Parking lot scam

[Abraham]

Jim,

If someone deliberately blocked me in with what appeared to be malice aforethought, I'd hop out, leave the door open, crouch behind it as concealment and be ready...while (if possible) calling the cops.

I too make it a habit to park in the distant reaches of any parking lot. This generally makes it possible to position my vehicle without having to back out. I prefer to drive straight out when time to leave. Plus, it's easier to get in and out of the vehicle. I don't get why people like to huddle up in parking lots...

Frequently, I see the massively rotund maneuver with grim determination to get a parking spot as close to the cafe or store or where ever and then heatedly work at folding themselves into human pretzels to get out, because they wedged themselves between two other cars - when with little effort they could breeze into a space just a feet further away...

[seamusTX]

If someone deliberately blocked me in with what appeared to be malice aforethought, I'd hop out, leave the door open, crouch behind it as concealment and be ready...while (if possible) calling the cops.

That would have seemed like overreaction to me.

It actually occurred to me that maybe I had left something hanging out of the trunk and he was trying to call my attention to it, or maybe he thought I was someone he knew (men with beards tend to look more similar than clean-shaven men).

I know such things are often a come-one for robberies or scams, but I didn't want to jump immediately to "DEF CON IV."

Also, I was aware of the possibility that an assailant could come up behind me from around aforementioned van while the man in the car had my attention.

I can't quite see myself having to ID to the police and having them wonder why the heck I was calling them when I was packing. I am not 100% confident of LEO attitudes toward CHL holders.

Now, for a woman or disabled person, I think staying in the car and dialing 911 would be appropriate. If the miscreant did not flee at the sight of the intended victim dialing the phone, the call would absolutely be needed.

- Jim

[Excaliber]

Makes you wonder why anyone would think a parking lot is a good place for a mark...(At least me!)

Wife-Unit and I were coming out from having breakfast at the City Cafe on Airport/College and Hwy 3 (this last Saturday)...We just got about halfway into that small parking lot and this guy came running directly at us from across the main street there, right for us at about as fast as it looked like he could run...I used periferal vision to see if any traffic was making him do this, and at the same time I stepped up ahead and in between him and Wife-Unit...

The guy was just about across when I basically had the cover shirt back and the hand just about ready to draw...The guy never took his eyes off us, and obviously since there waas no traffic coming down the street, it was looking worse and worse every half nanosecond from then on out...

I got set, hand came up and I said "STAY BACK!"...He hit the skids and the feet came out from under him and he hit the newly paved parking lot real hard...I thought for a second he was going for an open field tackle, but I guess my action helped change his mind...He got up and kinda trotted off down the sidewalk toward Hwy 3 after that...Never did explain himself...

It didn't look like he had a weapon, but I sure as heck did not want to be hit in the numbers by this knucklehead...

I guess what was dissapointing is that the Wife Unit didn't even see it coming till the guy was slipping as I yelled at him...

All in all it was a good lesson for her to get her head out of her purse, and up and about on a swivle...

I cannot be there all the time...

I guess it can happen anytime and anywhere...Just never ceases to amaze me...

Steve,

Kudos to you for great situational awareness, quick thinking, protective positioning, aggressive verbal and nonverbal challenge, and perfect results - no harm to you or the wife unit, no legal or financial aftermath, and an opportunity to improve the wife unit's preparedness for next time. It doesn't get any better than that.

[TDDude]

I had a friend a few years ago that had worked as "one of those guys" cruising parking lots looking to sell stuff.

They had a bunch of low quality home theatre gear but the brand names were very close to the real deal. For example, instead of Bose, it would be Bosse. or instead of JBL speakers, they would be JPL speakers. stuff like that.

Anyway, he told me they had a warehouse with someone there ordering stock and at any one time, they would have 5 or 6 trucks cruising Austin just trying to sell their junk. Nothing was stolen. He knew it was a bonified scam but they never "lied" about what they had and were always very friendly. The story always went along the lines of "I have some extra home theatre stuff and my boss needs for me to get rid of it cheap. Are you interested?"

He quit working with those guys when he had to spend a couple hours handcuffed sitting on the curb because they offered their wares to an off-duty LEO. Since everything was legal, he got let go but it was an eye opener for him.

This was many years ago.

The point is, not everyone is a BG and there are a lot of unemployed saps out there that are just trying to get by. Please use discression when dealing with them.

And no, I don't buy my home theatre stuff or tools from a parking lot.

[Pete92FS]

You never know who's going to approach you in a parking lot. A few months back I was getting ready to back out of my parking space in the Kroger parking lot at San Felipe & Voss when an older vehicle pulled up next to me. The weather was mild and we both had our windows down. The other car had a female driver and 3 male passengers - all adults. The female asked if I could come over and see what some warning lights that had lit up on her dash indicated. With the three adult males in the car with her my "warning" lights went off and I simply stated "Sorry but I'm not familiar with that car" and continued to back out as they were mumbling something I couldn't understand. If she would have been by herself I might have reacted differently but with three able-bodied guys with her it just didn't feel right.

[Abraham]

Jim,

I agree - it would be over reaction to do what I suggested as a first step.

That's why I stated: "If someone deliberately blocked me in with what appeared to be malice aforethought..."

However, I would only do what I suggested if they wouldn't let me out immediately.

No stranger or strangers should force a captive audience for a sales pitch. No captive audience should stand being a captive audience. It could be something else...

[seamusTX]

No captive audience should stand being a captive audience....

I agree. If the initial polite No didn't work, my next step would have been my Mr. T impersonation.

- Jim

[Pete92FS]

I agree. If the initial polite No didn't work, my next step would have been my Mr. T impersonation.- Jim

That I'd love to see - "Get out of my way FOOL!"

[Abraham]

On another tack, someone earlier mentioned some of these guys are selling off brand merchandise and while JPL isn't JBL, it's legal, even if for some, misleading.

However, is it legal to hold someone against their will by virtue of blocking them in to force a sales pitch? The blockee, if you will, even if the duration is short, is still in effect being held against their will.

Anyone know?

[seamusTX]

No, it is not legal. Intentionally impeding a person's movements without justification is a crime -- PC 20.02, unlawful restraint.

Mall ninjas frequently get in trouble for this offense.

Obviously it does not apply to circumstances such as a car being hemmed in because of a traffic jam.

- Jim

[Purplehood]

No, it is not legal. Intentionally impeding a person's movements without justification is a crime -- PC 20.02, unlawful restraint.

Mall ninjas frequently get in trouble for this offense.

Obviously it does not apply to circumstances such as a car being hemmed in because of a traffic jam.

- Jim

Please define the term, "Mall Ninja". I always thought that was simply slang for a shopper.

[seamusTX]

Please define the term, "Mall Ninja".

An overenthusiastic security guard.

You can read some shocking stories here: http://www.google.com/search?q=unlawful ... rity+guard" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think the term for an energetic shopper is "mall warrior," but I don't keep up with that stuff.

- Jim

[KD5NRH]

No captive audience should stand being a captive audience....

I agree. If the initial polite No didn't work, my next step would have been my Mr. T impersonation.

You'd unload an AK-47 into their car until it explodes, (miraculously not causing them more than scrapes in the process) just for being lousy salesmen?

[seamusTX]

You'd unload an AK-47 into their car ...

Not right away. Pete92FS got it right.

- Jim

[PUCKER]

I've run into the "white van with two dudes selling 'high-end speakers just like you see in the clubs' - hey we got done with a job and we have two extra and we'll sell them to you cheap" scam before. I've learned to stay clear. No, fortunately I was never dumb enough to buy any of their junk. First time I saw this was probably the early 90's.