Assault Downsouth!

[RobDownSouth]

Had an adventure late this afternoon. I bundled up a bunch of clothes that don't fit me anymore and drove down to the Goodwill Donation Center. It's about 5 miles away in a rather sketchy area of town.

Put my used clothes in the donation bins, was walking to my car through the parking lot, which was packed. I walked between two cars and an older guy blocked my way. He held up his hands and said "Hey, I'm not asking for money but I need a favor.." and started walking aggresively towards me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a woman come up behind me, with her hand in her purse, and I have an "oh shit" moment....

<Insert Flashback> Two years ago, a woman I worked with got mugged in broad daylight by this EXACT same technique, pinned between two parked cars. Someone pushed her down from behind, she had her purse stolen<End Flashback>

I immediately turned around, started walking fast, the woman attempted to just stand there and block my way, I simply gave her a two-hand push and kept walking. Right into the Goodwill center, where there was an armed guard at the door. I asked him to call the police, and as I did we heard tires squealing and the couple that tried to stop me were burning rubber out of the parking lot.

The #UsualSuspects will be along shortly to share their Rambo-esque gun fantasies.

 

[smoothg103rd]

They shoulda robbed your punk ass.

 

[Littlefinger]

Quick thinking. Glad you got outta there alright, Bob. Some people gotta try and get one over on people. Why the Goodwill parking lot though? Why not try to mug people who might actually have some good money or cards on them?

We had a purse snatcher in my store about 2 years ago. I was coming through the auto door to come in for work and the bastard couldn't wait for the "out" door to open and shoved past me. I thought "Rude!" saw the purse in his hand and thought he was running something out to someone who had forgotten it. We live in a fairly small town, so, I didn't think anything of it until my supervisor and a maintenance guy came rushing out the store doors after him. Not long after that they began making us ID people before selling medicines with some decongestant in it. Apparently we have a meth problem in the area now.

 

[bronzeage]

Had an adventure late this afternoon. I bundled up a bunch of clothes that don't fit me anymore and drove down to the Goodwill Donation Center. It's about 5 miles away in a rather sketchy area of town.

Put my used clothes in the donation bins, was walking to my car through the parking lot, which was packed. I walked between two cars and an older guy blocked my way. He held up his hands and said "Hey, I'm not asking for money but I need a favor.." and started walking aggresively towards me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a woman come up behind me, with her hand in her purse, and I have an "oh shit" moment....

<Insert Flashback> Two years ago, a woman I worked with got mugged in broad daylight by this EXACT same technique, pinned between two parked cars. Someone pushed her down from behind, she had her purse stolen<End Flashback>

I immediately turned around, started walking fast, the woman attempted to just stand there and block my way, I simply gave her a two-hand push and kept walking. Right into the Goodwill center, where there was an armed guard at the door. I asked him to call the police, and as I did we heard tires squealing and the couple that tried to stop me were burning rubber out of the parking lot.

The #UsualSuspects will be along shortly to share their Rambo-esque gun fantasies.

Good move.

 

[Que]

Actually, even if armed you did exactly the right thing. You had no reason to shoot. (Yet) You did the opposite of what they wanted you to do by refusing to accept that the woman was not a valid exit point. If it was two men you definitely bull through the smaller of the two.

I don't at all dispute your account but I'd have to almost see a diagram to figure out how they set you up. It's hard to do without raising suspicions. Having one be a woman helps.

Two guys loitering but not together means one can move into your blind spot and most people have a natural aversion to having anyone in their blind spot. Try it walking down a street sometime. Get in someone's blind spot behind them and they will naturally move left or right to acquire you in their peripheral vision.

 

[Killswitch]

Actual video footage of the event.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/95aa21b96e88401930bf4917c6edf5be/tumblr_mjpqkhCcZl1s1jfvbo1_400.gif

 

[Tryharder62]

Wow, that is scary! I am glad you are OK.

You are a very good story teller by the way - a flashback and everything.

Glad things went the right way for a change.

 

[smoothg103rd]

Actual video footage of the event.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/95aa21b96e88401930bf4917c6edf5be/tumblr_mjpqkhCcZl1s1jfvbo1_400.gif

Lol!.

 

[smoothg103rd]

I'm not running from a guy and a female. I'll take my chances.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Quick thinking. Glad you got outta there alright, Bob. Some people gotta try and get one over on people. Why the Goodwill parking lot though? Why not try to mug people who might actually have some good money or cards on them?

We had a purse snatcher in my store about 2 years ago. I was coming through the auto door to come in for work and the bastard couldn't wait for the "out" door to open and shoved past me. I thought "Rude!" saw the purse in his hand and thought he was running something out to someone who had forgotten it. We live in a fairly small town, so, I didn't think anything of it until my supervisor and a maintenance guy came rushing out the store doors after him. Not long after that they began making us ID people before selling medicines with some decongestant in it. Apparently we have a meth problem in the area now.

