sm
member
A local radio news station reported victims at parking lots were being victimized by "well dressed" and "nice people" assisting them getting groceries, and other packages into vehicles.
So I guess it is time to once again review for the new folks, and to remind us all of parking lots and shopping in general.
My concerns have always been entering, exiting a structure, answering the door, and for me, "vehicles" are included.
The reality is, and not just our international members, we are all subject to being "restricted" at times, in regard to weapons. Be these weapons firearms, knives, pepper sprays, or what have you.
So while we practice:
Don't go where trouble is, leave if trouble shows up, and have the mindset, skill sets to use whatever tools to effectively deal with the threat.
The reality is, we are going to be out and about, taking care of ADLs ( activities of daily living) such as going to the grocery store, drug store, hardware store, doctor appointments, and so forth, and so on.
Parking Lots are just flat dangerous. The bigger they are, the more dangerous.
Just getting to and from vehicle and store, can be "interesting" all by oneself. Add kids, or elderly, or other "factors" and the potential for problems and "distractions" go up, and thus certain models of criminals have even more of a chance of making a crime successful.
-. Don't go to the mall, or big "mart" stores.
Besides the fact we have Internet, we have small "dollar" stores, for toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, and cleaning supplies. Local mom-n-pop stores such as hardware stores are great for supporting the local economy, getting more personalized service, and a wealth of information (tips-n-tricks) for free.
Kids, elderly, and especially physically limited persons, with handicapped hang tags, that can park right at the storefront, make getting to and from one's vehicle not only safer, also less hassle.
Groceries and other packages are still carried out for patrons, at some of these smaller stores.
Some will even home deliver, if one is sick, or recovering from surgery, including Drug Stores.
(Have a code worked out for this, more about this later perhaps)
So I guess it is time to once again review for the new folks, and to remind us all of parking lots and shopping in general.
My concerns have always been entering, exiting a structure, answering the door, and for me, "vehicles" are included.
The reality is, and not just our international members, we are all subject to being "restricted" at times, in regard to weapons. Be these weapons firearms, knives, pepper sprays, or what have you.
So while we practice:
Don't go where trouble is, leave if trouble shows up, and have the mindset, skill sets to use whatever tools to effectively deal with the threat.
The reality is, we are going to be out and about, taking care of ADLs ( activities of daily living) such as going to the grocery store, drug store, hardware store, doctor appointments, and so forth, and so on.
Parking Lots are just flat dangerous. The bigger they are, the more dangerous.
Just getting to and from vehicle and store, can be "interesting" all by oneself. Add kids, or elderly, or other "factors" and the potential for problems and "distractions" go up, and thus certain models of criminals have even more of a chance of making a crime successful.
-. Don't go to the mall, or big "mart" stores.
Besides the fact we have Internet, we have small "dollar" stores, for toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, and cleaning supplies. Local mom-n-pop stores such as hardware stores are great for supporting the local economy, getting more personalized service, and a wealth of information (tips-n-tricks) for free.
Kids, elderly, and especially physically limited persons, with handicapped hang tags, that can park right at the storefront, make getting to and from one's vehicle not only safer, also less hassle.
Groceries and other packages are still carried out for patrons, at some of these smaller stores.
Some will even home deliver, if one is sick, or recovering from surgery, including Drug Stores.
(Have a code worked out for this, more about this later perhaps)