Spruce Up Your Holiday with Safe Shopping Tips

Posted Jan 4, 2008

Genesee Valley Center urges holiday shoppers to put safety first, provides crime prevention tips.

Flint, MI, October 26, 2007 – The Friday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for shoppers and for criminals. To spruce up your holiday season with happy memories, Genesee Valley Center has worked with the Flint Township Police Department and IPC International, the nation’s leading provider of public safety services for shopping centers, on the top 15 tips to help shoppers avoid criminals and have an enjoyable and safe shopping experience.

The following safety tips should be observed while shopping and are good lessons for whenever you are at a venue that attracts a large volume of people:

1. Park as close to your destination as you can and in a well-lit location.

2. Let someone know your plans and estimated arrival time.

3. Keep track of your credit cards; tear up all carbons and save receipts.

4. Keep a list of your credit card numbers in a safe place.

5. When shopping anywhere, keep purses closed and close to your body; keep wallets in your breast pocket. Do not flash large sums of money.

6. Make sure your car is always locked and that shopping bags and other valuables are stored out of sight.

7. Know where your children are at all times.

8. If someone stops you to ask for assistance, do not get out of your car.

9. Have car keys in hand before you get to your car. Have house keys in hand before you get out of your car at home.

10. If you are leaving the building and someone approaches you, return to the building and contact security.

11. When you return to your car, be aware of what’s going on around you. Look in the back seat and check the door handles and locks.

12. If someone approaches your car, lock the doors, turn on the headlights and sound the horn.

13. If someone demands your keys or anything else, give it to them immediately. Change your locks immediately if your house keys are taken.

14. If you are entering a parking lot and see someone who you think might be a threat, stay in your car, lock the doors and leave.

15. You can help keep crime under control by reporting any suspicious activity to security officers or police officers.

“Most crimes are crimes of opportunity and increasing general shopper awareness can help prevent incidents,” said Ryan Hagler, security director at Genesee Valley Center. “The shopping tips provided will help shoppers divert those opportunities. However, the most important tip for everyone is to use common sense and remain vigilant at all times. Don’t let your guard down.”

“We want this holiday season to be a time of joy and celebration for our shoppers,” said General Manager, Ed McHale. “We hope these tips will help them to be more alert.”

Genesee Valley Center, managed by Jones Lang LaSalle, is located on Miller and Linden Roads in Flint Township. Genesee Valley Center is the largest shopping center north of metro Detroit and is the first regional mall to add an outdoor shopping experience connected to their existing building. The dynamic retail mix features more than 130 retailers, the first Bar Louie Restaurant in Michigan and such tenants as Victoria’s Secret, Hollister, Bandolino, Coldwater Creek, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and anchors Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears and Burlington Coat Factory. For the latest mall events and information, visit geneseemall.com.

About Jones Lang LaSalle Retail

In the United States, Jones Lang LaSalle Retail is the largest third-party shopping center manager with a 35 million-square-foot portfolio of more than 60 regional malls and transportation terminals across 25 states. Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) is the world’s leading real estate services and money management firm with a portfolio of 966 million square feet of property under management worldwide, including more than 280 shopping centers on four continents. For more information on Jones Lang LaSalle Retail, visit www.jllretail.com

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