Tricks to AVOID a panhandler/mugger

[Zoub]

I read Chubbs post and only a few others in that thread. I think he did right for the situation he was in BUT I personally never would have placed myself inside the vehicle, unable to move and flanked on a 180 degrees axis. I would have kept moving like he did, but with the intent of using some of my vehicle as cover and to funnel people to me. One example: Open the door, drop beer on seat, use door as cover, turn and engage. Not to mention there are many "things" in my door pockets.

A few things I have done many times work for me, without ever showing a gun. The focus is keep people away from me, find cover, be able to move.

I engage the stranger in an exceptionaly strong tone and say "That is far enough." While doing this, I put my left hand out and point right at the person while looking for others. My hand actions reinforce my words, I am speaking a universal language in tone and body language. If my hands are not empty, I put down whatever is in them. This is one reason I always use a bluetooh headset.

If they open their mouth and say another word to me I talk over them, rudely interrupting them, saying the same message. I am not here to make friends and your BS smile and nice tone will not buy you time to get into my personal space or distract me from your buddies who are flanking me.

WE are not having a conversation here. I deliver a message, you would be well served to get it. I never respond to their questions or engage in any exchange of dialogue. It is a one way conversation now and I am leading it. When not stating my simple message, I am silent.

It is not Ok to talk to me uninvited. Sorry if I offend you but professional Bad Guys know a lot about human nature and how to manipulate people. If you need me to call 911 for you, I wil do so now.

If they continue to move towards me, I say "Far enough, come no closer." If they take another step in my direction I repeat it then say "Back the F*** up. NOW." and my right hand goes down by my side.

It is funny how this nice and engaging person suddenly gets pissed because you don't give a crap what their BS is. It is not working and stay away. As they walk away I find they often give some BS about being an emergency, needing help or I am wrong. Whatever..........

This works for me and it takes more time to describe it here in a post then it does to do it.

The only time this failed for me, an off duty cop arrived about 2 seconds before the lead goon was crossing my point of no return. Bluetooth headset let me keep my eyes hands and focus where it needed to be. The situation was not "normal", I had unknowingly drove into and parked in the middle of it.

 

[haldir]

I always found mumbling as i walk, occasionally yelling and maybe hitting myself in the head keeps people away. If all else fails pee in your pants and start giggling. Then start walking toward them saying... lookee lookee what I did...

 

[concrete dog]

lol

I always found mumbling as i walk, occasionally yelling and maybe hitting myself in the head keeps people away. If all else fails pee in your pants and start giggling. Then start walking toward them saying... lookee lookee what I did...

im still lol

 

[AndersonIN]

I always found mumbling as i walk, occasionally yelling and maybe hitting myself in the head keeps people away. If all else fails pee in your pants and start giggling. Then start walking toward them saying... lookee lookee what I did...

Great idea! Peeing in your pants would be a lot easier to clean up and smell better too. I'll have to try that instead next time!

 

[Scutter01]

Depending on what's in my hands, I'm not sure I would put it down. Something tossed or thrown is a useful distraction that can buy you a half-second or more.

 

[Bisley Man]

When they're too close, it's too late

It's unfortunate to have to be this way. OP,Zoub has a plan that may not win friends, but sure will influence people.Influence them to find another victim. Repped for sharing . May keep someone from

 

[Tommy2Tone]

All the panhandling sucks. I feel bad for the ones that truly need help and i would offer it to them, but there are the people that take advantage of others kindness that has ruined it for the people that truly need the help/money/kind smile. And i am not saying you are wrong but it sucks that you have to be so defensive, but it is the time we live in. There are some bad people out there and they look like everyone else most times.

 

[danielocean03]

*Slight threadjack warning:

Few things irk me more than what appear to be readily employable, able-bodied folks panhandling for money. I saw one on my way home from work just yesterday, dancing around with his sign like one of those sandwich board advertisement guys, I was livid.

A good friend of mine works over at 96th & Keystone, he said he has witnessed "homeless" people drive up in respectably nice vehicle and park near his place of business only to walk up the street to the interstate 465 intersection with their signs. I wasn't surprised when I heard this, I see nearly 10 panhandlers a day on my commute from the NE side to the NW side and back each day, and it's not uncommon to see panhandlers talking on their cellphones.

That being said and off my chest, back to the subject matter.

 

[danielocean03]

All the panhandling sucks. I feel bad for the ones that truly need help and i would offer it to them, but there are the people that take advantage of others kindness that has ruined it for the people that truly need the help/money/kind smile. And i am not saying you are wrong but it sucks that you have to be so defensive, but it is the time we live in. There are some bad people out there and they look like everyone else most times.

Too true, I'm not the type to hand out money to people panhandling on the street, especially with the risks involved anymore.

