Liz Dobson - Safe Shopping Tips

It seems that for most of us Kiwis, heading to the shopping mall in the weekend or for late night openings is a hobby – although some people I know would consider it torture!

But if you’re heading to a large carpark, especially a woman alone, it pays to keep yourself, your belongings and your car safe.

Here are my tips for a successfully and safe shopping trip – though I can’t guarantee your credit card won’t be hurt!

1. If you have goods such as laptops, tablets or cameras in the car, either place them in the boot or under driver/front passenger seats so no-one can see them.
2. Never leave your house keys and/or mail in the car. That’s inviting a burglar into your home.
3. If you needed a satnav system to guide you to the shops, hide it in the glovebox or under a seat.
4. If you are planning late-night shopping, be careful where you park your car. Avoid dark corners of the carpark. Instead park near the mall entrance or in a lit area with lots of foot traffic.
5. Check the vehicles you park next to. If they have tinted windows it is probably not a good idea to park beside them - you can't tell if someone's lurking inside.
6. Buying expensive electronic goods? Ask a shop assistant to walk you to your car. Or drive to the shop's loading dock and have your purchases put in your car. You don't want to be mugged going to your car.
7. Keep shopping out of sight in the car. Put it in the boot or under the rear cover in your SUV if you are planning on doing some more shopping. When putting gifts in your car, be aware of people watching you.
8. Women: wear your handbag across your body, so crims can't grab it when you return to your car with your hands full of shopping bags. Men: Keep that wallet firmly in your pocket.
9. When returning to your car at night, always get out your keys before you leave the shops. Fumbling in your bag or pocket - especially with your arms laden with bags - makes you an easy target for a thief. Unlock the car only when you are beside it.
10. If you're shopping alone at night, leave the mall with other shoppers. There's safety in numbers.
11. Multi-storey carparks are mazes so note which level your car is on when you park. I recommend writing the parking space/level on your carpark ticket or your hand or take a photo on your smartphone of the level number and car park space.
12. When unloading a shopping trolley into your car boot, women first place your handbag in the car, and lock the car. Purses left in trolleys are easy target for thieves.
13. If you see someone suspicious when approaching your vehicle, return to the building and wait for them to leave.
14. When returning to your car at night, before you get in check the seats for anyone who may be hiding.
15. Lock doors immediately after entering your vehicle. Hide your handbag under a seat and as you queue to leave the carpark, wind down only your driver side window a few centimetres at the pay window. You don't want a thief to walk past your idling car and grab your bag or shopping from the passenger seats.