what happened at the Shopping Center

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#20fan

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Went to a local shopping center the other day to pick up some drinks.
As I was pulling in to the parking lot I saw a gentelman walking around
like he had no place to be but shouldn't have been there.
I parked and went in the store and he seemed to follow me around. I went up and down isles keeping an eye on him in the security mirrors around the top of the walls, he always went where he could see me, made me nervous.
Went to the checkout and he passed behind me and headed for the exit
but stopped before going out the door. I asked the checker if there was security on duty. She said no so I payed for my items and went toward the exit, bag in my left hand as I am right handed. As I passed by him and started out the automatic door he stepped in right behind me, almost lock step. As I exited the door I made an immediate right and walked back in the store through the other auto door!
The guy just stood there and looked at me stupidly then walked off.
I called the local SO and reported it. He saw me on the phone and bolted.
When I told my Cousin about it he said "that guy dosen't know how lucky he was, you could of had your gun"
My wife replied "that guy dosen't know how lucky he was, 'cause he DID have his gun."
I really am interested in opinions, do you think I handled this right?
Should I have confronted the man to determine his motives?
I know I can't be the keeper of man but what if he went on to harm someone else?
 
I think you handled it fine, you threw him off enough to eliminate any threat he posed at the time.

They may always go somewhere else to try again, but as you said, you can't protect everyone...going to confront him would have possibly escalated the situation. All in all, I would have done the same thing.

Going back into the store was not what he expected...good move.
 
I agree.... you handled it well. It could have escalated but you threw him off by being aware of your surroundings and preventing it to go to the next level. There is no sense in forcing an escalation when you can walk away. It's the smart thing to do if there is no immediate threat.

Someone give that dude a cookie!
 
After reading your story, I am left wondering why he picked you. I mean, are you a small man with a limp? Were there no other customers? Are you wearing a Rolex and gold chain?
Please don't take offense, I simply wonder what he thought made you a better target than anyone else. If you are a 6'5" dude with a beard and lumberjack build, I have to wonder if his intentions weren't somewhat less sinister.
In any case, you did the right thing in my book.
 
Thanks all for the replies. I thought I handled it ok but other opinions never hurt.
As to why he would have picked me I have no idea. I'm not a huge man but I am 6'4" about 220-225lbs. I have a few miles on me, or decades which ever. It was a Sun. not alot of people. I don't bling up except for 1 thing, I drive a orange and black '07 GT Mustang. Mid life crisis says so on the license plate:D
 
guys just because some one looks at you funny does not mean any thing. Keep an eye on him maybe but thats it
 
Oh yeah he would. Especially if he heard him calling security or the police. This just sounds like a simple "cruising" to me and nothing at all sinister. The MO is all wrong for an attack. He was in a public place, kept making himself visible, and followed closely while in populated areas.
 
Well, maybe he DID think he had a cute butt LOL, who knows...still, better safe than sorry.

I protect that part of my body too.:eek:
 
Good job. You avoided a confrontation and nothing happened. You reported the incident and let the LEOs take it from there.
 
best of all, you made it look like you forget something, and when on the phone that you were calling a loved one to remind you, lol. But of course, he thought it was something else, lol.:)
 
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