and jamie freeland, suing them all, saying it wasn't safe.lawyer giving us that tape. >> 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,