Most Common Parking Lot Crimes
Nearly 1,400 violent crimes occur in parking facilities every day, some of them with tragic consequences. Here are some of the most common parking lot crimes and steps people can take to avoid them.
A Tragic Robbery
In January of 2024, two Seattle-area teens went on a crime spree that ended with the loss of one elderly woman's life in a Costco parking lot. Ilyiss Abdi and Salman Haji rear-ended a woman in a rouse to steal her Porsche. When the woman got out to exchange information, they held a gun to her neck before taking off with her car, credit cards, and cash.
The pair drove the stolen car to another Costco in a nearby town, where they saw two elderly sisters, Mingyong Huang and Mingyuan Huang, loading groceries into their car. The teens tried to steal Mingyong's purse, but her sister intervened. Shortly after witnesses reported hearing a loud crack as Mingyuan was struck in the chest by a bullet. The assailants sped off in the stolen car leaving Mingyuan to die in the parking lot.
Why Are Parking Lots Hot Spots for Crime?
Not all parking lot crimes are as random and tragic as the incident that took the life of Mingyuan Huang. However, parking facilities are the third most common location for crime in the United States and it's easy to see why. Many have dark corners, multiple levels, poor line of sight and minimal security. Also, these are high-traffic areas where criminals can enter and hide in plain sight without arousing suspicion.
The most common crimes in parking facilities can be broken into three categories: theft from cars, theft of cars, and violent crimes.
Theft From Cars
Theft from cars includes any items stolen from inside the car or parts of the car itself. Generally, these thefts occur because the car was left unlocked, or valuables were left in sight. The most commonly stolen items include GPS devices, car radios, electronic devices, car speakers, license plates, catalytic converters, rims, and tires. Theft from cars makes up about 85% of car-related thefts.
Theft of Cars
Theft of cars makes up the remaining 15%. Most cars are stolen when parked on the street or on the owner's property. However, when a car is left unattended in a parking facility, the chances of it being stolen increase four times. The most common cause of car theft is teens stealing cars for joyriding.
Violent Crimes
All sorts of violent crimes, from murder to assault and kidnapping, regularly occur in parking facilities. More than 7% of all violent crimes in the U.S. occur in parking facilities, with 45,107 instances recorded between 2010 and 2020.
Tips for Staying Safe
With these alarming statistics in mind, visitors to parking lots must do what they can to stay safe. The Florida Sheriff's Association offers these tips for keeping safe in parking facilities:
- Park in well-lit areas of the facility when possible.
- Park as close to the door of the business as possible.
- Don't linger in parking facilities.
- Don't use your phone or other distractions when navigating parking lots.
- Lock your car doors.
- Roll up your windows.
- Put away valuables.
- Have your keys ready before approaching your vehicle.
Ultimately, there is no guaranteed way to stay safe in a public parking facility. Random violent crimes, like what happened to the Huang sisters, are always a possibility. However, following some of the above tips can help you stay as safe as possible when using public parking facilities.
References: Teen arrested, another on the run for murder of elderly woman at Tukwila Costco | Common Parking Lot Crimes | Thefts of and From Cars in Parking Facilities | STAY SAFE WITH THESE PARKING LOT SAFETY TIPS
