and jamie freeland, suing them all, saying it wasn't safe.. >> there's no police, there's no security. there's nothing stopping these people. >> reporter: short hills mall tonight insisting safety is a top priority. so, going into this holiday season, what can you do to stay safe? >> parking where you have a lot of different cars around, like these big cars, people can be hiding behind these things. >> reporter: we took a ride with joe, who told us what criminals look for. what should people look out for during the holiday season in parking lots like this? >> always get yourself a spot near a light or an entranceway. keep your eyes going on what's around you. don't be distracted by your cell phones. and save the most expensive things for last. >> reporter: the keys to keeping the holidays as happy as possible. for "nightline," ryan smith, abc news, new jersey. >> our thanks to ryan smith for that report and our thanks to you for watching "nightline" tonight. tune into "gma" first thing in the morning and, as always, we're online 24/7 at abcne