Are you hitting the malls on Black Friday? If so, be careful where you park! Holiday shopping season presents many challenges. Tracking down this season’s hottest gifts or negotiating mall traffic may seem like the biggest perils you’ll encounter, but be wary of the real dangers that occur in the mall parking lot.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1 in 10 property-related thefts occur in parking lots. Follow these rules, and you can avoid becoming part of that group.
1. Chose your parking spot wisely
Instant Access to Current Spot Prices & Interactive Charts
At the risk of stating the obvious, the closer to the mall entrance, the better. Not only is this convenient, but it is typically the most populated area of the parking lot. It almost always has the most lighting. If you can’t find a spot that’s close to the mall and well lit, keep searching, even if it takes longer.
SABRE Red Kuros! Peppe…
Buy New $8.88
(as of 01:08 EST – Details)
2. Lock it up
If you are on the home stretch of a shopping marathon, it may seem like a small hassle, but take that extra moment to completely lock your car. Most new cars have remote key fobs, but for the older ones, be patient and lock it all up.
3. Out of sight, out of (the criminal’s) mind
The best way to keep a mouse out of the house is to hide the cheese. The same can be said for leaving valuables visible in your car. Any bags or expensive items of any kind should be put in the back and out of sight of would-be-criminals. Make sure the GPS gets put away, as well.
Criminals might also camp out waiting for someone to drop off a large item in the car and go back into the mall. If you have to make another trip back inside, it is a good idea to move to another parking…