| It is that time of year for Christmas shopping. With | | | | lock all doors. Choose well lit areas. And sad to say |
| 'black Friday' starts the biggest shopping days of the | | | | avoid strangers |
| year. And the bad guys know it too. They salivate | | | | 3. Focus - stay off your cell phone. Don't get |
| over women with kids and seniors in mall parking lots | | | | distracted. A woman's inner voice or sixth sense may |
| loaded with goodies, kids and money. They are ripe | | | | be her best friend. |
| and vulnerable targets. | | | | 4. Lock - your car and once inside your car don't let |
| Thousands of robberies happen this time of year and | | | | your guard down-lock all your doors and be wary. |
| most of them never get solved. Part of the reason | | | | 5. Purse - keep it tucked under your arm. |
| assaults and robberies go up is because of the bad | | | | 6. Keys - have them out and ready. They work as a |
| economy. The other reason in my opinion is we | | | | weapon too. |
| make it so easy | | | | 7. Buddy up - to your car. Go with others even if you |
| Try to picture this. A mom with her kids or a senior | | | | have to ask for an escort. Don't let pride get in the |
| comes out of the mall on the way to the car. The | | | | way. Better safe than sorry. |
| parking lot that isn't all that well lit. Maybe pushing a | | | | 8. Carry - some self defense products like stun guns, |
| cart or carrying bags. Maybe on her cell phone. Maybe | | | | pepper sprays and personal alarms. |
| some distractions??? | | | | 9. Common sense - usually prevails. Use your head. |
| That makes a target for the bad guys who can get | | | | 10. Trouble - if you get in trouble make as much |
| behind her and rip away her purse. | | | | noise as you can scream, use your alarm, use the |
| With Christmas just around the corner the big malls | | | | panic button on your key fob-all to draw attention to |
| are gearing up. Are you? Here are some safety tips | | | | your predicament. |
| to help keep you and your family safe. | | | | Perhaps the best tip you can get is to pay attention |
| 1. Shop - during the day and avoid night trips. | | | | and not be distracted. Use these tips when you go |
| 2. Park - as close as you can to your destination then | | | | shopping and you'll be way ahead of the game. |