It was dark as the young lady walked to her car after picking up a few items at the grocery. She had three grocery bags in her left hand and her cell phone up to her ear in the right hand. Her awareness was at an extremely low level. She was unaware of the van parked next to her car. As she was opening her car door, the sliding side door of the van opened. Two men jumped out grabbed her and threw her in the van as they quickly drove away. What happens next could be a number of possibilities.
Safety starts when you pull into a parking lot. Scan the lot to make there is nothing unusual that attracts your attention. Look for individuals standing in close proximity to your vehicle. What are they doing? Why are they hanging around your car? If your gut tells you, this looks like trouble, turn around. Go back in the store and find an employee or security guard to escort you to your car.
At night always try to park near a well lit area away from other vehicles. When walking to the store entrance, don’t walk too close to the other parked cars. You never know when someone will be hiding between cars to attack you. Give yourself plenty of room to escape.
Never park next to a van. As you can see from the incident described above, an abduction can be performed quickly and effortlessly. If, when returning to your car, you notice a van parked next to you, turn around and go back inside the store. Try to find someone to walk you to your car. If that is not possible try entering your vehicle from the opposite side from where the van is parked.
Another threat to be aware of is an attacker hiding under the car. In the past there have been incidents where the perpetrator is hiding under the car. When the driver walks up they use a knife or razor blade to slice the Achilles’ tendon, causing the victim to be incapacitated. To prevent this, walk up to your car at angle that you can see most of the space under the vehicle.
When you are walking to your car, always have your keys out so you can unlock you door and enter quickly. Searching in your purse for car keys makes you a vulnerable target for those wishing to do harm.
Even if you are faithful at always locking your car doors, make sure you check the back seat before entering. An individual dressed in dark clothing can hide on the floor and may be overlooked. Don’t take chances. Being cautious is always the best avenue to take. Don’t be paranoid just make sure you are aware.
