New Tactic

[dicion]

I have had people approach me because they needed information and I looked like the safest person to ask, even above the clerks in the convenience store.

You may not know it, but if you are working on or around an intersection, apparently there is an invisible 'INFORMATION' lettering that gets emblazoned on your safety vest, that only you cannot see.
Everyone else in the city apparently CAN see it, however, and will proceed to ask you where everything is.

The bums also tend to hassle you too, but I have a complete script for them ready. It goes something like this:

Bum: "Excuse me sir, I was wondering..."
Me: "Stop. Look at me. Look at what I do. I work on traffic signals, downtown. Do you think you're the first today? Do you think you'll be the last? Please turn around, and leave me to my business. Thank you"

Most of them just stare with an open mouth for a second... then turn around and leave.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

KeithB:
Interesting tale from your workplace.

If I recall correctly, isn't your workplace directly across the street from the Plano cop shop?

If so, you'd think evildoers would give your place a wider berth.

SIA

[Abraham]

A few years back there was a woman, cruising the parking lot, with her window rolled down and a small child in the back blurted out her car window very quickly - blah, blah, hard luck story told in what sounded like a well rehearsed, droning monologue.

This took place in the parking lot of Walmart on El Dorado in the Clear Lake area. I always park far from the crowd as I don't like to get out in a door to door vehicle environment and don't mind walking a few more paces for the extra space. She made a bee-line for me as I was loading my stuff into my vehicle.

I knew from the way she hit me up it was a bogus story.

Time passed and sure enough she did it again - same place - same story.

I told her she was going to have get a new story as I heard that one already from her - she promptly drove off.

If you're like me and park where it's not so crowded, you may want to have your situational awareness factor on high alert as this isn't the first time someone suspicious has approached me in a park lot.

Apparently, those of us who appreciate space are more likely to be approached...next time it may not be a beggar.

[NTexas_V-Star]

Abraham, I've had the same thing happen to me too.

At the Walmart in Sherman Texas at the intersection of highways 75 and 82, I've had a guy approach me numerous times.

Like you, I park in the back 1/3 of the lot, to avoid dings (to my vehicle, and anyone elses; i'm a little clumsy at times)

Anyways, on with the story: I've been at the same job for 6 years now, and I'm 24 years old. Ever since I've worked here, there has been an older gentleman that comes to the pawnshop next to my work, and pawns big ladders. Lets call him Fro. Like, twice a week. Popular theory is that he steals them from construction sites. While he's here, he always asks to clean our office window for some cash. We decline. He leaves.

Cue Hurricane Katrina. "Refugees" out the wazoo, sob stories galore. Granted, some of them may have been true, but their were shelters and whatnot set up, so I felt no urge to hand over cash to people hitting me up in the Arby's drive thru, know what I mean?

Anyways, Fro came up to me in the Walmart parking lot, telling me how he had fled the coast just ahead of Katrina, and now he needed to get some cash to try and make it back home, blah blah blah. If I hadn't seen the guy weekly for a couple years at that point, I may have offered to buy him some gas. Anyways, I told him that I knew him, and "Hey man, that was a sweet extension ladder you brought in the other day". He goes about his day, as do I.

THE NEXT WEEK, he does it again. Same story. I gave him a cigarette then reminded him who I was. Lol.


This was long before I had gotten my CHL, but I'm glad I have it now, because with crime on the rise, it may not be someone looking for a handout that comes up to me in the back part of the lot next time.

[Keith B]

KeithB:
Interesting tale from your workplace.

If I recall correctly, isn't your workplace directly across the street from the Plano cop shop?

If so, you'd think evildoers would give your place a wider berth.

SIA

Actually, my office is in Richardson along 75.

As of last week there had been 35 burglaries of motor vehicles in the Richardson jurisdiction in August. These 'smash and grabber's' target businesses with a lot of vehicles and try to blend into the normal flow of folks coming and going. They do their surveillance, then target something that is easy pickings and hightail it out of the parking lot.

There was one case this month where a lady was at the gym and took time to hide her GPS in the console, but left a diamond ring in the cup holder.
Another case was where they broke into the car to look under a blanket because they thought something was hidden under it.

It really falls back to the Lock, Take, Hide program that many police departments are pushing right now. Bottom line, make sure there is nothing left out were they can see it, lock your car and you will probably be left alone.

[arnoldstrong]

excellent work OP...can't say i'd have been so observant---guess i have some work to do

[surprise_i'm_armed]

KeithB
Thanks for correcting my mistaken impression about your work site.

The DMN (Dallas Morning Snooze) recently had an article stating the the Richardson/Plano
Telecom Corridor isn't as concentrated with telecom co's as it used to be.

Some of the telecom companies starting up or moving to the DFW area are spreading out
more across the Metroplex.

SIA

[Lindy]

"A superior gunman is best defined as one who regularly uses his superior judgement, awareness, and communication skills, to avoid situations which require the use of his superior shooting and tactical skills!" --John Farnam

The best fight is the one avoided.