seeming suspicious to most people. You expect to see people in parking lots, right? But, if you have learned threat awareness skills, you’ll be more likely to spot any possible dangers.

I apologize in advance for using the word “don’t” so many times. I don’t (sorry, just used it again) mean to sound like I’m telling you what to do. And it may seem that I’m paranoid or want you to become paranoid. Not at all. I just want to help you to be safer.

Luckily, parking lots are pretty easy to check out before you park your car.

Drive around the lot, looking for anyone or anything that looks out of place. Does anyone look suspicious? Are they just hanging around? Are they watching you as you drive past?

When you park your car, don’t immediately stop the engine and start to get out. Look around first. Look for suspicious people. For instance, do you notice someone starting to walk toward your car?

If anything looks hinky, leave the area.

Distraction Burglaries

In a distraction burglary, thieves typically work in pairs. They will wait until you open your car door. Then one of them will “helpfully” tell you there’s an alleged mechanical problem on the car (usually a tire on the opposite side). When you go to look, an accomplice quickly grabs any purse, wallet or other valuables left unguarded in the open vehicle.

Sometime they’ll ask for help or say they need directions. But it’s still a distraction technique allowing someone to steal valuables.

Don’t believe anyone if they say there is a problem with your car. In fact, be aware of any approaching people. Get in your car and lock the doors or go back into the store.

Remember Where You Parked Your Vehicle

Take a look in almost any busy parking lot. You’ll probably see at least one person wandering the lot searching for their vehicle. I get it. I’ve done it myself.

You’re in a hurry or your mind is on other things. You park and go into the store. Then, when you’re ready to leave, you have no idea where you parked.

Besides being frustrating and/or embarrassing, it can also be dangerous. It’s easy to become unaware of your surroundings if you’re looking for your car. Bad guys will see that and may decide to target you.

Always remember where you parked. Make a mental note. Better yet, write it down or record it on your phone. Look around for physical markers to help remind you. Do it before you get out of your car. It’s worth the extra few seconds it takes. (Back to Table of Contents)

Unlocking and Locking Your Vehicle

Don’t unlock your vehicle until you are ready to get out. And as I said earlier, look around before you get out. Look for suspicious activity and/or someone lurking around your car.

Always lock the doors. Don’t make it easy for thieves to steal your stuff and/or your car.

Although the thought of a predator hiding in your back seat waiting to pounce on you may sound ridiculous, it does happen. Locked doors can keep that from happening.

And while we’re on the subject of parking and locking your car, have you ever gotten out of your car, started walking away, and pressed the lock button as you held your key fob over your shoulder?

You should always look at your car when you lock it. There have been instances where thieves have sneaked up to the vehicle and opened one of the doors just before the owner hit the lock button. The owner heard the beep, assumed the vehicle was secure, and never looked back. The thief was then free to steal the contents or the car.

This has actually happened. I’ve seen videos. Lock your car as soon as you get out.

Likewise, when you return to your car, lock the doors as soon as you get in.

Also, don’t unlock the door until you are close enough to see your car. So you can see if someone tries to slip inside. Only unlock the driver’s door. So no one can jump inside with you before you hit the door lock switch. (Back to Table of Contents)

Avoid Parking Near Panel Vans, Large Vehicles and Cars with Someone in the Driver’s Seat

Panel vans are vans that only have a windshield and windows for the driver and passenger. There are no windows around the rest of the van. It’s easy to conceal something or, worse, someone in the back of panel vans. Some predators like to use panel vans to throw their victims into and drive off with them.

(Have you noticed that, on TV and in movies, those nefarious panel vans are almost always white? I have. It’s a puzzler. In any event, be wary of panel vans, no matter what color they are.)

Large vehicles can provide cover for thugs. So you won’t realize they are even there until you’re practically on top of them. Then they can take you by surprise.

Also, if you do get attacked, you’re less likely to be seen by people going in and out of the store.

Avoid parking near vehicles that have someone in the driver’s seat. Probably, they’re simply waiting for their passenger to get back from the store. But they could be waiting for a victim to park next to them.

They may already have the engine running and there could be a second thug hiding in the back seat waiting to jump out and pull you into their vehicle.

If you come back from the store and find that any of these types of vehicles have parked next to your car, you have some deciding to do.

Car parked between two panel vans. Personal Defense Connection.

This photo is of my own car. My husband and I came out from shopping to find this. Since there were two of us, he got in the car and backed it out while I watched, ready to act (using a weapon if necessary) if anything happened.

If the vehicle is on the driver’s side of your car, you could enter your car through the passenger door. Be very careful though because once you unlock all your doors, a predator could jump into the driver’s seat.

If you do enter on the passenger side, once you open the passenger door, immediately press the door lock button. That way, no one can jump in any of the other doors.

Instead of attempting to get in your car, you could decide to wait until they leave, or you could ask a store employee or a store/mall security person to walk out with you. No matter what you decide, be aware of your surroundings at all times.

And as soon as you get in your car, lock the doors and leave the area immediately. (Back to Table of Contents)

Avoid Parking Next to Cart Corrals

I know it can be more convenient to park next to a cart corral. Especially if you are returning a large/bulky item, if you are returning bottles and cans (we do that in my State), and/or you plan on returning to your vehicle with a cart.

But if you park there, you should be extra aware of your surroundings. It’s easy to assume that anyone approaching the corral (and walking near you) is simply picking up or dropping off a cart. So it’s easy to not pay them much attention.

But one of those people might be a thug hoping to take you by surprise and grab your purse or purchases.

And especially avoid cart corrals that have large plants/bushes on either side of the corral. They may be pretty, but it’s easy for thugs to hide there, especially in the dark.

Think it won’t happen to you?

I read an article a while ago that admonished advice like this. The author said that the “thug lurking in the bushes” just didn’t happen all that often.

Frankly, I was shocked that she didn’t think posts like this were necessary. Personally, I don’t know the statistics. But I DO know that these kinds of attacks happen. And though it may not be “all that often,” it still happens.

And the victims never believed it would happen to them.

So please don’t discount the possibility of being attacked by a stranger. No one is completely safe. (Back to Table of Contents)

Parking Structures

Don’t park next to a pillar if you can avoid it. Pillars make great cover for an attacker.

And don’t walk between cars. Stay in the open areas so you can spot any danger headed your way. (Back to Table of Contents)

Putting Purchases in Your Trunk

Loading your purchases into your trunk puts you in a vulnerable position.

Before you begin, take a good look around. Make sure there is no one near you. Continue to stop and look around as you load your purchases. So you can spot anything dangerous.

Sometimes, just the fact that you appear aware will stop a predator from targeting you. (Back to Table of Contents)

One more thing

Well… two more things, actually.

If you carry a purse, carry it on the non-traffic side of you when walking to/from your car. Some criminals have turned purse thefts into drive-by crimes. They drive slowly past, grab your purse and hit the gas.

And finally… stay off your phone. Smart phones have destroyed Threat Awareness! (Back to Table of Contents)

The key to being safer anywhere is to be aware of your surroundings.

Keep your eyes open and look around. It could save your stuff from being stolen. It could save you from getting hurt. It could even save your life.

~Shereen

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