OK, the 9mm bit is me. But the purposeful walk advice comes from Universal Protection Services, a security company whose intergalactic remit includes providing the parking industry with "innovative fire/life safety programs and electronic security solutions." Company executive vice president and COO Steve Jones has some decidedly low-tech solutions for people who've seen all those spooky TV shows and movies where bad things happen in echoey parking garages. Mr. Jones says you shouldn't linger around your car (waiting for someone to cue the knife-wielding/chloroform-clutching psycho), keep your doors locked and windows up until Elvis (and you) have left the building and "if possible, park next to entrances or in open and well-lit areas." Huh. We were kind of hoping for stuff like never stop and say "Hello? Is anyone there?" and "fight for your life; if they get you in the car, you're dead meat."
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Wow. Thanks Universal. What next, a report from the National Weather Forecasters warning us that snow is cold? Of course, it would probably not please their clients if they said something like “don’t park in one of these crime magnets unless there’s absolutely no other choice.” As a healthy adult male with a CCW permit, I don’t mind parking in garages, but I would never advise my GF to do so, even if it meant a few extra blocks of walking.
BTW, Robert, I’m with you on the nine mil thing!
What I love is that the new Volvo S80 has some kind of heartbeat detector in the interior–maybe it’s a fart-sniffer–that will warn the approaching owner if there’s somebody hiding in the car. Somebody in Goteborg apparently saw one too many slasher flicks. I mean, how much of an automotive problem is the guy hiding in the back seat anyway???
I saw this on a CCW forum (where people are a little more wary of their surroundings than average) a while ago and thought it was great advice
I use a checklist every time I get into my car:
“DeCiBeL”
D: DOORS — lock them immediately upon sitting down in the car.
C: CAR — start it and get it ready to move.
B: BELTS — put on safety belts. (Not before starting car, since you can drive without belts on, but you can have belts on first and if the car’s not running, you’re just sitting there belted.)
L: LIGHTS — don’t put them on until moments before you’re ready to go. In a dark parking lot, why draw attention to the fact that you’re sitting still in your car until you are ready to put it into gear and leave?
Never ever walk backwards. You invariably back up into the axe maniac (see every horror movie ever made).
Carry an axe. That way the only risk you’ll run will be to be maced when confused with the maniac.
The most purposeful walk involves a set of brass knuckles dangling purposefully from one’s hand.
BELTS — put on safety belts. (Not before starting car, since you can drive without belts on, but you can have belts on first and if the car’s not running, you’re just sitting there belted.)
This is silly. You’re in a car, surrounded by other cars, some of which are presumably in motion and potentially piloted by people who are not paying attention. They don’t care if your car is running or not, and certainly won’t swerve to avoid you just because you’re not belted in. Unless I’m in my own garage, I buckle up first thing. And I stay buckled, even if I’m in a drive-though with the engine off.
This is silly. You’re in a car, surrounded by other cars, some of which are presumably in motion and potentially piloted by people who are not paying attention.
I would think if that were true, the risk of being accosted by an axe wielding maniac (the situation be described here) would be fairly remote. You’ll have to make a call.
And people wonder why I carry everywhere.
9mm? worried about a mouse attack?
Do yourself a favor, carry a .45ACP
No one uses a .22 to hunt things that hunt back for a reason.
What “Jaws” did to the thoughts of people swimming in the ocean the axe carrying maniac in the movies has done to parking garages. I remember “All The President’s Men” and “The Pelican Brief” and parking garage scenes in those films. Of course, here in California we get the privilege of paying hundreds of dollars a month to park in covered areas, but the larger concern is earthquakes and your car and you being served at IHOP.
Hippo :
August 29th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
9mm? worried about a mouse attack?
Do yourself a favor, carry a .45ACP
No one uses a .22 to hunt things that hunt back for a reason.
You beat me to it. Remember: After you’ve defended yourself you’ll likely have to do it again–in court. The judge and jury only need to hear one version, yours, of the incident. The .45 or .357 is your friend.
Not to contradict you guys because I dearly miss my .45ACP but it really doesn’t matter what caliber you carry if you know how to shoot straight.
I would rather get a court date than a pine box.
“The .45 or .357 is your friend.”
Why stop there? A Thompson or AK-47 provides the firepower you’ll need when a whole gang attacks.
Flamethrowers and RPG’s are good, too, but a little bulky and awkward to carry, especially when you have a shopping bag in each hand.
I’m covered, my Challenger tank has biometric door locks (eye-scan, palm reader and DNA) so only I can get in, Cato shadows me into the car park in case I’m followed and I send Lassie in first to check for intruders, he (she ? – I never look too closely) has a sensitive nose.
I carry too, but only if I can’t get to the bathroom on time.
.50 Desert Eagle – when it absolutely, positively has to be dead.
Sure, it is big and heavy and loud…if you want to strike fear into someone…it’s the only way.
Or….don’t go into parking garages alone.
-ted
Wow…
Americans and their paranoia induced love of guns…
Here in Nova Scotia we have a greater risk of being killed by driving into a moose than being kidnapped in our cars.
That being said, may I suggest carrying a ninja sword? Nobody would be crazy enough to attack someone crazy enough to be carrying a ninja sword.
Bad guy #1: How about that guy?
Bad guy #2: Are you crazy? He’s got a ninja sword!
Bad guy #1: But we got guns!
Bad guy #2: If he’s carrying a ninja sword in plain sight, what do you think he’s got under his jacket?
P.S. This post is not intended as Anti-American, nor gun hating, nor pro-Micheal Moore. Please don’t read it as such.
Blunozer, even in Vancouver the worst that’ll happen is you’ll come back to your car to find the window broken and your ashtray looted for the 35 cents you had in it.
Where the hell do all you people live that you even worry about this? Compton?
You guys better stick to video games and park on Rodeo drive. :-)
Google all the FBI studies on the subject.