[brownie]

Moving through the parking lot and you're 3 rows from your vehicle when you see two males standing around at your vehicle. You slow the walk, then stop to observe before getting two car rows from your vehicle.

They are still just milling around and appear to be up to no good. You then see two more males two rows to your right seem to be just milling around. They aren't approaching anyone walking by them, and most people seem to be oblivious to them as they rush on by to their own vehicles.

You continue to observe both "teams" for how long before you do what?

 

[mike1956]

Moving through the parking lot and you're 3 rows from your vehicle when you see two males standing around at your vehicle. You slow the walk, then stop to observe before getting two car rows from your vehicle.

They are still just milling around and appear to be up to no good. You then see two more males two rows to your right seem to be just milling around. They aren't approaching anyone walking by them, and most people seem to be oblivious to them as they rush on by to their own vehicles.

You continue to observe both "teams" for how long before you do what?

I'm showing them all how well my flashlight works on its 1600 lumen setting. They probably won't be able to see that I've gone gun in hand as I wait to see what develops. We move back in the direction we came in the meantime. What happens next depends on which way they move.

 

[deadeyedick]

I'm pulling my gun out and holding it down at my side, then asking these dipshits if they need something.

 

[Shark1007]

Call mall security, tell them you think some guys are trying to break into a car. Watch from a distance and see if they beat the security guards ass and steal his golf cart with the flashing yellow light.

 

[BeerHunter]

Moving through the parking lot and you're 3 rows from your vehicle when you see two males standing around at your vehicle. You slow the walk, then stop to observe before getting two car rows from your vehicle.

They are still just milling around and appear to be up to no good. You then see two more males two rows to your right seem to be just milling around. They aren't approaching anyone walking by them, and most people seem to be oblivious to them as they rush on by to their own vehicles.

You continue to observe both "teams" for how long before you do what?

I'm likely diverting away from my vehicle and heading back toward the theater entrance (my theater of choice has very well lit covered dropoff/pickup area and a valet service open till after the last movie let's out well after midnight) and calling theater security while continuing to observe from a safe distance. If they continue linger and "creep with intent to mope" and/or security isn't responding, I'll be calling 9-1-1 explaining that four apparent suspicious characters appear to be waiting at my car in the parking lot making both my wife and me fear that we're being targeted for a robbery and we're in fear for our safety.

 

[joecarry]

Stop, go back inside and alert security.

 

[Anduril]

I walk over to my car, as usual, and if they say anything to me, I'll ask them if they'd like me to wait while they go get significant reinforcements.

Sort of like this scene from the movies:

 

[tom_rob]

I’m probably going to observe for 30 seconds, no sense spending more time. If the 4 persons are still milling around my vehicle, I’m going to head back into the theatre and request security (mall security, I get it) walk with us to the vehicle. There’s safety in numbers, and witnesses. If theatre security doesn’t feel comfortable and calls for LEO intervention, so be it.
I’m not going to approach that vehicle with just my significant other.
TR

 

[7.62Kolectr]

Something very similar happened to me and my then girlfriend who’s now my wife. We were coming out of theater at city place years ago and in the garage walking toward my car. Three middle aged dudes come out from a row of cars and were focusing on us. She was not even paying attn when I put my left arm in front of her redirecting her behind me and with strong eye contact I looked the ‘leader’ in the eyes and said firmly ‘IT AINT WORTH IT!’. By now she was aware. They stopped, turned and walked the other way.
That was probably our 3rd or 4th date but on that night she found out why I always want her left of me and that I carry. Sweep her out of the way and behind me. Didn’t draw but right side was clear and I was willing. Simple situational awareness and a firm voice prevented any thing else.

 

[Rick McC.]

Call mall security, tell them you think some guys are trying to break into a car. Watch from a distance and see if they beat the security guards ass and steal his golf cart with the flashing yellow light.

Funny, but a good idea no less!

