Mall safety

PERSONAL SAFETY IN MALLS
Detective Kevin Coffey
"The Scholar of Thievery"


The threat of physical assault does not necessarily increase along with the crowds that herald the holiday season. It's when you're far from the crowd, in distant reaches of parking lots or other isolated areas of the mall that you are most vulnerable. To protect yourself:

Always try to walk to and from your vehicle with another person. If you are shopping alone, consider walking near other shoppers in the parking lot.

If shopping alone and leaving at night -- particularly if you're carrying several bundles -- ask a security officer to accompany you to your car. Most malls will provide that service.

Inside a mall, avoid darkened hallways and other backroom areas, especially near closing time.

Avoid using bathrooms that are tucked away in a back area of a mall concourse or department. If you can, find a bathroom near the mall's food court or other well-trafficked area. And always accompany your child to the bathroom.

Never use a video arcade or toy store as a baby sitter; predators are on the prowl for unattended children. More then 100,000 children are abducted every year -- often in malls or department stores, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCME).

Find out whether the malls and stores you frequent have procedures to search for a missing child. Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Target are among retailers participating in a program developed by the NCME. The program, called "Code Adam," was named after Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old Florida boy who was killed after being abducted from a shopping mall in 1981. As soon as a child is reported missing, employees scour the aisles. If the child doesn't turn up after 10 minutes, the police are notified.

DEALING WITH CHILDREN WHEN SHOPPING DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Holiday shopping can be chaotic, tiring and frustrating. Just imagine how much more of an ordeal it may be to a young child dragged from one store to the next as you work your way down your shopping list. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children offers these guidelines to keep tots from being pushed beyond their endurance, and older children from wandering off or otherwise getting into trouble out of boredom:

If you bring infants or toddlers on a shopping trip, limit the excursion to one or two hours. Also, make sure your child is rested and fed before you head out.

Remove your child's coat or sweater once you are indoors; overheated children can get awfully cranky.
Shop with another adult, so you can take turns browsing and minding the children.
Keep children close by at all times, and do not let them wander around unsupervised.
Point out security guards, so your child knows where to go for help if he gets lost.
When you have to wait in line, give your child a book, toy or snack to keep him occupied.
Avoid stores with narrow aisles and shelves teetering with fragile items. Be clear and firm about what your child can and cannot touch.

SHOPPING CART SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Some 21,600 children end up in the hospital each year after they've fallen -- or even leaped -- from shopping carts, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Children 5 years old and younger, particularly boys, are especially at risk. Shopping cart injuries include head and neck trauma, fractures, lacerations and damage to internal organs. Three children have died.

Part of the problem is that shopping carts can tip over easily because the wheel base is narrow. Adding to a cart's instability, children have a hard time sitting still.

Statistics compiled by the National Safe Kids Campaign show that 80 percent of parents leave their children unattended at least once during a shopping trip. The only way to keep children safe is to stay with the cart at all times. Even if you strap your child into the cart seat, he may still manage to tip the cart over. Just wiggling out of the harness or seat belt can quickly unbalance an already unstable load. To keep shopping carts from tipping over:

Place young children in the seat, not the basket.

If the cart comes equipped with a harness, use it. Otherwise, bring your own.
If you've got a child walking alongside you, make sure he does not try to climb inside the cart to join his brother or sister. You might want to pack a second child into a stroller or backpack -- it's cumbersome, but safer.
It's not a good idea to let a child push or steer the cart for you. He may not see or be seen by shoppers and could be struck or run over by other carts. Those miniature carts some stores supply for children to push pose the same problem, so stay close by and make sure your shopper-in-training follows the flow of traffic.

CAR BREAK IN'S AT MALLS

As parking areas fill during the holiday season, shoppers are often forced to park far from mall exits, sometimes in poorly lighted areas. Now that there is less daylight, you're likely to find yourself entering the mall while the sun is up and leaving after dark, so make sure there are lights nearby before parking. Other parking tips:

Park as close to entrances and exits as you can. No one wants to circle the lot for an hour waiting for a good spot to open up, but give it a shot, at least for a few minutes.

If forced to the far reaches of a lot -- or even beyond the lot -- seek a spot that's well-lighted or near a well-traveled roadway.
Stow your purchases in the trunk. When you're weighed down with packages, you may be tempted to throw them in the back seat and return to the mall to continue shopping. If your purchases are in plain view, you may return to find your car windows smashed and your presents stolen.
Save your most expensive purchases for last, so you can head straight home.
Have your keys ready when you approach your vehicle. Before entering, check that no one is hiding in the back seat.

ATM CRIME

Automated teller machines are handy to have around when you're spending it up at the mall and don't want to max out your credit cards. But while ATMs make it easier for you to get to your money, they provide the same service for thieves.

To protect yourself, handle your bank card with the same prudence you would cash or credit cards and keep it in a safe place. Memorize your PIN code so you won't have to write it on your card or a piece of paper, and carry it in your purse or wallet. And keep your PIN to yourself -- if others are nearby waiting to use the ATM, don't let them see which buttons you press.

More ATM advice:

Choose a bank with an ATM located in a highly visible, well-lighted area.

If you must withdraw money from an ATM after dark, have someone accompany you. Also, try not to make large cash withdrawals.
If you see anyone loitering near the machine who looks or acts suspicious, walk away.
Minimize time spent at the ATM by having your card in your hand and resisting the temptation to count the money after it has been dispensed.
While using an ATM, look around from time to time to and be aware of what's going on around you. If anything suspicious happens, immediately cancel your transaction and leave.
Never leave your receipt in the machine. Also, keep your receipts so you can check them against your monthly bank statements.