With the recent assaults on women in Minneapolis parking ramps, it’s time to share some tips on women’s security in parking ramps and lots. Here are eight tips from an article on parking lot security for women.
- Always keep warily scanning 360 degrees around you. No distractions. This means you should not be talking on your cell phone or listening to music with your ear-pods.
- Carry pepper spray and a personal security alarm (noisemaker or screamer) very visibly at the ready. Also keep your thumb on the panic button alarm on your key chain (emergency car button), ready to attract attention and deter a predator.
- Do not use parking garage stairs and elevators – they provide traps that benefit predators by isolating you, muffling your screams and noisemaker alarm, and depriving you of possible escape routes. Instead, walk in the middle of the aisles and ramps.
- If you have a baby with you while loading groceries into your car, position yourself, so the open car door and cart surround (protect) you. Keep the baby in the cart until you finish loading the groceries.
- To load your baby into your car (after loading the groceries, the baby goes in last), get into the rear seat with your baby, lock the doors, and buckle your baby into the safety-seat. Now look around, have pepper spray in hand, get out of the rear seat and into the driver’s seat.
- Lock your car doors the instant you enter and keep windows closed – then immediately drive away.
- Always keep your car locked – even if you’re running a quick errand.
- To avoid carjacking, always be aware of your surroundings and have an escape route. If a suspicious person approaches, blare the horn and/or drive away. If it’s too late, give up your property without resistance.
Conclusion
Follow these tips for a safer trip to the parking lot. Be safe and keep your loved ones safe.