Parking Lot Scams

JohnDar · Nov 25, 2015

It's that time of year again, when scumbags patrol mall parking lots. There have been some stories of individuals peddling exotic perfume for cheap and would you like to sniff it? The ether content dulls you to the point of making you a victim. While these may be urban legends, be wary out there.

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Lynn1130 · Nov 25, 2015

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/perfume.asp

But you are correct on scumbags patrolling parking lots this time of year. Don't leave valuables in plain sight in vehicles. Be very aware of you surroundings walking to and from your vehicle. Don't park in some remote and dark area of the parking lot. Walk in and out with others if possible. Keep your purse or bag tucked under your arm and did I say be aware of your surroundings? That means keep your nose out of your phone while walking in and out of the store. Keep you keys in your hand, with several keys sticking out between your fingers and don't be afraid to use them as a weapon if necessary. Unlock your vehicle before you get to the door. Don't wait and waste time standing by the door unlocking it. Did I say be aware of your surroundings?

Most crimes in parking lots at stores and malls will be entry into vehicles to steal packages, ipads, phones etc. Some will be purse or package snatches but whatever they are be aware of your surroundings. Opportunity for a perp is someone with their nose in their phone, or walking without looking around to see what is happening around them or both.

cookie · Nov 25, 2015

There is a parking lot scam going on in our area as well.
It seems that two young women are wandering the parking lots offering a huge discount on lingerie.
They offer to model it and as one is modeling the other is picking your pocket.
I've lost three wallets so far, so be aware.

Peace
Dave

Bones · Nov 25, 2015

cookie said:
There is a parking lot scam going on in our area as well.
It seems that two young women are wandering the parking lots offering a huge discount on lingerie.
They offer to model it and as one is modeling the other is picking your pocket.
I've lost three wallets so far, so be aware.

Peace
Dave

They would be highly dis-appointed with my pockets as I never seem to have any money

buddyboy · Nov 25, 2015

Ladies - I refuse to carry a purse when shopping. I put one credit card in a secure pocket (one that buttons, snaps or zips) and my ID in another secure location. Car key goes in a pocket and I carry it between my fingers with the sharp point out when heading to the car. I walk with purpose and make eye contact. I am always aware of my surroundings and don't load down with packages. I ask stores about delivery or escort to the car. I don't miss the purse at all when shopping - lets me use both hands when looking for that perfect whatever!

Martha

pegmikef · Nov 25, 2015

And it is not just parking lots as some lowlife apparently followed my neighbor from where he was Xmas shopping to his lake house (next door to our house), he ran into the house to use the facilities, went back out and his car was gone. No one ever saw the other vehicle or the car disappear as it happened in a flash. Lock and hide everything! They found the car a few hours later and of course all the goods were gone and the only damage was the ignition system and steering column.

JohnDar · Nov 25, 2015

Lynn1130 said:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/perfume.asp

But you are correct on scumbags patrolling parking lots this time of year. Don't leave valuables in plain sight in vehicles. Be very aware of you surroundings walking to and from your vehicle. Don't park in some remote and dark area of the parking lot. Walk in and out with others if possible. Keep your purse or bag tucked under your arm and did I say be aware of your surroundings? That means keep your nose out of your phone while walking in and out of the store. Keep you keys in your hand, with several keys sticking out between your fingers and don't be afraid to use them as a weapon if necessary. Unlock your vehicle before you get to the door. Don't wait and waste time standing by the door unlocking it. Did I say be aware of your surroundings?

Most crimes in parking lots at stores and malls will be entry into vehicles to steal packages, ipads, phones etc. Some will be purse or package snatches but whatever they are be aware of your surroundings. Opportunity for a perp is someone with their nose in their phone, or walking without looking around to see what is happening around them or both.

Thanks for looking it up on Snopes. I didn't have time to do it on my phone. But the window-busting, snatch & grab is real. Happened to my wife a few years back. What they got was the Franklin Planner she left on the seat of MY van (which she had borrowed). And there are enough reports around here of the same happening on people's driveways, as well.

happykraut · Nov 25, 2015

cookie said:
There is a parking lot scam going on in our area as well.
It seems that two young women are wandering the parking lots offering a huge discount on lingerie.
They offer to model it and as one is modeling the other is picking your pocket.
I've lost three wallets so far, so be aware.

Peace
Dave

Dave, you dirty old man. LOL.

JanAndBill · Nov 25, 2015

cookie said:
There is a parking lot scam going on in our area as well.
It seems that two young women are wandering the parking lots offering a huge discount on lingerie.
They offer to model it and as one is modeling the other is picking your pocket.
I've lost three wallets so far, so be aware.

Peace
Dave

Dave they had that one going on here, the wallets were getting expensive till I found this discount store that you coul.......oops disregard I said this

olcoon · Nov 25, 2015

cookie said:
There is a parking lot scam going on in our area as well.
It seems that two young women are wandering the parking lots offering a huge discount on lingerie.
They offer to model it and as one is modeling the other is picking your pocket.
I've lost three wallets so far, so be aware.

Peace
Dave

Why doesn't this surprise me Dave???

