Safety In Numbers.

43 Things You Never Knew About Parking Safety.

1. An empty cigarette lighter receptacle tells a car thief you might have a cell phone. Keep the cigarette lighter in its receptacle.

2. Your cell phone is actually worth more stolen on the black market than it is new. Hide it and all accessories.

3. Always leave your car locked with all windows tightly closed.

4. If a stranger enters your car, exit the car immediately with the keys.

S. A car alarm and/or mechanical steering wheel lock certainly is a deterrent. Consider one, the other, or both.

6. Go the extra mile and use a car alarm with the ignition kill feature.

7. Never leave registration and insurance certificates in vehicle. It's instant, useful information for thieves.

S. Thieves often don't have time to check everything out. Stash the cash and credit cards in the trunk.

9. Don't leave any mail or ID in the car. It's an open invitation for the criminal element to visit your home.

10. Take your parking ticket stub with you. This makes it difficult for a thief to get out of a Green P attended facility.

11. Never leave keys in ignition even just for a minute.

12. Note pedestrian exits, and select your walking route before exiting car.

13. Note where security buttons and fire alarm pulls are.

14. If threatened, pull the fire alarm - firemen often arrive faster than police and will come directly to the station pulled.

15. If threatened or attacked, scream as you run, and push/rock cars to activate as many car alarms as possible.

16. Patronize parking lots that provide security. Look for the official security patrol signs at Green P locations.

17. Don't park beside vans or larger vehicles where sightlines can be obstructed.

18. Where possible, back into a parking spot for better exposure and getaways.

19. Always be aware of people within 30 metres of your vehicle. Personal attacks occur most often when entering or exiting your vehicle.

20. If attacked, resist being put into a vehicle or otherwise taken away from the original site of the attack.

21. Keep 4 metres away from suspicious persons - abruptly change direction of travel to determine if you are being targeted.

22. If applicable, pretend to be talking to someone on a cell phone - clearly telling them your current position.

23. Anything visible in your car is thief bait. Put all your belongings out of sight.

24. If pursued, throw your keys in one direction, and run screaming in the other.

25. If your purse or wallet is demanded, throw it in one direction and run screaming in the other.

26. Always keep a spare set of keys on you.

27. As you approach your vehicle, be aware of any suspicious people, broken glass or doors ajar.

28. Patronize clean, well lit parking lots.

29. Try to park as close to an attendant or the main entry/exit as possible.

30. Walk in well lit areas in the middle of the lot whenever possible.

31. Use only main entry/exit points. Avoid obscure fire exits.

32. If attacked, shouting "FIRE" can be very effective.

33. If you feel threatened by someone on an elevator, get off or don't get on.

34. Stand by the elevator buttons. Push all of them if threatened and get off where possible.

35. Report all suspicious (even seemingly minor) activities in parking lots to authorities.

36. If applicable, note license plates, make and colour of any suspicious vehicles - report it to authorities.

37. Always drive with doors locked. Keep purse, cash or wallets hidden.

38. Avoid cars with heavily tinted glass.

39. Cars with out-of-province plates and rental cars are thief bait.

40. Vehicle break-ins can take as little as 5 seconds without making a sound.

41. Methods of entry include:

- Silent window break with sparkplug or metal punch.

- Thin metal strap down glass of door window to release lock (slim Jim).

- Lock drilled out.

42. Suspicious signs before a car crime: - Loitering in parking lot.

- "Shopping" cars by looking in windows for visible valuables.

- Persons who work singly or in pairs carrying gym-type bags to collect stolen goods.

43. What thieves want from you. Everything from any visible valuables (even dirty laundry) to stereo systems to garage door openers for future entries. Heck, even air bags are stolen.