Parking lot strategies??

[KABA]

There have been three incidents in parking lots of malls or big box stores in this area recently. Last week an elderly gentleman had his truck stolen in the parking lot of a WalMart. A young man knocked him to the ground and then the perp and his gf drove away with the truck.

I carry everywhere it is legal. But I firmly believe the best defense is to avoid any potential problem if possible. Having said that, where is the "best" place to park in a large parking lot of a big box store or a shoping mall?

In respect of my car I almost always try to park away from other cars even if I need do some walking. But am I putting myself in additional danger by being distant from the store(s) and other parked cars?

I see some advantages in parking close to he store. But there are also some advantages of parking further away.

I'd really appreciate input by those who've had some training and/or LEOs who deal with these issues and may have experience about which is better.

Thanks much,

 

[John4me05]

Arguements can be had for both... These are steps i would do in either parking space...

Walk down the middle of the aisle if possible... Distance will be your friend and thugs cant hide in the open... 1/2 second extra is a 1/2 second you wouldnt have...

2 Walk past your vehicle 3 or 4 stalls and glance all around it before going to your vehicle... If someone is scoping your ride you will see them...

3 Drop your keys while your a good couple feet away form your vehicle... When you get down to get them this will give you a chance to glance under the vehicle and around once again..

4 When you leave the store put your longest key between your first and middle fingers and make a fist around it... If you have to swing at someone the key can really damage a eye, throat, cause cutting,..... It can help...

5 If you feel a threat turn and walk casually back to the store... Dont let on you dont feel uncomfortable unless it is closing in upon your personal space... Call a LEO to give a ride through or check it out.. Could be nothing or could be something...


6 ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
If something doesnt feel right it probably isnt.. GET OUT

 

[FerFAL]

Always park close.
No, there are no advantages to parking further away.
Park the car with the front towards the road, so that you can drive away fast if needed.
Keep the keys in you hand before you exit the building, you don’t need to stand there like a fool looking for your keys.
A LED light in your car keys can be priceless.
Check 360º every few steps, there’s no other way of knowing if you are being followed or ambushed. If you do see a possible threat, you walk back to the building if you can.

If the parking lot looks dark, deserted, take no chances. Keep your gun in your hand ( or other weapon) , pressed against your side or concealed under some garment.
Same goes for people with suspicious attitudes, draw slowly and be ready.
A gun already in your hand 2 seconds ( or 2 minutes) before you need it is faster than the fastest speed draw in the planet. Ponder that thought for a second.

Keeping a can of pepper spray readily available in the car or better yet, on you, will be very useful in case you need a less than lethal alterative, like dealing with drunk teenagers, upset or disturbed people that behave violently.


FerFAL

 

[Keegan]

The closer the better, as there are usually a few people going in and out at any given time, and BG's don't care for crowds. If you have to park far away, try to make sure it's under the beam of a street light with no other cars around. That leaves your car as the only thing to hide behind, and you can just make a wide arc as you come around to the driver's door or to check the passenger side. Don't forget to look in the back seat! A lot of "guy in the back seat" stories are urban legends, but it has happened before. I'm curious, aside from having to escape the store in a hurry in the event of Armageddon, what's the advantage of parking far away?

 

[Rexster]

Parking with your car well away from others is a good idea even if Armageddon happens, because then it won't be surrounded by a crowd of panicked drivers.

Walk fast between car and building, and I mean really fast. It makes anyone following you more obvious. My Dad is 75, and walks very fast. Of course, not all of us remain that healthy.

Avoid parking on the blind side of any building if possible, meaning a side with no windows. All else being equal, bad guys like as few witnesses as possible.

Don't carry every key you own bundled together. I like to carry my Jeep keys alone, with all my other keys remaining deep inside a pocket. Well, there are spare Jeep keys with the main keys, but you get the idea.

I will respectfully disagree with the idea of dropping your keys to manufacture an excuse for looking under the car. If someone is anywhere near, your key-drop act just might be their cue to rush you, and then you will have to perform a fine motor skill under stress, or else run off and leave your keys. If you really need an excuse to bend or squat, develop a sudden itch on your ankle. I don't need an excuse to look under my vehicle; I just do it.

The parking lot scenario also is a good time to mention why I carry two handguns. A snubby in a pocket, with the hand able to rest on the grip as deemed necessary, can be comforting during the walk. Once seated, the weapon on the belt or inside my Safepacker is more accessible, as the bent leg makes a draw from the pocket problematic.

 

[skidooman]

I park alone!

I've had a guy try to corner me between two cars before, that's the closest I've ever come to drawing. I'll park where there's no cars around me for 25yds if it makes me feel better. It's all the cars to hide behind that makes a parking lot dangerous if you ask me. I'd rather have that 25yd buffer to see someone comming, gives you plenty of time to size someone up or tell them to stop.

 

[Geronimo45]

I'm curious, aside from having to escape the store in a hurry in the event of Armageddon, what's the advantage of parking far away?

