Parking Lot Bum Encounter... could have handled it better.

A

azredhawk44

Moderator
I joined a softball league a few weeks ago and ran into WalMart to pick up a bat for practice.

Walking out of the store I go up to my truck with bat in hand, key the door open and a semi-toothless fella hollers to me to wait for a second.

Sigh... exasperated by panhandler bum, I wait for a second, toss the bat into the passenger side of the truck.

Alleged bum says, "Don't worry, you won't need that."

I almost actually start laughing. Damn straight I don't need it, I'm thinking. Aside from the .45 concealed on my hip opposite from you, I also have 19 years of martial arts training. Didn't even consider the bat as a weapon.

I get the typical parking lot panhandler sob story about the Salvation Army can't help him until Friday, and his family is "somewhere" in the parking lot and they are living out of their car and could I please help them out with something...

But the guy was too close for my comfort by a fraction of a foot. I was standing in the open door to my truck, right foot slightly forward to him (I'm left handed). He was probably standing even with my gas cap, about 3 feet away.

He was so close that all my attention was on him, and I got a feeling that he was looking behind me occasionally. Wasn't certain if he had a buddy or not, but I wasn't comfortable taking my eyes off of him to check.

I told him that no, I wasn't going to help him and I wished him luck, but shifted a bit more for a potential draw and brought my left hand up to my pocket, closer to the pistol on my hip. Pretty much prepared to strike at him with the right side of my body while drawing with the left.

I just got the most hinky feeling from him, you know? The pre-emptive "you don't need that bat", the crowding of me so I didn't feel safe, monopolizing my attention.

Anyone know of any criminal trends to mug people along these lines?

Or was my mall-ninja-fu too strong this day?

In retrospect, keeping the bat in hand would have been smarter... it was a legitimate purchase with receipt still in hand, documentable alibi for using it for sporting purposes, so carrying it would not be brandishing at all in this instance. Would have kept bum more off balance and precluded his closeness, I think.

Having my back covered by the open door was also probably good, though it eliminated one avenue of retreat if necessary.

Verdict?
 
The interview phase always begins with social transgressions to see how the prospective mark will react.

Whether or not they actually have any violence in mind or not, the person who wants something from you is going to push your comfort zones to look for fear or excessive compliance. He may have had no intent to physically harm you, but he sure would have been willing to take anything you gave him, and making you uncomfortable enough to essentially bribe him to go away is part of that.

If I am trying to get somewhere, I maintain a level gaze and give a flat "Hey, sorry, buddy..." while continuing on with my business, my theory being that I am obviously acknowledging their presence and therefore averting a "Hey, I'm talkin' to you!" response, but also showing that I'm not rattled and am not going to stop what I am doing.
 
In retrospect, keeping the bat in hand would have been smarter... it was a legitimate purchase with receipt still in hand, documentable alibi for using it for sporting purposes, so carrying it would not be brandishing at all in this instance. Would have kept bum more off balance and precluded his closeness, I think.
Click to expand...

Just this... :)
 
A pre-emptive "Hey, No thanks" before they start their loop always gives them a little pause. After that, interrupt with "Hey, tell me what your gonna tell me from over there". Interrupt and deflect.
 
"Hey can I talk to you for a second?"

"No."

That's how I usually do it. The one time someone didn't take no for an answer sure got turned around quick when I started giving off "Maybe I have a gun" vibes...
 
I am a crass ol' redneck that has also done my time as a biker (not to be confused with an enthusiast) thus I have a tendency to not mind to use verbiage that offends many but also gets across my lack of concern with the financial dire straits of the bum. I also know many that make over 50K per year tax free. My reply usually starts with a term that implies a female dog, backed by the announcement that I am as broke or moreso then the bum..
Brent
 
Sounds like you handled it pretty well and were in "condition orange". (Aware of your surroundings and on guard) But I wonder what would have happened if you were open carrying?
 
If you spot a bum approaching you, you quickly walk up to him, violate his comfort zone and ask him for a handout before he has the chance to ask you. I have an acquaintence who likes to do this.:D
 
I like that...

Damned bums. Not even real bums. Fake bums.

I've seen news exposes on them in Seattle where they tailed highway panhandlers after they left their "shift" at an exit, back to Jeep Cherokees and back to 4 bedroom homes.

Yeah, I think the next bums that come to me for money are gonna get a different response. Make their lifestyle as difficult and unpleasant as legally possible. Perhaps start tailing them around the parking lot for 5-10 minutes, ruining their ability to approach anyone.
 
We've had a few people mugged in the Wal-Mart parking lot and one kidnapping. I don't wait for them to follow me. I walk up to them and turn the tables on them.
 
I've seen news exposes on them in Seattle where they tailed highway panhandlers after they left their "shift" at an exit, back to Jeep Cherokees and back to 4 bedroom homes.
Click to expand...

Yep, 20/20 or one of those shows did an episode where the panhandler (a women in this case) actually fully co-operated with them. She showed them her apartment, I believe she even filed tax returns IIRC, she even wore a hidden camera while she "worked". She dressed like a business women all the rest of the time and put on a nasty old carhart type thing over her regular clothes when she "worked"


To the OP, I think you did just fine. Others with less hand-to-hand may be better off with other tactics but after 19 years, well, you should be OK I would think.
 
It happens around here, too. My most successful method of fending
them off is, as I see them approaching, I raise my left arm out stiff,
hand up, about chest level, and in a stern and loud voice say...
"I'm sorry, bud, I'm in a hurry and I don't have time for chit-chat.".
And I keep on walking to my vehicle, seemingly paying them no mind at all.
Of course I am keeping tabs on them peripherally.

So far it has worked every time.

Walter
 
Another thing you can do is keep moving. Walk to the other side of your truck, look in the back (all while paying attention to him). Walk briskly and fast so he'll have a hard time keeping up; change directions often and just seem like you're busy (doing whatever it is that makes you not crazy). This way you can keep your distance from him and can try to keep the truck between you and the bum.
 
I am a crass ol' redneck that has also done my time as a biker (not to be confused with an enthusiast)
Click to expand...

that's good!

My uncle uses his Eastern Euro sour look and a tough guy Eastern Euro accent, and when a bum starts to approach, he preempts them by looking at them and saying "HEY GUY YOU GOT DOLLAR?" before they can even get a word out. They stop, look slightly befuddled and quickly change direction, works like a charm for him :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top