Discussions

Story in Brandon Sun Police asking for help to identify this person  
 
 
 
This is in a south parking lot 1500 block 18th street - sounds like Shoppers Mall lot and this person means business just be aware of surroundings and your purses.  
 
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/Police-searching-for-attempted-robbery-suspect-501649122.html  
 
Edited by Just an opinion , 2018-11-30 19:38:47

Walk in parking lots pretending you are on your phone.

Pretending to be on your phone makes you look like an easy distracted target. Instead be aware of your surroundings and who’s walking near you, park in well lit areas and don’t leave your purse in your cart. I see so many women doing this. They’re putting kids or stuff in the car and their purse is sitting unattended in the cart.

Brenda.. said "Walk in parking lots pretending you are on your phone. "

that is a terrible idea.

Oryx said "    Brenda.. said "Walk in parking lots pretending you are on your phone. " that is a terrible idea. "

well I had a sketchy looking person following me one night and I pulled out my phone and they turned around and went the other way.  
 
I was guessing if I was on the phone, the person following me thought I would be able to tell whomever I was talking to, that I thought I was being followed......stupid idea.  
 
Just an idea, a suggestion.

Brenda.. said "    Oryx said "    Brenda.. said "Walk in parking lots pretending you are on your phone. " that is a terrible idea. " well I had a sketchy looking person following me one night and I pulled out my phone and they turned around and went the other way.     I was guessing if I was on the phone, the person following me thought I would be able to tell whomever I was talking to, that I thought I was being followed......stupid idea.     Just an idea, a suggestion. "

I didn't mean to come off as rude but truly being aware of one's surroundings means having your hands free and always being aware of what is happening around you by scanning 360 degrees.  
 
Hands free, that's my suggestion.

Situational awareness is almost extinct in this age of technology and everyone on their phones...but I find it's also generational. ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings and have your head on a swivel...it sucks to have to live this way but that's the kind of world it is now.

Think that "being vigilant" means you are living in fear but that is not the case. I am not fearful but I do keep my eyes open and try to be aware of who is around me. Shopping-i either lock my purse in the car while I unload groceries into my trunk, or I put it into the trunk first and then take it out when I am finished. Car keys stay in my pocket, always. Someone approaches, I will keep the cart between me and them, just in case. And yes, I generally know what I have in my cart that i can grab and clobber someone with if it should come necessary. I will fight back, plus i have a car alarm and a good set of lungs and i will make a big commotion! By all means use your phone to make a call for help if you must but do not be talking in it as you cross the parking lot. Talking on the phone does signal a lack of attention to your surroundings and a would be thief sees that as easy pickings.

There are security people outside today roaming the parking lots.

Cassie1668 said "Think that "being vigilant" means you are living in fear but that is not the case. I am not fearful but I do keep my eyes open and try to be aware of who is around me. Shopping-i either lock my purse in the car while I unload groceries into my trunk, or I put it into the trunk first and then take it out when I am finished. Car keys stay in my pocket, always. Someone approaches, I will keep the cart between me and them, just in case. And yes, I generally know what I have in my cart that i can grab and clobber someone with if it should come necessary. I will fight back, plus i have a car alarm and a good set of lungs and i will make a big commotion! By all means use your phone to make a call for help if you must but do not be talking in it as you cross the parking lot. Talking on the phone does signal a lack of attention to your surroundings and a would be thief sees that as easy pickings. "

I keep my keys in my pocket too and as a 411, they can be a weapon as well. Place keys in between your fingers....your own set of "metal knuckles".  
And if you have a shopping cart with a safety belt (for kids), I lock my purse with it.  
Try to walk where there are many people and if not, when approaching someone, stare directly into their eyes because it could deter them from attacking/stealing. They wouldn't want to be "identified" right down to the eye color and nose piercing...LOL

We seen a couple of ladies putting their bags into vehicles while their purses stayed in the cart. Please ladies, put your purse in the car first of all then your goods!

A woman leave her purse in the cart and left the cart while she walked to the next isle in the store. Only for a few seconds, but that’s all it would have taken for someone to grab it.