 

[Ronnie948]

Call mall security, tell them you think some guys are trying to break into a car. Watch from a distance and see if they beat the security guards ass and steal his golf cart with the flashing yellow light.

Yep, I would go back in and have the security walk me to my car. I would also check to make sure I am not being followed home.
Ronnie

 

[Calimwulf]

Moving through the parking lot and you're 3 rows from your vehicle when you see two males standing around at your vehicle. You slow the walk, then stop to observe before getting two car rows from your vehicle.

They are still just milling around and appear to be up to no good. You then see two more males two rows to your right seem to be just milling around. They aren't approaching anyone walking by them, and most people seem to be oblivious to them as they rush on by to their own vehicles.

You continue to observe both "teams" for how long before you do what?

I'm going to stop the family from moving forward and direct them to move back to the well lit sidewalk in front of the theater using our 'potential danger' phrase.

I'll keep an eye out for aggressive forward movement towards us during the tactical retreat and be ready to respond at need.

I'll talk to security if there is any, or my wife will call the police at the non emergency number for the area once we reach relative safety.

 

[JakeE]

I'm showing them all how well my flashlight works on its 1600 lumen setting. They probably won't be able to see that I've gone gun in hand as I wait to see what develops. We move back in the direction we came in the meantime. What happens next depends on which way they move.

Best answer right here

 

[bladenbullet]

Not my fight...head back in or observe from a safe distance without drawing attention...I'm not walking into a potential ambush and have no idea if there are any others in vehicles nearby watching the peripheral...I can't see if they are armed either...

I'm game for notifying mall security and letting them make a decision...let's see if the second feature is as good as the first...

 

[CDW4ME]

If I'm leaving anywhere at 10:30 PM things have already gone wrong.

 

[Avmech]

I know how far the remote for my vehicles works, hit the panic button and observe with head on a swivel, weapon in hand but not in plain sight………….yet

 

[gatorhazard]

The sensible thing to do has been said. Go back into the theater and notify management and security. Proceed from there. With numbers now, and armed, I don’t mind walking back to my car while my wife waits inside for me to retrieve car and pull up to the front curb to get the door for her but probably let them handle it on their own or for them to call police.

 

[Aleistia]

Invest in a home theater.
As someone who enjoys film and not the chaos public theaters invite, I recommend watching movies at home. That being said, it's hard to replicate the "movie-going experience" unless you spend a bunch outfitting your house, and lots of people do enjoy the shared experience (myself excluded). Also, I understand not wanting to wait for the "window" - that time between the premiere going to streaming/disk.
So, say I am in this parking lot situation: you guys have already covered the details above. As a female:
#1. I am with my SO.
#2. I let him take the lead in any conversation with the "teams".
#3. We are armed, not that we will need to use force, as we will do as stated above and head back inside, call security, etc.
Walk close to the vehicles - not exposed in the middle of the lot, in case you need to take cover.

In the event someone accosts you by rushing up while you are getting in the car - slam the door on their hand/body, use the car as your shield, and be prepared to use your tools - keys, etc. to harm them.
Prevent this from happening by not walking through parking lots at night (something I had to do a lot as a teen/YA when I worked nights and took the bus home in ATL.) Those nights alone gave me plenty of time to paint mental pictures and prepare for the worst. And, yes, by plotting out and paying attention, I did not have to implement the techniques, which did include the old eye gouge.

 

[milkmanjoe]

I’m with Shark on this one.

But I’m in bed by 9:30 and rarely out after dark.
Well, except tonite as I’ll be in Charleston visiting my daughter at college. BUT, car gets parked at garage with security and I’ll walk half a block to the hotel/restaurant.
When traveling I don’t check pricing, I check closeness to minimize possible encounters.

 

[Shark1007]

We have never tried it but my wife’s Tesla has a “smart summon“ feature where you can click a button on your app on your smart phone and the car will back out of the spot and drive up to where you are standing. That would really piss off some gangbangers I would think.