The Holiday Season is a good time to know that parking facilities are the third most common location for crime in the United States and it’s easy to see why.
Many have dark corners, multiple levels, poor line of sight and minimal security. Also, these are high-traffic areas where criminals can enter and hide in plain sight without arousing suspicion.
Parking lots are magnets for crime. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reveal that 10% of crime occurs in parking lots and parking garages. Security experts estimate that 80% of all crime that occurs at strip malls, apartment complexes and shopping malls takes place in the parking lot.
The most common crimes in parking facilities can be broken into three categories: theft from cars, theft of cars, and violent crimes.
Theft From Cars
Theft from cars includes any items stolen from inside the car or parts of the car itself. Generally, these thefts occur because the car was left unlocked, or valuables were left in sight.
The most commonly stolen items include GPS devices, car radios, electronic devices, car speakers, license plates, catalytic converters, rims, and tires. Theft from cars makes up about 85% of car-related thefts.
Theft of Cars
Theft of cars makes up the remaining 15%. Most cars are stolen when parked on the street or on the owner’s property. However, when a car is left unattended in a parking facility, the chances of it being stolen increase four times. The most common cause of car theft is teens stealing cars for joyriding.
Violent Crimes
All sorts of violent crimes, from murder to assault and kidnapping, regularly occur in parking facilities.
More than 7% of all violent crimes in the U.S. occur in parking facilities, with 57,707 instances recorded between 2010 and 2024.
With these alarming statistics in mind, visitors to parking lots must do what they can to stay safe.
Tips to Stay Safe
Here are tips for keeping safe in parking facilities:
- Park in well-lit areas of the facility when possible.
- Park as close to the door of the business as possible.
- Don’t linger in parking facilities.
- Don’t use your phone or other distractions when navigating parking lots.
- Lock your car doors.
- Roll up your windows.
- Put away valuables.
- Have your keys ready before approaching your vehicle.
Ultimately, there is no guaranteed way to stay safe in a public parking facility. Random violent crimes are always a possibility. However, following some of the above tips can help you decrease the likelihood of being a victim.
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Dodie & Jack Dennis are regular customers of Green Pasture. Highly recommended.
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When I was a young adult driving a clunker car in the heat of the summer, I left a car window part way down in a mall parking lot. I had parked in a space on the side of the store in the front row near the entrance. I popped in and quickly took care of something at the customer service desk that was by this entrance. When I reentered my car, there was a loaded condom inserted over my gear shift lever. 😦
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Just avoid parking garages completely, they are scary even without the crime! I’m chuckling here, but there is a parking garage at a casino many miles away that scares the heck out of me. It’s got a lot of security and is well lit, but it is so steep and the ceilings are so low, it’s downright terrifying. To make matters worse, they have all nicknamed it the pancake.
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What a name. I lived above the beautiful Majestic Theater in downtown San Antonio for a # of years. Secured parking was on the 5th floor in a designated spot. Security cameras etc. Key & fob to get in. But was still alert. No problems but remained cautious.
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There is some safety in numbers. If you can go out with a group, do so.
Watch for speeding cars in parking garages especially around blind spots caused by cars, walls or pillars. Look both ways. When I was working, I had to cross a parking garage. There was a wall that caused a blind spot. The drivers sped like they were doing the straightaway at Daytona. After I almost got hit twice, I always peeked around the wall. Once I was with a lady just talking as we approached the blind spot, I put my arm in front of her to stop her until I could check to see if it was safe. There was a speeding car and it reached us in about 2 seconds. Thank God that I stopped to look.
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Thank God.
Great advice.
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[…] Prevent Most Parking Lot Crimes […]
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