You don't get your car scraped up by other folks backing in/pulling out. People watching or standing around your car would (in theory) be more obvious, as well - can't pretend to be loading something into their own car/truck, or fiddling with their keys.
Gives the BGs less cover... but my main reason is the ease in getting out. I've got a big car, don't want it scraped up and I don't want to scrape anyone else's.

 

[Tribal]

Looking over the responses here (and they're all intelligent), it seems as though one of the determining factors is you yourself. I'm young, in decent shape, and pretty big. I don't mind parking way off in Outer Mongolia if it makes parking easier and I'm better able to gauge my surroundings. The other extreme is someone older, pregnant, on crutches (or with someone who is), or whatever, and it seems as though their best bet would be to park as close to the front as possible.

What about folks in the middle? How would you adapt to this?

[Also, minor threadjack: I've found that if I'm alone on a street or in a parking lot out of sight of a solitary woman or girl, it helps to rattle my keys or deliberately scrape my foot on the ground to let them know I'm there but not a threat.]

 

[Anonymous Coward]

I park on the side of the store, where the employee spaces are.

That way, instead of walking through the lot (where the cars are moving), I just go around the sidewalk and into the front door.

 

[Pa.Bill]

Good post.... enjoyed reading all the info.

As for me, I try to park away from others, just a little, to give me room to see and move if necessary. Most of my shopping trips are to large malls.

 

[Sans Authoritas]

Wow. Not that condition yellow isn't always a good place to be, but it sure seems like you folks live near some mean parking lots.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[DMK]

I'm curious, aside from having to escape the store in a hurry in the event of Armageddon, what's the advantage of parking far away?

Other reasons, aside from those already mentioned are:

Less foot traffic past your vehicle if you are parked all the way out 5 or 6 parking spots past anyone else. Less chance for someone to walk by, looking in your windows and notice something they'd like to steal.

Less cover for someone to break into or hide behind your vehicle unnoticed (in a busy parking lot).

If you are the last car in the row, anyone following you will be more obvious.

If you are attacked or followed, you can get in your car and drive away quickly. You won't have to squeeze between you car and that guy who parked 2" away from you and you won't have anyone in front of you so you won't need to back out. Also, you will have more room to maneuver your vehicle so it would be more difficult for someone to box you in with a another vehicle.

Speaking of that guy who parked 2" away from you, you can completely avoid this by parking in either the first or the last spot in a row with your drivers door to the outside. Or park next to a light post or shopping cart corral.

 

[DMK]

Wow. Not that condition yellow isn't always a good place to be, but it sure seems like you folks live near some mean parking lots.

I live in a really low crime area, in the very rural, small town south. Yet, even here a guy got stabbed in a local Walmart parking lot in the middle of a weekday because he wouldn't give some random crazy person a ride.


Stuff happens. And it will happen much worse when you least expect it.

I try to keep my wits about me, look around and pay attention to my surroundings. I don't look under my car, but I drive either a lowered compact or a lifted truck. You can't fit a person under the car, and you can't hide under the truck.

 

[hybridgenius]

Boston has a high crime rate and I hear about people getting there car stolen, shot at by there car in the parking lot, and even stabbed from under the car. I am always armed and ready, but sometimes things can happen so fast you just never know. That being said, I think all you can do... is be prepared for any type of scenario.

 

[BigBadJohn]

Wow. Not that condition yellow isn't always a good place to be, but it sure seems like you folks live near some mean parking lots.

We call it Warmart due to the amount of problems in the lot ,police are assigned
regular patrols here.

 

[Citroen]

When you are selecting a parking place, if it will be dark when you return, try to park under a light; if the parking lot is huge, look for a good way to locate your car on return (all too often people wander the parking lot seeking their car because they can't remember where they parked); try to park away from the "pack" so that your view of the area around your vehicle is unobstructed; when returning to your vehicle, carry your purchases in a cart rather than have your arms full. You want your hands to be free.

Best advise, pay attention to your surroundings at all times. Ladies and the elderly need to be observant to anyone who might appear to be following them inside the store and might follow them out.

Anyone who thinks having a parking lot strategy is paranoid needs to google Alice Donovan, Kelsey Smith and/or Vickie M. McKinney for a reality check. Sometimes bad things do happen to good people.

John
Charlotte, NC

 

[KABA]

There are some really informative responses here. I'm 58 now. And while I'm in reasonably good condition I certainly don't have the abilities that I had 10 years ago.

I've begun using a shopping cart more frequently now even if I could easily carry whatever I purchase. It is easy to free up at least one hand that way. And, perhaps the cart could be used as a barrier between a potential BG and myself. Lastly, I think I could always abandon the cart and contents to an attacker and hope they would be satisfied with whatever those contents were.

Since my wife and I typically shop together I've also made efforts to teach her to be more observant. I've specfically asked her to check our six and warn me if any one is either following us or watching us closely.

It is sad but I believe the older I get the more likely I will become a target. As stated previously I no longer have all of the physical abilities I once had. Given that, I'm trying to be more aware of my surroundings and develop strategies that would at least partially compensate.

