In our article about Dangerous Places For Assaults we said “when women go shopping at the mall or grocery store, they leave their cars in parking lots. When they return to their car, they can often be distracted by talking to a friend, talking on a cell phone, watching the kids or any other number of distractions.” We concluded that they can be dangerous places.
In today’s article we will share with you more stories that show just how dangerous parking lots can be and as we will see, it doesn’t matter where they are.
The first story of sexual assault occurred in a church parking lot in Jacksonville, Florida. While Catholics were going to an all-night prayer vigil and the bells of the local basilica were ringing, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office reported that a woman victim tried to run away from a predator but he punched her in the face and dragged her back. Fortunately there was video surveillance of the attack that enabled the police to stop a suspect who matched the description. He was arrested immediately and is off the streets.
In another story from Morris Plains, New Jersey police are looking for three people who were involved in an assault in a parking lot at a local grocery store. A passersby attempted to help, but one of the suspects brandished a handgun causing him to leave the scene. Again security footage from the store surveillance cameras will help police capture the suspects.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department arrested a man for a sexual assault on a woman at a local restaurant. Police believe this suspect may have committed other sexual assaults. The victim was standing next to her vehicle which was parked outside the restaurant when the suspect approached her, spoke to her and forced her into the vehicle. The suspect fled when she was able to hit the car horn.
In Morristown, New Jersey a woman was sexually assaulted in a grocery store parking lot by a 77-year-old suspect. The suspect pulled next to the victim’s vehicle and asked for directions. He pretended he couldn’t hear and asked the victim to come closer. As the victim got out of her car, the pervert grabbed her and assaulted her.
In each of these cases a simple self-defense weapon such as a stun gun or pepper spray could have saved the victim.
We have many pepper sprays to choose from.