I was getting into my car when I saw this guy making a bee line towards me. I thought it was kind of weird, but then he kind of veered off and I thought he was going to get into the car next to me. But, I still had a "not right feeling" about it, so I locked my doors behind me. Well, he didn't get into the car next to me, but proceeded to look into all the cars in the row in front of me. I continued to watch him, and he went into another parking lot. As I was watching him he actually tried to open a passenger door of a car. I have no idea what he was doing, but it looked like he was trying to find something left in the cars to steal. Eventually he went in front of a grocery store, sat down on a bench and made a call from his cell phone. Something about it was just weird. Let me also say that he was nicely dressed, and carrying a binder, that almost looked like those training manuals you get when you start a job. I didn't call the cops then, I did let one of the grocery store employee's know (one of the teenagers getting the cart), but the more I thought about the more I think I should have called the cops, what would you have done?
Yeah, the more I thought about it the more I realized I probably should have. It's just that almost every time I have called them I get a, "Well we didn't catch him doing it so there's nothing I can do about it" attitude. We even caught someone stealing from out vehicle, stopped them from getting away, but because we caught them on the other side of our fence we were told by the officers there wasn't anything they could do. I guess I am a little jaded...but I still should have called.
I have the non emergency police number in my phone. I have used it for teens riding in the back of pickups on I-95 and tree limbs down on Rte 1. They are always very thankful.
So I would have alled that number and reported what I saw.
I would have followed him with my car and honked at him and then left. There's no way to keep someone like that around and doing what they are doing until cops come. But you can let them know they are being watched.
I would've returned to the store and not gotten in my car - although I am not a person to walk away from a confrontation (surprised?)...
I would've told the store manager what was going on as well as the police and let them figure it out...better safe than sorry...
I have called the police when we had two young men with EMPTY BACKPACKS come door to door to sell a vacuum cleaner - however, they didn't have the vacuum cleaner with them...when I am home alone I always have the phone in my hand with 911 predialed....
hmm.. he was peeking into windows and tried to open a car? Yes, I would have called the cops, or at least the company's management or security people. At least you told an employee.
I would have called the cops or told the manager of the store.
There's gotta be some xplanation. Not many are that bold with people around are they?
Yep. I'd hate to think that someone got victimized by him, because I didn't do my due diligence.
Call them next time you get that creepy feeling. If he's not doing anything wrong he can explain it away. When I'm out doing my job I know sometimes people wonder what I'm doing. If there is an officer around I usually tell him why I'm there and let him know that I have a reason in case someone calls You never know what you can prevent. Even if you don't prevent something at that time just alerting the police may help down the road....
I probably would have called the police, it is one of those things that falls into the better safe than sorry category with me. If he was doing nothing wrong he could go on his way. But to me it sounds like he was trying to either steal a car or something from the car and the binder could have had pamphlets(sp) or something inside to use to try to explain away his stealing.
When you feel something isnt right, it isn't. Call next time.
Glad that you were ok though! That is scary!
M
Probably would of been better to call the cops since the teenager was probably like "whatever dude"...lol...I'm sure he'll get caught in the near future since he didn't seem to be hiding what he was doing very well..
Probably. I was in my apartment 8 years ago with my daughter and a nicely dressed business man rang my doorbell. Mind you, I am the most scared person out there. So while I was staring him down out the peep hole, holding my sleeping 4 month old baby, I had 911 dialed on my cell phone and then it sounded like he tried to turn my door knob to get in. I pushed send! Then I watched him head up the stairs to the 3rd floor. Turns out he was from a local church that is forever trying to convert people. I felt a little silly. The sound of him trying to break in was him sliding a pamphlet in between the door and the door fram. Either way...the police are there to help for things like that. Telling the store employee's was a good idea, but I'd call the cops next time :).
I feel it's important to go with your gut. Do your part, call the cops, and let them figure it out - if they bother to try. Yes, I definitely would have called the cops and, knowing myself, I would have stuck around to see the outcome!
That was God talking to you, my dear. Why do women ignore their gut feelings? Men don't.
Yes, I would have too!
I would have called the cops.
Calling the non emergency line sounds like a good idea. This reminds me of a funny story. A house on our street was for rent. A man in a white van parked in front of it, got out, walked around looking in windows, got back in his van and sat there for a few HOURS, then left and came back as the sun was setting. The neighbor directly across the street from the house called the owner of the house who called the police. The landlord shows up, as well as 6 or more police cars, and a police dog! The guy was walking around the house again...the police with the dog in the lead approached the house quietly, then told him to freeze, blah blah blah...the man literally wet himself and started shaking! He swore up and down he was only interested in renting the house, but his behavior was VERY odd. He hadn't actually broken in or anything, so they let him off with a warning...lol but I bet you he will think twice before doing whatever he was doing again. ;) I share that to say you never know. I think it is better to report it, than to not report it and something bad happens.
My first instincts are...
-I would have called the grocery store from my phone and asked them to send out the security officer to speak with the man. They wont refuse when you tell them you're wating outside.
I would probably only call the non-emergency line and alert them, giving them his stats (ht, wt, etc) and location if I felt it warranted it.
