The web site for the movie, Wal-Mart the High Cost of Low Price, lists approximately 70 serious crimes that were reportedly committed in Wal-Mart parking lots during the first 7 months of 2005, when the movie came out. Parking lot assaults and assaults in parking garages are not unique to Wal-Mart, though that big-box giant has been accused by some for years, of not taking seriously enough, crimes in its parking areas. Parking lots and garages can be inherently difficult places to make safe. Garages, for example, are often used during off hours when there is likely to be little traffic. They may be dark in spots, be designed so a user may have to wander about looking for their car or an exit door, and have multiple entrances and exits, making it easy for a criminal to escape unseen after committing a crime. Elevators or stairways, as well as structural elements such as large floor to ceiling posts, may provide cover where predators can hide or commit crimes. Rape, robbery, and other crimes of violence, are know to occur far too frequently in parking garages and parking lots.

While totally preventing crime in parking lots and garages is impossible, owners of the facilities that fail to take reasonable measures to prevent crime, should be held liable to anyone who is victimized by crime on their property. After all, parking lots and garages are operated to make a profit for the owners, either directly via parking fees, or indirectly by making it possible for people to drive to their stores. There are certain measures known throughout the parking facility industry to aid in crime reduction. Failure to take well-known steps to reduce crime, may be strong evidence of negligent failure to provide reasonable security, by the owner of any parking lot or garage where a serious crime is committed. The obligation to take steps to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur, is greatest, though certainly not exclusive, for owners of parking facilities where crimes have repeatedly occurred or that are located in high crime districts.

Lighting is a key crime prevention measure. There is no excuse to force users of parking lots and garages open at night, to have to cope with ill-lit areas. Poor lighting is often an invitation to crime. Security cameras and roving security personnel are additional measures that may have to be taken to reduce the risk of crime. In outdoor lots, shrubs and trees need to be situated and maintained in such a way that they do not provide easy cover for a criminal-in-waiting. The location of attendant booths is an important consideration, as is the location of any restrooms within the facility. The advent of parking garages that require payment to be made in a central location before exiting, in order to eliminate paid attendants, creates more isolation within the facility, and more responsibility on the facility owner to assess the risk for crime and to take ameliorative measures. Owners of large parking facilities should retain security professionals to evaluate the crime risk in the facility and to recommend the steps necessary for crime prevention. Failure to conduct such an assessment may another strong indication of negligent failure to take reasonable care to protect the parking facility users.