CAUTION !! Time to Be Aware and Be Safe Out There ,.

**BabyGirl** · 11-12-2011 03:46 PM

Since here in the USA, last Sunday the clock was set back an hour, the days are shorter and it gets Dark earlier. Allot of people that work the 8 or 9 -5 , it will be dark by 4 Pm , or almost dark.

With the Holiday Season coming we all tend to be focused with getting home or going shopping on the way home and trying to make sure everything is taken care of.

What we tend to Forget is our Own Safety, we are in a hurry , in a rush, have things to get, get home, get gas, stop for kids, stop for last minute things .

And we are PREY to those that notice we are not Paying Attention.

I bring this up, because when I went to work this morning, I noticed a Co Workers Truck parked in the Managers Spot or Assistants, but I was not opening with the one who's truck was there in the spot.

I knew I was opening with the actual Store Manager, So first I though they had switched places , then I noticed no one was in the Vehicle, So I parked in the Customer spot nearer the Store's Commercial Vehicles by the Main Street .
I, then of course thought , her truck broke down again , so she left it overnight .
My Manager shows up, parks next to " A 's " Truck

We meet at the door and he says. " A " had a rough night last Night ..

I'm " Oh truck broke again ?"

" No she was Robbed at Gunpoint right after Closing "

" Huh , Store was Robbed again ? "

** We/ Store was Robbed at Gunpoint last winter about this time, with employee's tied up with zip ties and such ***

" No just "A" and the New Guy " T ". the Store wasn't Robbed, just " A" as she got to her Truck, some guy came out of the Bushes, stuck a gun to her head and asked for her purse ".

OMG, She Ok ?
Yes,

"What about " T" ?

Evidently he ran, he wasn't robbed, he saw someone confront her as he was lagging behind on his Cell and ran off " Somewhere ".

HUH ? Ran Off ?

His car was next to hers, one of the fancy ones with the Big Rims on it, you know the 17 inch, Boyz in Da hood Ones.
Hers is an old 80's beater 1/2 ton pick-up that she proudly Rattle Canned Black Primer so it was even on the Colors.

Both of them "A" & "T" are 23, She has a 1 year old, he has a " Green Card to Smoke ".
Her truck was there this Morning, His Car was gone.

He Called in this Morning ,is thinking of Quitting and needs a few days off, is was too traumatic for him to come out after work and see a violent crime in the parking lot.

She " A " says, she's ok, it's still stressful to have a gun to your head and have to give up your purse. She needs New ID Credit cards and such. Will be at work tomorrow.

Our Store ?

Once again will have a 1 week Armed Security Guard, Paid by our Company to Detour any of this " Dark Thirty " stuff in our Community .

Good Note here, We are now also allowed to park in Vision of our cars in the front well lighted area after 3 pm.
Which makes the Customers have to park in the Dark Unlit Employee area ?

Which is a Safety Issue.

For Whom ?

So Even if you do have Awareness and Vigilance and plans to be safe.

It is now " Dark Thirty "

Try to have a friend or Co~Worker walk you to your Car/ SUV/ Public Bus. Talk out loud, Sing Christmas Carol's, keep Keys in hand ( Mace is a Nice Key Ring holder )

**ItsASecret** · 11-12-2011 04:28 PM

Yeah it is getting dark out, I take the bus home at it is is almost pitch black by 5pm and by 6 walking home down the pathways it is a bit creepy. Though, I am not often scared or worried. I know there are many creeps, nut cases, and down right foolish criminals out there but they are there at any time and it is too consuming to be terrified of everything in the world that could come out and 'get me'. I am more scared of being hit by a bus when it is dark out because you cannot see anything than I am of drunk Joe stumbling towards me, maybe that is because I do carry a zip knife in my back pocket when I walk down the pathways from the bus lol.

**BabyGirl** · 11-12-2011 05:21 PM

Yeah my youngest also carry's a pocket mace ,she doesn't drive and walks or rides the Bus .
She's afraid of macing some innocent guy or gal .It's more of an Ensnarement and "Aware" mentality , I believe.

Still ,we all need to be at least Cautious or a little more cautious, this time of year. With the hands full and things of the up coming holidays.

And I agree , it's not the Fear you show because you Know the path you walk home, you know who is who and are aware of who or what may be a bit new to the area.

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 11-13-2011 03:25 AM

Wow BG.

Our Daylight Savings, 5pm it's still light in-fact until around 7.30pm...Your world needs not to do this maybe or change time zones geez

That's too scary..

Although Hospitality is what gets hit here or Petrol Stations...We are not allowed or even know of mace, or to cary such...

But please be careful, you have alot more people over there, alot more that need money , we only have certain suburbs that are like that, the rest never get hit, guess I am blessed, although stalkers are everywhere which is just as scary, as rape is involed in that...

No one is safe and we always have to look over our shoulder, me as a Real Estate Proprietor with my photo, even though it's current, I still get stalkers via phone and have to watch when I am at open inspections.....