I'm embarrassed to share this, but about 15 years ago I was walking into a Home Depot and woman came running out as fast as she could, with a guy about 70 yards behind her. She screamed "It's my ex-husband, he's violating a restraining order, help me!"

Well, you have a split-second to make a decision...I stepped in front of the guy and kept him from passing me, he was pretty winded and screaming at her and furious with me....

Turns out he was store security and she was a shoplifter.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Wow, that is scary! I am glad you are OK.

You are a very good story teller by the way - a flashback and everything.

Glad things went the right way for a change.

Toastmasters helped me learn how to do flashbacks...they're difficult to do in speeches.

I'm thinking there's a speech in here.

 

[FGB]

Getting one's ass out of a bind alive and unhurt if possible is the main thing.

Happy it worked out that way. Not everyone keeps a cool head in a emergency situation.

I'm not one to go blasting unnecessarily and I hope I never have to.

But if I'm in a someone going to get hurt or dead situation...it's not going to be me.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Actual video footage of the event.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/95aa21b96e88401930bf4917c6edf5be/tumblr_mjpqkhCcZl1s1jfvbo1_400.gif

Pretty much. I "walked with purpose".

 

[Mr Noone]

I thought this was going to be about the stuff going down in Sydney.

 

[Killswitch]

Pretty much. I "walked with purpose".

You probably pegged your fit-bit.

The girls wanting one of those when the better performance one comes out next year.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Getting one's ass out of a bind alive and unhurt if possible is the main thing.

Happy it worked out that way. Not everyone keeps a cool head in a emergency situation.

I'm not one to go blasting unnecessarily and I hope I never have to.

But if I'm in a someone going to get hurt or dead situation...it's not going to be me.

In all honesty, if I hadn't recognized the situation as being exactly the same as what happened to my co-worker, I'd probably have been some sort of statistic. I know I've railed against gun nuts in the past about the value of "constant situational awareness", but I let my guard down a bit today.

 

[RobDownSouth]

You probably pegged your fit-bit.

The girls wanting one of those when the better performance one comes out next year.

I laughed out loud....gonna have to check my Apple iHealth! I just had my HRM on at the gym today too!

Add Manual Entry: Parking Lot Evasion - 4 minutes. Top Heart Rate: 200.

 

[FGB]

In all honesty, if I hadn't recognized the situation as being exactly the same as what happened to my co-worker, I'd probably have been some sort of statistic. I know I've railed against gun nuts in the past about the value of "constant situational awareness", but I let my guard down a bit today.

Still, You did good ya big lug!

 

[smoothg103rd]

If a man try you while he is with a woman, he thinks you are soft. Especially in a robbery attempt. Bob you must look like a pussy, and a lightweight. In all honestly.

 

[Que]

I'm embarrassed to share this, but about 15 years ago I was walking into a Home Depot and woman came running out as fast as she could, with a guy about 70 yards behind her. She screamed "It's my ex-husband, he's violating a restraining order, help me!"

Well, you have a split-second to make a decision...I stepped in front of the guy and kept him from passing me, he was pretty winded and screaming at her and furious with me....

Turns out he was store security and she was a shoplifter.

Lol.

More of this. Less of the other.

 

[Killswitch]

Good for donating the clothes anyhow. I saw several hundred people in line at a mission across from the hospital. Even had a schmuck get me with the window washing but it was cool because they needed it.

 

[Mr_Jon_Thon]

Cause meth heads are known for their critical thinking skills.

 

[Littlefinger]

I'm embarrassed to share this, but about 15 years ago I was walking into a Home Depot and woman came running out as fast as she could, with a guy about 70 yards behind her. She screamed "It's my ex-husband, he's violating a restraining order, help me!"

Well, you have a split-second to make a decision...I stepped in front of the guy and kept him from passing me, he was pretty winded and screaming at her and furious with me....

Turns out he was store security and she was a shoplifter.

Heh, it happens. I'm not used to assuming the worst of someone right off the bat and those little old ladies are always leaving their stuff behind.

 

[Skiddles2014]

If you were a real american male, you would have shot them.

Now I know you're a fake!

 

[Wrong Element]

Quick thinking. Glad you got outta there alright, Bob. Some people gotta try and get one over on people. Why the Goodwill parking lot though? Why not try to mug people who might actually have some good money or cards on them?

Just a guess, but maybe the thinking is that the sort of good citizen who would be donating to Goodwill might be more apt to pause and listen to a sob story.

People who approach you in any sort of aggressive manner are invariably con artists, even if they aren't out to rob you. I've heard some pretty phenomenal stories in my time. I once had the experience of being told by a black panhandler that I was ignoring him (I didn't even actually ignore him) because he was black, and have a white guy a few days later tell me I wasn't helping him because he was white. Neither was true; I am an equal opportunity cynic.