Thanks for everyone's responses.

 

[rainbowbob]

I'm 58 now. And while I'm in reasonably good condition I certainly don't have the abilities that I had 10 years ago.

KABA - I too am in my fifties and don't have the abilities I had ten - or 20 - years ago. I only recently began carrying and have thought about this a great deal. I've come to the conclusion, however, that I would not have likely been able to successfully fend off a violent attack even in my prime. Unless you have the tools and mindset to avoid danger and defend yourself when necessary, you will be at a distinct disadvantage in the face of an attack - regardless of your age. I didn’t have either back then – I am obtaining and developing them now.

 

[buy guns]

I would think that it would be better to park farther out in the lot, away from other cars, because it would be easier to spot someone who doesn't belong. If your car is the only car in the direction you are walking and someone else is heading the same way then they are probably up to no good. If you were parked near other cars then you don't know if that same person person following you is going after you or going to the car next to yours.

 

[insidious_calm]

2 cents...

Some good info here. I'll add that personally I would prefer to park closer to the store. There is usually more traffic there and that means more potential witnesses. Most criminals are not that brazen. They do exist, but they are rare. It is also worth mentioning that you should avoid having things in your gun hand if you are carrying one. This includes your keys. Using your keys is a good idea, just use your off hand. The other thing you can do is carry all your bags on the forearm of your off hand. That way you can still have your keys in your hand.

Also, at night I consider a powerful mini flashlight (1 or 3 watt led is great) to be a much better defensive tool to have in your hand than keys. Using a quick detach device to attach it to your keyring prevents fumbling for the keys as well. Not only will the flashlight blind an opponent long enough for you to escape/draw/disengage/etc. but it allows you to illuminate potential threats and look under or in your car.

Someone also mentioned avoiding the 'blind' side of a building and this is excellent advice. I would add that you should avoid having to go around corners at all if it can be avoided. If you must do it do it as far from the building as possible. Corners create choke points that leave you vulnerable to being grabbed or knocked down by criminals in wait. Often times the sidewalks next to a building corner, especially at malls, will be narrow. Step off the sidewalk if you need to to get that extra space. That will allow you to 'pie the corner' as you go around it and allow you to spot potential threats before you are within arms reach giving you more options.


I.C.

 

[Avenger]

I'm going to throw some thoughts in here from the perspective of a 3 year career in parking lot cart management (seriously, that's what the company called the job.) Most victims were usually chosen while still inside the store, so doing a 360 scan while moving between aisles is a good way to spot a tail. Stopping in the lobby area is good as well, especially if you are alone (they think you have somebody else getting the car). We had a few instances of people doing jump and grabs from cars going up and down the rows, so if somebody is following you in a car, cut over to another row (besides, people who troll for the "closest" parking space are just annoying).
Don't park near the cart bins. First and foremost, you're much more likely to get your paint damaged by a goober slinging a cart from across the row, and secondly, people can kneel down and hide behind the carts. Don't pull into a spot that has carts already in it, two reasons here: First, they may have been placed there in order to get you to leave your vehicle to move them, leaving the door open and the engine running. This is called an EASY car theft. Secondly, if you do pull into the space, you have only two directions to escape in, and one of them has a grocery cart in the way.
Don't park next to landscaping, same basic reasons.
Employee parking is a bad idea, because thats the area that usually gets break-ins. Thieves know that the employees aren't going to be around that section as much, and management at most stores has ZERO concern about their employees vehicles, so the cameras out there won't be monitored, if they even exist.
Most people will never think it, but a grocery cart can actually be a fairly effective deterrent. Keep it between you and anyone making you nervous. That way they have to go around a moving barrier to get at you. You can always run it into them if you have to.

 

[rainbowbob]

That is a very interesting and informative perspective from "Avenger" - someone who has apparently spent a considerable amount of time in that environement and has given it some thought.

 

[Lupinus]

Do all your shopping online in the nude

 

[Phelptwan]

My habits...

Park on one of the endcaps (reasons; there is always one of the big lights overhead, usually nobody parks near the endcaps, good exercise).
I always walk around my car (check to see if the tires are inflated, no scratches, dings, and to make sure there isn't a lunatic hanging out anywhere).
My keys are always out before I leave the building (and they are always in my left hand so my right is clear to draw if needed).
I scan the parking lot as I'm walking to my car. If anybody is near (particular groups of unfriendly looking peoples, I may head back into the store, or reassess the situation).

 

[shadowalker]

I typically park pretty far out in the parking lot for a lot of the reasons mentioned, also a little extra walking is good for the body.

I keep my strong hand free and empty whenever possible, I do not want to have to drop something, or wiggle out of something if I need to draw, you can do it quickly but better not to have to.

I keep my keys in my weak hand, I can strike with them or trigger my panic alarm / throw them at the face of an attacker, it is reflex for them to block and protect their face, that gets them back into the start of the OODA loop and buys a chance to act.