I agree, I told my girls long ago to throw those keys as far as they could, even if he knocks you in the car try to drop them on the ground or throw them in the back seat. Anything! Just fight for time. Another thing that needs to be mentioned is for young women, and maybe older ones also, to be alert while shopping. Make a point of entering several stores or several different departments before you exit, not to shop, but to verify no one is following you. If you pay attention it is very easy to identify a stalker. DO NOT leave the safety of the mall or shopping center if you identify such, call the police and wait for an officer to show up. You might even catch one of these creeps and save some young woman’s life!
Please also advise all women & girls to be alert WHILE SHOPPING!
I was assaulted by a guy in a major discount department store, in a large city, on a Saturday at approximately 5:00 P.M. Luckily, I had taken self-defense and was able to break the guy’s hold on me. (I was looking at something on a shelf when he came around the corner and grabbed me). Upon seeing he was the same height/weight as me I gave chase and tackled him.
With hundreds if not thousands of people in the store it still took about 3 minutes of my yelling for help (I had the perp on the ground and was losing strength) before an older man accepted the “challenge” to help me.
The guy broke away from him and my attacker literally ran past HUNDREDS in line at the checkouts all the while I was yelling, chasing after him, STOP HIM... He got away, but an alert employee who worked by the door managed to get the guy’s bike out from under him as he tried to get away (yes, on a bicycle)...