Consider not carrying a purse. Purse snatchers aim at women carrying bags with a purse dangling from the arms. Disperse your money in several pockets. Be sure to get your credit card back and never allow a clerk to swipe the card twice or copy down your number. Credit card fraud by retail personnel is rampant.
Child molesters target shopping malls because they know moms are preoccupied.
Never leave purchases in plain sight inside a car. Ask a mall security officer to escort you to your car. Armed robbery in the parking lots is very common. Be alert to threats like cars circling the lots and people aimlessly wandering the lots. Notify mall security.