Just a word of caution to the Toledo Talk crowd. I work near Westfield Mall as a cashier. This evening a young lady was sitting alone in her car waiting for her mother who was in our store. A dark colored Jeep pulled up quickly next to the young lady and a man made quick motions for her to role down her window. She rolled it down only slightly and he asked her if she had any money. She quickly rolled her window up feeling threatened and she shook her head no. The Jeep pulled quickly out of the space and out of the parking lot - I had witnessed the Jeep leaving quickly. The lady then came into our store and waited in the lobby for her mother. This was a black male, dark colored clothes and dark Jeep.
What makes this a little remarkable is that this was the second time this occurred today to this young lady. Earlier in the day she was at Target and a car approached her in the same fashion asking for money. This was a different car, and was a younger white male.
I did contact a patrolman on the way home who verified that they had some elusive people driving around the area and TPD has been keeping an eye out because they were getting other reports. Fortunately, I have not heard of any thefts but the manner she was approached was in an abrasive, almost threatening way. If this occurs to you I would suggest contacting the TPD non emergency line at 419-245-3340. Any information would be helpful, especially a license plate, description and details.
With the increased Holiday shoppers out and about it might be good just to remember to be cautious and alert.
.. or find alternative places to shop. There have been several threads relating to the mall on TT. Sad really.
I dare one to ask me or approach me in a suspicious way. If I see one near a younger person or female, same result.
Hoops I in no way go out looking for trouble, but if it finds me I will use all legal options provided by the State of Ohio and the Ruger company to make it home to my family.
We are a glass-half-empty crowd.
You may be right DHR, but I'll be in the going home alive crowd.
3 weeks ago my wife and I stopped at the Rite Aid @ Monroe and Secor around 10pm after a movie and the "gentleman" who was the focus of the first thread began to approach us with the story of "I've driven all the way to Sylvania on Monroe and can't find a gas station (even though there is one on the adjacent corner) and he was now out of gas and needed money. I asked him to stop approaching us twice and then informed him I was armed and that my wife would be calling 911 if he came closer. He quickly turned around and went back to his van where 2 rather large "gentlemen" where waiting.
So you're going home with your glass half empty? What, you can't finish what you started?
I think the last time anything like this happened to me I told the would-be robber to fuck off. He left and we continued along our way.
Nothing against the "young lady", but a little common sense might suggest it is not wise for a young lady to sit alone, after dark, in a parked car in any mall parking lot. It's a shame we need to think this way, but a couple decades in bigger, meaner cities taught me to always put safety first!
I had a problem at the mall and I called the manager several days afterwards. She was out of town, but followed up within the week. The mall management might see a need for extra parking lot security this shopping season if people take the time to contact them. I would do the same for Target -- the store manager(s) and the property owners would be in a position to add a little extra security if they knew about specific incidents.
Funny, there was an aggressive female panhandler working the gas station at Giant Eagle in Rossford yesterday. Approached me from my blind-spot, no sob-story, no smile, just "Sir, do you have any change?" Didn't even wait for me to finish the word "no" and she turned on her heel and was off to pester another customer. Hey, time is money, right? As I pulled away, she was standing directly next to some poor guy finishing to pump his gas as if she was in line for something. Probably gonna' follow him up to the window and ask him when he had his wallet out.
I'm still alive and not living in fear, dbw.
Franklin Park needs to invest in 45 days of amped up security for the holiday season, with people shopping after dark and walking to their cars in a vast parking lot. Roaming patrols + available escorts to help customers to their cars and keep the wastrels away.
They are working S.Toledo also. I had a Black Jeep Liberty approach me while sitting at Biggby's in Foundation Park at Byrne and Glendale. A large African American man approached asking for gas money. He proceeded to aggressively ask everyone he approached for money. Thankfully I believe he left empty handed.
I've never had a problem or notice anything strange at Franklin Park, but I also do my best to avoid that hole.
I've never had a problem or notice anything strange at Franklin Park, but I also avoid it on Friday and Saturday nights. It's great during the weekdays when most everyone else is either at school or work.
Hey, OldHomeTown, how about some of us TT regulars volunteering to act as parking lot escorts? I've got some free time in the evenings. We could all carry flashlights and wear matching hats or reindeer sweatshirts or something. If anyone's interested, I will call the mall manager and see how this could be done. Beats sitting at home watching old TV specials. Anyone want to join up?
Have you looked at the crime stats at the mall? It may be good to know what you'd be trying to prevent. I have no idea if there are an unusual amount of crimes as the posts here have been speculation as to what could potentially happen and I haven't researched it. With that in mind, it could be a nice idea, viola.
Being careful and knowledgeable is not "living in fear", DHR.
The sad fact is, when a vehicle pulls up to yours and convinces you to open up a window or door (compromising physical security), then inquires about your money (exposing your wallet or purse), the chance is simply too high that a robbery is in progress, and that you should resist. The best way to resist is not to give in to those stupid, insane Liberal urges, and just refuse to comply with exposing your wallet or purse.
Toledoans are waking up from the dementia of Liberal propaganda, DHR. It's morning in Toledo. You can lay there asleep if you wish. The rest of us will be walking around enforcing a better point of view.
GZ makes a very good point. The fact is,"maybe" the panhandler is just looking for a handout. Then again, there's a very good point they are waiting for someone with a soft heart, (and a head to match), to whip out their wallet, or purse and make it that much easier to take from them.
Or "maybe" everyone here is just taking wild, fear-driven replies without any "knowledge" of what's actually happening.
I guess the "Liberal propaganda" here is that you shouldn't be a wuss online.
I wonder if this "Liberal propaganda" explains why I always carry, why I go anywhere I want at anytime, and I don't talk a tough game on the internet from the safety of my suburban home.
^- lol "why I always carry, why I go anywhere I want at anytime" forgive me I didn't know we where talking to Chuck Norris Toledo Ranger. You are the only one getting aggressive and doing he bad guy dance.
I just said I'll use all the rights provided by the Us Constitution & The State of Ohio. I didn't scream or curse at our panhandler friend, I just informed his of what would happen of he continued to approach us late at night in a dim light parking lot. I went inside the Rite Aid and informed the people who worked there had they stated they had been there for about 2 hours and they had called he police over an hour ago to inform them they where harassing customers.
I usually disregard the silly banter on the postings. One thing I want to express though after reading a few comments is that when an incident often occurs it is very quick and you're mind doesn't get a chance to slow the action down and process what is occurring before making a decision. That is why you're initial instinct might be to roll a window down thinking a person needs help but in reality this might give them an opportunity to gain entry into your vehicle.
Th initial posting is a reminder to stay alert, especially this holiday season. A lot of younger people "and older" are engaged in texting or talking on a cell phone in areas where they need to be paying attention.
Just a reminder - stay alert.
Very good point about the texting, Danneskold. I just spent some time with young friends who were texting nonstop during every traffic journey, while waiting in line for anything, and during any conversation that momentarily excluded their interests. There are whole generations growing up who see no need to pay any attention to their surroundings, even for 30 seconds, if they don't have to. It will be very interesting to see what happens in the future. Maybe people can text each other "OMG dont open window, bum askg 4 $s!"
I think dbw666 needs to reread this thread.
This place is full of babies.