Manzan · Nov 25, 2015

I had an aftermarket GPS, CD player Radio that I had installed last May stolen in a Costco Parking lot. Suburban was locked. A very busy Saturday. Suburban was locked but I have keyless entry. No damage done so they used a transponder or something to unlock the door. Did no damage to the dash and cut only two wires. Could not have taken more than five minutes in and out. Not much I could have done to prevent that theft other than not going shopping. Fortunately insurance company will pay the whole replacement cost.
Good luck.

jmgratz · Nov 25, 2015

The thing going on in the Houston area is stealing purses from unlocked cars while the driver is putting gas in the tank. The car pulls up next to the one getting gas, they get out quickly and open the unlocked door get the purse out close the door and drive off. There have been several videos of this in action shown on the news. Moral...lock your door or take you purse with you.

JohnD · Nov 26, 2015

Manzan said:
I had an aftermarket GPS, CD player Radio that I had installed last May stolen in a Costco Parking lot. Suburban was locked. A very busy Saturday. Suburban was locked but I have keyless entry. No damage done so they used a transponder or something to unlock the door. Did no damage to the dash and cut only two wires. Could not have taken more than five minutes in and out. Not much I could have done to prevent that theft other than not going shopping. Fortunately insurance company will pay the whole replacement cost.
Good luck.

Ironically, just this morning our local FOX channel did a story on this . . .

The bad guys can purchase an RF jammer online for under $100 and they sit and watch . . . and as you press the remote key to lock the door . . . they jam the signal so that your door doesn't lock!

This happened to both my truck and my wife's car IN OUR DRIVEWAY!

I lost my Nikon binoculars, tripod and monopod . . . nothing from Cathy's car was missing.

The news story advised to manually lock your doors (the old fashioned way by pushing the lock button), or at the very least to push the remote button continuously until you hear your horn beep!

And always pull your door handle to insure that your vehicle is locked before you leave it!

wdk450 · Nov 26, 2015

JohnD said:
Ironically, just this morning our local FOX channel did a story on this . . .

The bad guys can purchase an RF jammer online for under $100 and they sit and watch . . . and as you press the remote key to lock the door . . . they jam the signal so that your door doesn't lock!

This happened to both my truck and my wife's car IN OUR DRIVEWAY!

I lost my Nikon binoculars, tripod and monopod . . . nothing from Cathy's car was missing.

The news story advised to manually lock your doors (the old fashioned way by pushing the lock button), or at the very least to push the remote button continuously until you hear your horn beep!

And always pull your door handle to insure that your vehicle is locked before you leave it!

I guess that annoying horn beep (everyone ELSE's horn beep is annoying) serves a purpose. I know that on a lot of newer vehicles you can configure the security system to NOT beep when you activate the keyfob lock - probably NOT a good idea now.

Lou_and_Bette · Nov 26, 2015

JohnD said:
The bad guys can purchase an RF jammer online for under $100 and they sit and watch . . . and as you press the remote key to lock the door . . . they jam the signal so that your door doesn't lock

That worries me, we have the RV LOCK on our rig which works the same way.

JohnD · Nov 26, 2015

Lou_and_Bette said:
That worries me, we have the RV LOCK on our rig which works the same way.

I guess the remote for the RV Lock would be good for unlocking the door when you arrive, but using the key to insure it locked or a double check to make sure the door locked would be your best bet.

I always lock both the dead bolt and the handle-pull door latch whenever we leave the trailer, which is why we decided against getting the remote RV Lock.

Seems that the more we use technology to make things easier for us . . . it also makes it easier for the bad guys!

danemayer · Nov 26, 2015

Lou_and_Bette said:
That worries me, we have the RV LOCK on our rig which works the same way.

Crooks sitting around a campground with an RF jammer, waiting for you to leave your rig? Probably not enough remote control door locks for them to bother. I think they'll have to get tired of working the target-rich environments like shopping malls.

But after locking with the remote, I routinely check the door handle to make sure it actually locked. Not because of RF jammers, but because it's possible to get a partial operation of the deadbolt solenoid.

DougS · Nov 26, 2015

One thing I have done for years while at a shopping mall is if I have a load of gifts to put in the car and have to continue to shop, I'll move the car to another area of the mall. You never know if someone is watching you load up you car.

JohnD · Nov 26, 2015

DougS said:
One thing I have done for years while at a shopping mall is if I have a load of gifts to put in the car and have to continue to shop, I'll move the car to another area of the mall. You never know if someone is watching you load up you car.

Since my daily driver is the truck . . . I have no place to hide stuff!

JohnDar · Nov 26, 2015

Just like not too long ago, they warned us about credit card skimmers in the slots of gas pumps and ATM's that you could see if you looked. Recently, they've been finding skimmers that the crooks can quickly put INSIDE the pump that records information until the crook comes back for it. Small devices that plug into the circuit board. Seems they can get them in and out in a matter of seconds. Best defense is to go inside to pay.

To protect yourself, even if your CC has "no-fault protection" is to regularly review your statement online for any thing you don't recognize. Recently found one for a charge by AT&T for $20.02. I don't use my CC for anything with them and got the CC company to reverse it.

Parking Lot Scams

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