**BabyGirl** · 11-13-2011 07:40 AM

You can't carry Mace ? Wow, Now that is scary to me. My Daughter doesn't go anywhere without hers.

Here it's not Daylight Savings, it's standard time. The shortest day of the year will be Dec, 21st, then it will gradually stay light longer.

The thing is the Holidays, people are robbed as they go to their Cars. Robbed of their purses, wallets, Packages.

So it's best to try not to be alone, try to shop with a partner/ friend, stay in groups and park in well lit and busy area's.

At my Work, where we have to park is not easily seen from our Storefront, this past summer, my car and a co~workers were both broken into and things stolen, this was done during daylight hours, we figured it to be some homeless person as the items taken , were my Work Jacket and my Co~workers, Backpack and Extra pair of Pants ( he's a teacher as a second job ), But smokes and stereo's were left alone in the cars.

I now have a Viper Car Alarm and luckily it has a Panic button on the Key Fob. So should I ever feel threatened while going to my car , I can hit the Panic Button up to 1500 feet away and it will sound my Alarm. So I have a bit of security.

But Poor " A " didn't .

**ItsASecret** · 11-13-2011 09:02 AM

You can't carry Mace ? Wow, Now that is scary to me. My Daughter doesn't go anywhere without hers

Technically a lot of places cannot carry it because it is a form of a weapon and if you accidently use it on someone that someone can easily charge you with various counts like assault.

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 11-13-2011 02:20 PM

Can't stop me buying a small can of hairspray though

**Crystalblue** · 11-13-2011 03:21 PM

I always park far from the store fronts, at the back of the parking lot at grocery stores and shops I'm going into. I find it's easier to leave and I don't like wasting time trying to find the closest spot. My friend calls this the rape section of the lot. Lol. I only worry about it this time of year because of how early it gets dark. But mostly, like you said, so long as you're aware and use some caution, there's not a lot to worry about. I don't park out of view of the front of stores or people driving through the lot, and I try not to let myself look like an easy target. Hide valuables in the car, walk tall with some confidence, and make eye contact with people around you. I've read that if you seem confident, people are less likely to see you as a good victim. Pay attention to your surroundings, but don't walk around looking nervously over your shoulder.

Nice thread babygirl! Let's everyone have a safe season!

**Fallen1** · 11-13-2011 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by CHANDLERS WISH

Can't stop me buying a small can of hairspray though

I am at my office all alone most times after 4:30. My mom gave me a can of wasp spray to keep at work under my desk. She had seen on the news that you get about the same result as mace and that it sprays much further when used.

I do however have a "license to carry" a concealed weapon and do carry a 9mm semi-automatic in my purse - it is loaded but there is never a round in the chamber. I really doubt that I could ever pull it out of my purse though ......... you present it, you better be prepared to use it and I'm just not sure I ever could.

**BabyGirl** · 11-13-2011 06:33 PM

So the Facts on the Robbery of " A" & " T " are in .

The Dumb Azz Newbie "T" is actually the " cause " so to speak on why " A " was robbed at Gunpoint.
About 40 minutes before closing time, which is 9 pm , A & T were standing at the front door , just out side it having a smoke, as it was slow, they had the door propped open to hear the phone.

A guy walks up and asks if they can change a $5 for 5 $1's as he had to catch the bus. Instead of going into the store to the register , Dumbazz " T " pulls out a Wad of Bills outta his pocket, about $1500, sifts thru, pulls out 5 $1's and takes the Guys $5.. Guy says thanks and walks off.

40 mins later they lock up, do the closing stuff and 20 after lock up, they leave the store and go to the Cars. " A " gets to her truck , opens door, hears a Noise, two guys walk up from behind the building pointing a Gun, " T " wasn't that close to the cars , Saw the Guys, saw the Guns and Ran like around the front of the Building, one guy gave chase a ways but it was well lit up front so stopped the Chase.
Meanwhile the other guy stuck the gun in " A's" face and demanded her Money and credit card. They got $4 in cash, her card and she even offered them her Laundry Quarters she had in her truck. They took it and took off .

Now " T " ran to his dads house a couple of blocks away, told his Dad and told his Dad he had to leave his car at the Store. " A " used her cell and called 911, "T " never called the Cops.
The Cops show, and then " T's " Dad shows to get the car & the cops ask where " T" is ? The dad says at my Home, they tell him to go get "T" as he is at least a partial Witness .

So " T " was never actually robbed , he saw the Guys and the Gun and ran. He left a woman alone in the Dark with an armed Robber and a cohort.

Needless to say, most at the store are upset. Now " T" is taking a few days off from the Stress and Trauma, But " A " showed up to work today as Scheduled, shaken but a Strong Woman that isn't going to let this get to her , Well Not the Robbery anyway.

She does however never want to work a Shift with "T" anymore .

We have a Security Guard for a week in the store , to show some " Security " to the customers and possible Bad Guys .