Need Practical Advice - Situational Awareness Parking Lots

[Paddler112]

Anticipate your opponents move.

Think like a thug. "Where would I hide to attack someone in this place?"

As you walk around, try to see the world through the eyes of a bad guy. "That person isn't paying attention. I'll surprise them right there."

112

[punkndisorderly]

I park as far away as possible, while avoiding the edges of the lot. I prefer my car to be an "island" with dead space all around.

Now, if I could use those handicapped spots right by the doors, I'd probably use them. Trading off some of the viewing area around the car for being in what is normally the best lighted and most trafficked area.

I also love my car, and get to avoid dings as a side benefit.

[VMI77]

I am looking for some tips & techniques that will help me be more situationally aware, specifically in parking lots. I find that I am surprised in that environment more often than any other. SUVs can block you from seeing someone. Putting bags into the car can distract you. Tinted windows at night can make it difficult to see people in cars. Thanks in advance for your suggestions & experience.

In general:

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/pyramid.html



Very detailed analysis of parking lot security:

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/fringe.html

[CHLLady]

My way of thinking as a mom is much different than most of the comments I've read here. I choose to park as close to the front of the store as possible. I want to be as quick as possible in and out of the car because that is when I am most vulnerable. If I am far away, that is more opportunity to be watched and followed. I try to never park next to a work van or family van. If I return and there is one next to me, I slow down and see if it appears anyone is in it, then make my little one get in on the opposite side.

When my kids and I arrive and park, I stop the conversation and tell them, "Time to be alert." They know that means eyes open and watching. We try and unload quickly and always walk quickly together. I put on my serious face, head up, and am watching people and reading body language. I've got my mace in hand, thumb on the trigger. When returning to the car, as I leave the doors of the store, I am taking a wide view of the parking lot and scanning my aisle, as I pass the threshold, I look left and right to see who is standing nearby, I look under and around my car as i approach, then get to the car, secure children first, then load items in trunk if necessary, lock doors, return cart, then hustle into car, lock doors, and leave.

If my kids are close to the entrance of the door, there is a better opportunity for them to run into the store for safety and to get help. My purse stays with me and is the last item carried into the car. I figure I'd rather them keep their eyes on my purse, than my kids who are waiting in the locked car. Now that I'm no longer carrying on my person, I feel much less concerned about my purse being the target.

Basically, you have to train yourself and your kids as to the routine of arriving and exiting safely. Get your routine down and stick with it every time until it becomes habit. As a mom, my mind is already skipped ahead to the next item on my errand list, so I must work on being "in the moment". This is my routine, figure out what works best for you and stick to it.

As your kids get older train them to keep eyes open also! Two recent scary things happened, I was shopping at Children's Place in a strip mall in a very rough neighborhood in S FW, making a purchase at the counter, all went well, my teenaged son and I exited and returned to our car. He then said, "Mom! Did you see that guy standing outside looking in?!" I was surprised and never saw a thing. Apparently the male cashier looked up and looked at my son very concerned, and they both watched this guy. He said the guy looked mean. And what was I doing that whole time? Finishing my card transaction, totally oblivious! (Yes, I was carrying). Another time my youngest said, "Mom, did you see that guy in the store, he looked weird and was watching all the girls!" Again, I was carrying, but was trying to find some clothes in a hurry because it was a busy store that day. Learning from these two incidents, I have now told them to tell me when they're concerned when its happening, not afterwards! My point is, we can't be aware 100% of the time, use those extra eyes to your advantage. You'll be surprised at what they see when they learn their own situational awareness.

[VMI77]

My way of thinking as a mom is much different than most of the comments I've read here. I choose to park as close to the front of the store as possible. I want to be as quick as possible in and out of the car because that is when I am most vulnerable. If I am far away, that is more opportunity to be watched and followed. I try to never park next to a work van or family van. If I return and there is one next to me, I slow down and see if it appears anyone is in it, then make my little one get in on the opposite side.

When my kids and I arrive and park, I stop the conversation and tell them, "Time to be alert." They know that means eyes open and watching. We try and unload quickly and always walk quickly together. I put on my serious face, head up, and am watching people and reading body language. I've got my mace in hand, thumb on the trigger. When returning to the car, as I leave the doors of the store, I am taking a wide view of the parking lot and scanning my aisle, as I pass the threshold, I look left and right to see who is standing nearby, I look under and around my car as i approach, then get to the car, secure children first, then load items in trunk if necessary, lock doors, return cart, then hustle into car, lock doors, and leave.

If my kids are close to the entrance of the door, there is a better opportunity for them to run into the store for safety and to get help. My purse stays with me and is the last item carried into the car. I figure I'd rather them keep their eyes on my purse, than my kids who are waiting in the locked car. Now that I'm no longer carrying on my person, I feel much less concerned about my purse being the target.

Basically, you have to train yourself and your kids as to the routine of arriving and exiting safely. Get your routine down and stick with it every time until it becomes habit. As a mom, my mind is already skipped ahead to the next item on my errand list, so I must work on being "in the moment". This is my routine, figure out what works best for you and stick to it.

As your kids get older train them to keep eyes open also! Two recent scary things happened, I was shopping at Children's Place in a strip mall in a very rough neighborhood in S FW, making a purchase at the counter, all went well, my teenaged son and I exited and returned to our car. He then said, "Mom! Did you see that guy standing outside looking in?!" I was surprised and never saw a thing. Apparently the male cashier looked up and looked at my son very concerned, and they both watched this guy. He said the guy looked mean. And what was I doing that whole time? Finishing my card transaction, totally oblivious! (Yes, I was carrying). Another time my youngest said, "Mom, did you see that guy in the store, he looked weird and was watching all the girls!" Again, I was carrying, but was trying to find some clothes in a hurry because it was a busy store that day. Learning from these two incidents, I have now told them to tell me when they're concerned when its happening, not afterwards! My point is, we can't be aware 100% of the time, use those extra eyes to your advantage. You'll be surprised at what they see when they learn their own situational awareness.

