A few months ago, I was discussing crime with another passenger. She is a partial quadraplegic and must use a power wheelchair. She can "sorta" use her hands.
She told me about her mugging; a young man walked up to her and asked if he could borrow a pen. She looked in her purse and as she did, he grabbed the purse and ran off.
I was sitting outside at work. I saw a "fishy" looking guy walking down the road. The road has no sidewalk. He spotted me and made an immediate turn and headed in my direction. I put up my phone and got out my pepper spray, holding it plainly in my right hand.
I moved my hand as he got within about 30 feet, and he stopped. He knew what I held.
"'Scuse me, you got an INK pen?"
"No"
He stood there for a second and I moved my hand again. He left.
Some bad trouble right down the road; housing projects with a NASTY reputation. I wonder if he knew he was on Federal property, and the penalties. I wonder if he knew the Postal Inspectors were right behind me, and the place is infested with cameras.
No, he probably didn't. What I found telling - he didn't leave right away when I told him no. But he couldn't figure out any way to get closer without me Macing him. And he KNEW what I held. He stopped dead as soon as he saw it.
"He probably got maced before" said my driver. Yup.
Common sense will take you a long way. I don't LOAN anything out these days, and I don't let dangerous people get close to me while I "look" for them.
1 comment:
Oh my Gosh!
In your next video blog I'd love to see some kind of reenactment of the scene with the guy who asked for the pen. (From your perspective only, of course.) I have no idea how I would have handled myself in that situation!
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