 

[ATM]

Very rare in my small town, but I once saw a guy holding a "will work for food" sign near the Taco Bell here. At the drive-through, I ordered a couple extra tacos and stopped near him to hand him the tacos through the window. He said, "actually, what I really need is money."

I told him he needed to change his sign and I kept the tacos.


Thanks for the tips, Zoub. And I'll phone you ahead of time if we need to talk.

 

[JetGirl]

I don't like being accosted by groups at traffic lights with their buckets o' hope. I'm not talking about firemen with their boots during their Labor Day "Boot Drive" for the MDA. I'm talking about the scads of people bussed in from bigger cities with their money drives for "inner city kids". They also bus in and canvas our neighborhood from time to time selling that Orange Cleaner stuff, MicroFiber cloths, and candy that I've never heard of.

 

[printcraft]

Very rare in my small town, but I once saw a guy holding a "will work for food" sign near the Taco Bell here. At the drive-through, I ordered a couple extra tacos and stopped near him to hand him the tacos through the window. He said, "actually, what I really need is money."

I told him he needed to change his sign and I kept the tacos.

Thanks for the tips, Zoub. And I'll phone you ahead of time if we need to talk.

HA! There a dude up in Kokomo with the same thing. My cousin got his a couple
of cheese burgers and took them to him. Guy looked at him and said
"I don't want that ****, I'll take some money though"

 

[ATM]

Bad panhandler - no can haz cheezburger!

 

[dice dealer]

I reverse the role on them ...as they approach I ask 'Hey buddy can you spare some change "

They generally start walking the other way

 

[bowhunter_1978]

I once saw a guy standing on an off ramp in Miami, Fla, with a sign that read "Will work for weed." Not very smart but original to say the least!

 

[JetGirl]

I once saw a guy standing on an off ramp in Miami, Fla, with a sign that read "Will work for weed." Not very smart but original to say the least!

Over the 4th of July weekend in Goshen, we saw some guys standing near(ish) to one of those Port-a-Pit chicken deals...and they had a big cardboard sign that said "Will attempt to Moonwalk for chicken"

 

[iam1096]

There is a guy and his dog that is always at the off ramp on 465 and Meridian. I was driving in the Carmel area and saw him in a white 1989 Correvete, I knew it was him because of the dog. Nice car and he looked to be dressed better then what he wore at 465.
I going to stand out there with a sign saying " will work for guns and ammo".

 

[Comp]

I'm not turning this into a CC vs OC thread jack, so dont take it this way. I OC majority of the time. I have found that i have never been approached by pan handlers while I open carry. However, my mother who is a strong anti gun sheeple always get approached and asked for change. I know this because she always calls me and tells some strang guy came up to me and then she gets really paniced and almost yells HE COULD OF HAD A GUN. I always laugh at this because i keep telling her to get her LCTH. Anyways, has anyone noticed this as well? I'm interested if a female has noticed this as well or are they just approached more because of a woman's emotional nature.

 

[Zoub]

Depending on what's in my hands, I'm not sure I would put it down. Something tossed or thrown is a useful distraction that can buy you a half-second or more.

I agree with you, but these days unless it is my "bomb makers bag" laptop bag I use for business travel, I rarely have anything in my hands, and it goes on my shoulder when on foot outside.

All my life I carried my keys in my right front pants pocket. I am two handed but that is how I did it.

Now I always carry my keys and some paper money in my left front pocket. If I need to distract someone, money will be tossed to them. I will throw it out and down to my left, their eyes will follow it, you can guess what I am doing while tossing the money.

It took about 6 months to train myself to do this and a year before it truly became the norm. My Brother and I discussed it in general for perhaps 6 months prior to even doing it.

We can describe many situations, and from traveling over the years with work and leisure I guess I have seen my share, but rarely do they happen in my own yard.

The first trick is to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but having said that, carrying a metric ton of EDC stuff does no good if you don't have a plan to deploy it in the real world.

Now if I am walking down the street with an axe or bat, I will keep it in hand!

I have offered panhandlers employment, they always refuse.

 

[paddling_man]

A good friend of mine works over at 96th & Keystone, he said he has witnessed "homeless" people drive up in respectably nice vehicle and park near his place of business only to walk up the street to the interstate 465 intersection with their signs.

There's always a regular collection of them at 465/Keystone and 465/Allisonville. Wearying... Charity is a sacred duty, in my mind. These folks do NOT apply.

I going to stand out there with a sign saying " will work for guns and ammo".

W 71st / 465 Krogers is close to my work. It seems like four out of five visits I'm accosted in the parking lot with some long song-and-dance about needing cash. 71st/465 must be the Bermuda Triangle for running out of gas.