You should check out those links I posted above; that's more of less what they say as well.

[Goatruckman]

Alot of good advice on this thread.

I would like to include a situation that I encountered this past Friday, where awareness might have saved my girlfriend and I life.

We were on our way out of town on I-10. I decided to stop in Columbus and fill up with gas. As I pulled into the gas station, I noticed a tan Ford truck sitting in the corner of the lot. He had a bunch of junk in the bed, and my immediate profile of the vehical told me "transient".

So I get out of my truck gas card only in hand. I leave my door open to have quick access to what I have between my seat and console, also using my door to block access immediately to me. As I pump my gas, I keep an eye on the truck as well as all around the lot. I see a man get out of truck and start heading to me. I make contact with the shady looking individual when he is 15 feet away. In a stern voice I said, "can I help you". He asked if I knew where the hospital was, as he stopped where he was when I opened my mouth. I said, "No, I sure dont". He seemed aggitated that I stopped him before he could approach me, as he was also looking inside my truck. He walked back to his truck and went to the bed of his truck and grabbed something.

At that point I decided I had enough fuel in my truck. I got back in my truck and the individual started to approach my truck again with his left hand holding something behind his back. At this point in time I didn't know what was in his hand. I had grabbed my weapon and had it still hidden but was ready for whatever may havd to be done. He was at the front of my truck, and said he had to ask me another question. I told him loudly through closed and locked doors "I have no answers for you."

He started to walk to the passenger side of my truck where my girlfriend was. So I layed on the horn. He then Started to my side holding up a package of chicken saying "I need to cook this".

At that point I was able to start my truck and pull away from the station as He nearly came in contact with my side mirror
My heart was beating, and my girlfriend was freaking out.

That has been my closest encounter and I truly believed had I not been aware of my surroundings pulling in I most likely could have been robbed. I truly do not know what his intentions are.

[Abraham]

It's obvious: He needed charcoal!

You did good.

The world is full of criminals and folks that should be in institutions - you may have met one that filled both criteria.

[CHLLady]

Great links Vm177! Thanks for sharing. So glad I'm doing something right!

Goatruckman, I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, but I had to laugh! I was not expecting the chicken! How random was that.. So glad you were on your game and got out of there as quickly as you did.

[MadMonkey]

If I'm carrying one bag, I'm generally in the car, seatbelt on and moving within 8 seconds of my hand hitting the door handle. Keys in right, bag in left... hit the alarm/unlock button about 1 second before grabbing the handle, in and door, bag in right seat while key goes in and starts, right hand moves the shift lever to drive (locking doors) then grabs the seatbelt. As soon as it clicks in, foot off the brake and departing

I don't mess around. I'm careful and structured when I'm out in public... I might be a little predictable when it comes to getting into the car, but I have the time low enough that it doesn't matter

If I'm hauling a cart full of bags, my head stays up and alert more than down and looking at whatever I'm loading. The "other side" is less likely to go after someone who is paying attention to their surroundings. Once that's done, taking the cart back to the corral leaves time to scan my surroundings again, then it's back to the routine above.

My technique for keeping myself alert is constantly trying to see everyone before they see me, regardless of where I am (stores work well for this). When I miss someone, I give myself a good slap on the hand as punishment. Just don't do that in front of people or.... you know.

[Jumping Frog]

... my immediate profile of the vehical told me "transient". ... I see a man get out of truck and start heading to me. I make contact with the shady looking individual when he is 15 feet away. In a stern voice I said, "can I help you". He asked if I knew where the hospital was, as he stopped where he was when I opened my mouth. I said, "No, I sure dont". He seemed agitated that I stopped him before he could approach me, as he was also looking inside my truck. He walked back to his truck and went to the bed of his truck and grabbed something.

At that point I decided I had enough fuel in my truck. I got back in my truck and the individual started to approach my truck again with his left hand holding something behind his back. At this point in time I didn't know what was in his hand. I had grabbed my weapon and had it still hidden but was ready for whatever may have to be done. He was at the front of my truck, and said he had to ask me another question. I told him loudly through closed and locked doors "I have no answers for you."

He started to walk to the passenger side of my truck where my girlfriend was. So I layed on the horn. He then Started to my side holding up a package of chicken saying "I need to cook this".

At that point I was able to start my truck and pull away from the station as He nearly came in contact with my side mirror

Here is an alternate strategy that I use and would suggest.

• You had already identified him as questionable.
• Thus 15 feet is too close. Well within Tueller distance and you don't even have your gun at your side.
• I am putting my left hand up in a "STOP" gesture at about 30-35 feet away and commanding in a loud voice, "Stop right there. Do not come closer."
• If he keeps coming, I move my right hand towards my holster while telling him, "I have nothing you want, I said STOP."
• If he is still coming, I am going to draw.
• I do not get into discussion. I don't care if they want to ask for directions, ask to borrow my phone, ask for gas money, need to cook their chicken, ask for anything. I will not listen to the story and I will not engage in discussion.
• Too many times the conversation is merely a ploy to get close enough to do harm.

I leave my door open to have quick access to what I have between my seat and console,

Far preferable to have it readily accessible in a belt holster. Often, the mere act of moving an arm towards the holster is enough for a predator to decide there is easier prey elsewhere.

Edited to add: I do not care if the other person thinks I am a jerk. I am simply going to assert control of the encounter as quickly and firmly as possible.

[CHLLady]