TDI Parking Lots Safety Fact Sheet

Parking lot fact sheet on the threat of robberies.

Street Robberies

Robberies can happen anytime and anywhere. They occur in both business and residential areas in urban, suburban, and country settings — anyplace a robber has an opportunity to strike. The most common locations for these “street” robberies are parking lots, shopping centers, streets, and malls. Surveys show that almost two-thirds of street robberies occur between 3 p.m. and midnight. While street robberies happen year round, they peak during certain periods, such as the holidays. Purse snatchings and other street robberies go up in November and December as criminals prey on shoppers, carrying money and gifts. (They also go up in the summer, when more people — criminals and victims — are out on the streets because of warm weather and vacations.)

Business owners should be aware that street robberies can hurt the business. When customers fear being robbed at a specific location, they will avoid that location and head for a “safer” area. There are steps business owners and employers can take to discourage street robberies in a specific area and…