You can never be too cautious. It may sound cliché, but safety is important.
Shopping in crowded malls while carrying multiple bags and items can make shoppers a target for criminals. Therefore, we put together a handful of shopping mall safety tips to help keep you and your belongings safe. Whether you are shopping alone or with small children, it’s important to take precautions.
Shopping Mall Safety Tips
1. Be aware and trust your instincts. It’s easy to get caught up to –do lists and shopping lists, etc. Remember to be mindful of your surroundings while you are out shopping. If something seems off, or unsafe, trust your gut and ask for help when needed.
2. Park in well-lit areas that are close to your destination. Look under, in, and around your car as you are approaching it. If you are shopping alone, do not hesitate to ask security to escort you to your vehicle, especially at night.
3. Do not leave valuables in plain view in your car; such as gifts, cell phones, purses, clothing, etc. Put these items in the trunk or cover them up. This will decrease the likelihood of a car break-in.
4. Carry your keys in your hand while walking to your car. This will help to ensure you get into your vehicle quickly and you can use your keys as a weapon if necessary. Also, if you have a “Panic” button on your keys; be sure not to put your keys away too quickly.
5. Don’t linger in the parking lot. When returning to your car, get in, lock the doors, buckle up, and leave. Parking lots are not a good place to unwind, relax, or make phone calls.
6. Do not allow cell phone conversations, text messaging, or even headphones and music be a distraction to you while you are shopping or walking back to your car.
7. Try not to hold a purse or pocketbook, and keep your cash in your front pocket (not in a back pocket.) If you must carry a purse, try to choose one that is a cross body type of messenger bag. This will make it more difficult for purse snatchers.
8. Keep your cell phone on you, in a pocket, or in your hand – this way in the incident of a purse snatching you will still have a phone to make calls.
9. If possible, invite a friend to go shopping with you. It’s always more fun to have a friend join you, and safer too.
10. Always know where the nearest exits are in the case of an emergency.
11. Always keep small children securely in a stroller and do not let them wander away from you.
12. Have a meeting place. Make sure all children are aware of where you will meet in the event of them getting separated from you.
13. Children should know their full name, address and phone number as early as possible. If the child is too young to remember, place your cell phone number in their pocket.
14. Always accompany children to the bathroom and do not leave them alone while you use the restroom.
15. Keep an eye on children around escalators. Check their clothing for untied shoe laces, hanging scarves. Escalators have an emergency stop button at the top and bottom; press this button immediately if something gets stuck.
We at Hirschfeld Apartment Homes in Maryland believe preparation is the key. The better prepared you are, the easier it will be to stay safe.
