In all my years of teaching self-defense, I’ve found parking garages to be one of the greatest safety risks. After all, they represent everything common sense tells us to avoid — dimly lit, unmonitored areas and isolation — making it a perfect spot for “bad guys” to hide and attack helpless victims.
Not surprisingly, the FBI considers parking areas to be one of the most dangerous places — nearly 10 percent of all U.S. violent crimes occur in parking lots for a total of 130,000 violent crimes per year, which may involve anything from carjacking and armed robbery to kidnapping and murder.
Despite the risks, we often find ourselves having to use parking garages after dark. Unfortunately, they are a necessary evil that can’t always be avoided.
The good news is that most of the time, there aren’t bad guys waiting to jump out at us from the shadows. However, we must be ready for all possible circumstances. The following parking garage safety tips can help ensure you’re mentally as well as physically prepared for a worst case scenario.
How to Stay Safe in a Parking Garage –
Avoid Parking Lots at Night Alone
If you must venture into a parking garage after dark, it’s always best to have a companion. There’s always safety in numbers. However, I realize that having another person with you isn’t always possible. If you must go it alone, consider shopping during daylight hours, when criminals are less likely to attack.
Picture Yourself Being Followed
Do you ever get the feeling that you’re being watched or followed? Why not embrace it? Since it’s hard to eliminate this fear in a creepy parking garage, one of the best ways I deal with it is to mentally visualize being followed.
I understand this exercise will be uncomfortable for many of us. While it may sound counterintuitive, making a conscious effort to entertain the thought of being followed can actually help reduce the stress of this obsessive idea. And the more you visualize something, the faster your reaction time will be in case you encounter it. Before you know it, you’ll feel more in control of your emotions and the potential situation.
Watch Where You Park
Where you park can significantly impact your risk of attack. Many parking lots and garages have optimal layouts for criminality, including dark stairwells, high walls, structural columns, and multiple levels, which provide hiding places and poor sightlines.
The safest places to park are brightly lit areas, such as near the building entrance, exit, stairs, or elevator. If you see anyone suspicious, inform an attendant if one is on duty and leave the parking garage — it’s not worth putting yourself at risk.
Also, take note of exactly where you parked your vehicle! The last thing you want to do is wander around a parking garage alone and lost as you look for your car. Drop a location pin or snap a picture of nearby landmarks.
Avoid Carrying or Displaying Valuables
Never leave your valuables out and open in your car — keep them locked away in the trunk or tucked under your seat. This includes purses, electronic devices, and shopping bags. Also avoid leaving items that display your personal information such as mail. Avoid carrying cash on your person and wearing showy or expensive-looking jewelry and accessories, which can attract predators.
Carry Yourself with Confidence
The first order of business is to take note of your body language. As you walk, keep your chest and head up and walk briskly. In other words, walk like you have somewhere to go, even if you’re lost! This in itself will make you a less likely target. Try to keep your hands free, except for your self-defense tool if you’re carrying one.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Always keep your visual field at a full 360 degrees by knowing what’s both in front of and behind you. While walking, avoid being distracted by your phone. Instead, wait until you’re in a better lit area near other people to use it. And listen to your instincts. If you feel hesitant or uneasy for any reason, ask for an attendant to escort you to your car, or call a friend or family member, or even an Uber, to pick you up.
Carry Protection
If you choose to carry a self-defense weapon, take it out and keep it ready to use. I’m all for enhancing personal safety with tools, but they serve no real purpose in your pocket or purse. It only takes a matter of seconds to be engaged in an attack. Carrying and using your defensive instrument should never be an afterthought. In the heat of battle, you won’t have time to retrieve it.
There are a lot of self-defense weapons out there on the market. In my self-defense curriculum, I use MUNIO as a practical and effective self-defense tool anyone can use — and since it comes in the form of a discreet keychain, you can bring it anywhere you go. Whatever self-defense weapon you choose, whether it’s a MUNIO self-defense keychain, pepper spray, or a taser gun, educate yourself on exactly how it functions and make sure you feel comfortable using it before you venture out with it.
Make a Safe Exit
People who are distracted or carrying shopping bags are among the most vulnerable to attack in a parking garage. Keep this in mind as you make your way to your car at the end of your visit. Here are some safety tips for making a safe exit:
- Try to keep your hands free of shopping bags.
- Leave your phone in your purse or pocket to reduce distractions. Pretending like you’re on a phone call will do little to discourage an attacker from targeting you.
- Keep your keys out and ready on your way to your vehicle. Ideally, carry a self-defense keychain for extra protection.
- Wait until you’re right about to open your car before you deactivate your alarm, as the sound may signal your whereabouts to a criminal.
- Only unlock one door of your car at a time.
- Immediately get inside your car and leave. Don’t linger in the parking garage checking your phone or fumbling with your radio.
Educate Yourself on Staying Safe in a Parking Garage
Parking garages may be one of the most dangerous places in America, but they’re still a fact of everyday life. It’s well worth taking a moment to plan ahead and take the right precautions to reduce your fear and the risks involved.
Looking for more self-defense tips?
Watch our free 10-video series, “Simple Self-Defense Moves Everyone Should Know.”
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