Tips for avoiding an assault in the parking lot - By: Steve Thibeault

Parking lots are a preferred area for attackers to lie in wait for their victims. There is a very clear and specific reason why these parking lots are the areas that these attackers choose for felony, rape or theft. Most covered parking lots are dimly lit and if the parking is at various levels, there is a high probability that adequate numbers of security personnel are not present. Factors like these make these areas attractive.

Even though most people know that a large number of such cases occur in parking lots, they tend to forget to be wary of such people in the rush of daily chores. Avoiding parking lot incidents is not a tough task. All it requires is a certain level of alertness and awareness about the high risk that we put ourselves at when we enter a parking lot. Just being aware of the fact that self defense may be required is enough to make the difference.

There are some basic self defense tips that we can take to ensure that we are not one of those victims who meet dreadful situations in lonely parking lots.

- It is important that you do not linger when you enter the parking lot. Chatting on the cell phone is a common activity people do while walking towards their cars and if the conversation is not over, they tend to linger near the parked car or on their way towards the car to allow for the conversation to finish. Walking slowly also attracts attention and marks you as a potentially easy victim. Walk purposefully with medium paced natural strides. Ensure that your body language reflects a person who means business and someone who is efficient and well prepared for any event.

- Make sure that you don’t search for your keys in your pocket or your purse as you walk towards your car. This activity also distracts you and is likely to take your mind off lurking assailants that may be around.

- Don’t use your remote car keys to open the door while you are far away from your car. Doing this will allow access to any potential attacker. Someone can easily slip in the back seat of your car while you are still walking towards it. Irrespective of when you have unlocked the vehicle make it a habit to check the back seat before you slip into the car to drive away. You can ensure this by keeping the dome lights on as soon as the driver’s door is opened.

- Be wary of vehicles with tinted glasses parked adjacent to your car. Don’t approach if you feel that there is a suspicious individual lurking by. You can call upon security personnel to accompany you if you feel uneasy. Don’t hesitate to make this self defense choice because security guards are paid to do so. It is also foolhardy to believe that you can handle an attacker as efficiently as a security person because security guards are taught self defense techniques that they can use.

- Once inside the car, turn on the ignition and drive out of the parking lot. If you have self defense in mind, it is better to stop your car outside the parking lot in the vicinity of other cars to make an urgent phone call or to search for your shopping list.

- Last but not the least, invest in a small security device that you can keep inside your car and one that you can carry around. Specifically for this purpose, key chains disguised as pepper sprays work well. You can carry the key chain without any suspicion and actually take the attacker by surprise.

About the Author

Steve Thibeault is the owner of TBO-TECH, a company that understands your self protection needs and offers products that are practical and effective. Other than a wide range of pepper sprays, stun guns and batons, the company also provides martial arts weapons, personal alarms, hidden safes, spy gear and sporting products like slingshots and blowguns. For more information on self defense items, log on to TBO-TECH.

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