Safe While Shopping

The phrase “Retail Therapy” may be going out of vogue soon. Going shopping these days can become a dangerous event. Threat Awareness is imperative. Stay off your phone and pay attention to what is going on around you.

Here are some things that can help you have a safer shopping experience.

When you Arrive

Take a drive through the parking lot, or pass by the store front. Look for signs of possible trouble. Are there people standing idle in the parking lot or near the entrances? Are crowds blocking exits? Are people getting rowdy? Go somewhere else. Things can escalate in a hurry.

After parking your car, take a good look around you before getting out. If a stranger is watching you or approaching you, don’t get out. Park elsewhere or leave.

Where Did You Park?

Take a few seconds to make a mental note of exactly where you parked. Better yet, write it down or record it on your phone. Take note of the nearest store entrance, an aisle number or anything else that can help you.

Searching for your car diverts your attention from threat awareness, making you easy target for thugs.

Once you get out, take another look around to make sure no one is approaching you.

Avoid Revolving Doors whenever Possible.

A thief with good timing could grab your purse and/or purchases and be long gone before you can get out.

Inside the Store/Mall

Where are the Exits?

Flash Mobs and violent protests are happening more and more these days. In places no one would expect. So take a few minutes to find the exit signs. Look for potential paths of escape and barriers you can hide behind if escape is impossible.

If violence breaks out, you need to be able to escape quickly. (Most people will head for the door they came in, which could cause a bottleneck.)

Plan ahead and know where the exits and escape paths are. Don’t overlook “staff only” doorways. They usually have an exit out of the building. And remember that windows can be exits as well.

“If you’re in [a store] and suddenly people are flooding in all around you and stuffing bags, your move is to get out …

Ideally, you checked where the doors are when you walked in. Is there a way out the back? Is there a big sign that says, ‘No admittance’? That’s great because it’s going to lead to a door. Go there.

In his studies, the late Dr. William Aprill found that 75%-plus obeyed signs that said, ‘Employees Only,’ ‘No Admittance,’ ‘Alarm Will Sound.’

You don’t care if the alarm sounds; you want the alarm to sound! Know where exits are.” ~ Michael Bane

Beware of any Stranger Approaching You.

Once they get close to you it’s easy to steal your wallet, purse and/or purchases.

Also, if they decide to shove or hit you before they grab your valuables, they’ll be too close for you to be able to react in time.

Move away from them. Keep your distance as much as possible. If they follow you, make eye contact and tell them to stay away. Be firm.

Seek help from Police, Security or someone you trust.

Watch out for Pickpockets and other Thieves

Thieves look for distracted shoppers. Stay alert and aware at all times.

Put your wallet in a front pocket of your pants or a zipped/velcroed, inside pocket of your jacket/coat.

Keep your purse closed and hold it close to your body. If you’re wearing a coat, carry your purse under it. Never put a purse in a cart.

Some thieves work in teams. One keeps your attention while the other steals your stuff. Remain aware.

Don’t Overload Yourself with Packages/Bags

Having your hands full makes it easier for thieves to rip them from your grasp. It’s also difficult to defend yourself. You can store your purchases in your car (make sure they are hidden from view). Some stores offer to store your purchases for you until you’re ready to leave.

Shopping for lots of stuff on the same day? Save your most expensive purchases for last so you can head straight home afterword.

If you decide to drop purchases off in your car and then continue shopping, consider moving your car to a different parking spot.

If a criminal sees you loading your car with stuff and then going back to the store, they’ll help themselves to your stuff.

Yah, it’s a nuisance. But you have a better chance of your purchases still being in your car when you get back.

Need to Use the Restroom?

It’s safer to use restrooms that are in crowded areas. Yes, it’s less unpleasant to use the ones that don’t get much traffic. But you are less likely to be attacked in a crowded restroom than in a secluded one.

When you Leave the Store

Have your car key in your hand, ready to open the door as soon as you approach your car. But don’t put your keys in between your fingers to use as a weapon. You’ll likely cause yourself more injury than the attacker.

“I’ve often seen people suggesting that we grip our keys, pointing each key between and through our fingers, to use as a sort of “Brass Knuckles” affair for striking an attacker. I do not believe this would be a realistic or good approach.

First of all, it takes time to arrange the keys in such a fashion. Next, you will likely succeed more in hurting your own hand than you will anyone else. I’m not a fan of this and do not recommend the practice.” ~ Jim Davis: Armed — In Plain Sight, When You Can’t Carry

Use a Cart if Possible

Avoid leaving a store with your arms full of packages and shopping bags. It may seem easier than having to deal with a cart once you get to your car, but if someone attacks you, it’ll be difficult to defend yourself with your arms full.

Instead, use a cart if one is available. If someone does approach you, you can use the cart as a weapon (ram it into them) and/or as a barrier between you and the predator.

And you can leave the cart and run. Yes, there’s $$ worth of stuff in the cart. But your life is worth a lot more than that.

Need to Pick up a Large Item at the Store’s Loading Bay?

If you buy an item at a store that requires picking it up from an isolated side or back area of the store (like a loading bay), ask the store to provide security for you until the item is put into your vehicle and you leave the area. If they won’t accommodate, don’t make the purchase. They don’t deserve your money.

Asking for Help from Security

It’s OK to ask security to escort you to your car if you don’t feel safe. But don’t go up to just anyone wearing a security badge and ask for help.

Go directly to the security kiosk/counter, front desk, courtesy/customer desk, etc., and ask them to assign someone to escort you.

Predators sometimes wear clothing to resemble security guards to lure unsuspecting people into danger.

Putting Purchases in the Trunk

Before you start putting your purchases in your trunk, take a good look around. Make sure there is no one lurking nearby. Continue to look around as you put your purchases away. Don’t let a would-be thief or thug sneak up on you.

Lock your car door as soon as you get in and leave the area.

It saddened me that sometimes shopping was far more perilous than dealing with zombies and vampires. ~ Anton Strout

~ Shereen

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