Because physical assaults in parking garages are alarmingly common, it is not hard to find horror stories in newspapers across Mississippi. For example, according to reporting from the Biloxi Sun Herald, a woman recently suffered injuries after a man who had flirted with her followed her to her parked vehicle and hit her several times.
You probably cannot completely eliminate your chances of becoming a victim of a violent assault in a parking garage. Still, as a woman, you can take certain steps to reduce your risks when you are in a poorly lit place.
Avoid distractions
While you should be able to trust the parking lot’s security to keep you reasonably safe, security guards and cameras only do so much. Therefore, when walking to or from your vehicle, you should pay close attention to your surroundings. To do this, it is imperative to avoid distractions, such as using your smartphone or listening to music.
Forget social pleasantries
You have years of life experience which have undoubtedly given you some intuition. If you think something is not quite right, you may be correct. Therefore, you should forget social pleasantries when you are walking in a parking garage. Put simply, you should not worry about seeming rude or paranoid.
Be a difficult target
Because attackers are likely to look for easy targets, you should be more trouble than the attack is worth. To do so, you may want to carry a whistle or alarm with you. Furthermore, you should probably have your car keys in your hands. If necessary, you may be able to use them as a weapon.
Remember, if you suffer an injury during an assault in a poorly lit parking garage, you may be able to pursue financial prosecution from the garage’s owner or manager.
