As of: March 28, 2024, 9:36 p.m
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Anyone who has ever found themselves in a dangerous situation often feels helpless. Parking lots and parking garages in particular can sometimes appear threatening. You should pay attention to these warning signs.
Munich – Sexual assaults on women are not uncommon. According to the
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM),
one in three women will be raped, beaten, forced to have sex or otherwise abused at some point in their lives. This is also the case in Germany - for example, the number of attacks in Munich is said to have increased in 2021. That's why there is more and more social media content about empowerment and self-help for women. A self-help video about sexual assault and sex trafficking in the USA is currently trending on TikTok - here a user describes how dangerous it can be for women in parking lots, what warning signs there are in your own car and how you can recognize them.
Parking spaces pose a potential danger for women - it is not without reason that there are women's parking spaces that men should not use. There are always reports of attempted assaults, especially when women are out alone or at night. In a TikTok video, the user explains what signs you should know to identify dangerous situations and protect yourself.
If there are some signs, women should be careful and not get in the car or get help, warns a TikToker. © Yosuke Tanaka/Aflo/Imago
1. If you have money in the windshield: It's better to stay away from the car
According to the TikTok video, if there is money in the windshield, it is a sign of a dangerous situation. The aim is for potential victims to take the money from the window so that the perpetrator has the opportunity to approach unnoticed.
What to do?
If you are not yet in the car but notice the money as you approach, you should get out of the situation as quickly as possible. If you notice the money when you are already in the car, don't get out and drive away.
2. Keep away from the car door handle: tissue or cable ties could pose dangers
If you find a handkerchief inside the door handle, you should definitely not touch it. The tissue could be soaked in drugs that can make hands numb or even cause fainting, according to the TikTok video.
What to do?
If you actually find a tissue, it's best to get into the car through another door.
In general, it's better to check the door handle carefully before getting in, rather than just getting in. In addition to the tissue trick, another sign is a cable tie wrapped around the door handle. The cable tie acts as a signal to perpetrators: a woman is traveling alone in this car.
What to do?
Check the surroundings and make sure that there is no imminent danger; if necessary, get help. Go home as quickly as possible - without or with a car, depending on the situation - and remove the cable tie.
3. Be careful – things could get dangerous here: shopping cart behind the car
If you find a shopping cart behind your car, you should be careful. Here the shopping cart is intentionally pushed behind the cart after you have already gotten in. It's a trick to get out again.
What to do?
If you find yourself in a situation like this, it's better not to get out and, in the best case scenario, drive away.
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Whether the tricks are real and women in Germany are being waylaid cannot be guaranteed, nor can the authenticity of the TikTok video itself. In it, an American user presents her personal opinion and experience on the topic.
Avoid dangers: These tips help – and not just in the car
To feel even safer, these tips can also help:
Don't get distracted:
Be attentive and check your surroundings. It's better not to look at your cell phone.
Share location:
If you feel unsafe, you can share your location with trusted people so that someone can get help in an emergency.
Pepper spray:
Many women always carry pepper spray with them to protect themselves from attackers.
Anti-harassment apps:
There are now numerous apps that are designed to help women cope with harassment, for example by making loud, shrill noises.
Get help:
When in doubt, it is better to get help once too often than too little. Be it the police, the cashier in the supermarket or another person in the parking lot - if you feel unsafe, you should not hesitate to talk to other people
Editor's note: This text has already appeared in the past. Many readers were particularly interested in it. That's why we're offering it again.
Dangers lurk not only in the real world, but often also in the virtual world: cyber criminals are similarly unrestrained when it comes to fraud.