Tuesday, 18 May 2010
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Mall Kidnapping Warning (More Useful Than Usual Chain Email)
New form of kidnappingPlease take a minute to read this. This is very scary and could happen to any of us. Seems like every nice thing people do for one another can be perverted.
A new twist on kidnapping from a very smart survivor:
About a month ago there was a woman standing by the mall entrance passing out flyers to all the women going in. The woman had written the flyer herself to tell about an experience she had, so that she might warn other women.
The previous day, this woman had finished shopping, went out to her car and discovered that she had a flat. She got the jack out of the trunk and began to change the flat. A nice man dressed in a business suit and carrying a briefcase walked up to her and said, 'I noticed you're changing a flat tire. Would you like me to take care of it for you?'
The woman was grateful for his offer and accepted his help. They chatted amiably while the man changed the flat, and then put the flat tire and the jack in the trunk, shut it and dusted his hands off. The woman thanked him profusely, and as she was about to get in her car, the man told her that he left his car around on the other side of the mall, and asked if she would mind giving him a lift to his car.
She was a little surprised and she asked him why his car was on other side. He explained that he had seen an old friend in the mall that he hadn't seen for some time and they had a bite to eat, visited for a while, and he got turned around in the mall and left through the wrong exit, and now he was running late.
The woman hated to tell him 'no' because he had just rescued her from having to change her flat tire all by herself, but she felt uneasy . (Trust that gut feeling!)
Then she remembered seeing the man put his briefcase in her trunk before shutting it and before he asked her for a ride to his car.
She told him that she'd be happy to drive him around to his car, but she just remembered one last thing she needed to buy (Smart woman!!). She said she would only be a few minutes; he could sit down in her car and wait for her; she would be as quick as she could be.
She hurried into the mall, and told a security guard what had happened, the guard came out to her car with her, but the man had left. They opened the trunk, took out his locked briefcase and took it down to the police station.
The police opened it (ostensibly to look for ID so they could return it to the man). What they found was rope, duct tape, and knives. When the police checked her 'flat' tire, there was nothing wrong with it; the air had simply been let out. It was obvious what the man's intention was, and obvious that he had carefully thought it out in advance. The woman was blessed to have escaped harm.
How much worse it would have been if she had children with her and had them wait in the car while the man fixed the tire, or if she had a baby strapped into a car seat? Or if she'd gone against her judgment and given him a lift?
I'd like you to share this with all the women you know. It may save a life.
A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only; but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it on to them, as well.
PLEASE BE SAFE AND NOT SORRY
What are your thoughts? Suggestions? Have you heard of this type of kidnapping before?
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About the Author
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- From: Cliffycliffz@xanga
- Name: Cliffycliffz
- About Me: A Xangan with a lightish red Xanga... Time flows, I guess everything changes? Please give me wings because spoken words are always clumsy in this tale of rebirth and destruction...
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Comments (31)
Uh, too bad this is an urban legend. *rolleyes*
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/hairyarm.asp
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_flat_tire_mall.htm
Not new and completely built on Urban Myth. This story has circulating forever.
even if it's an urban legend, it's entirely possible. wouldn't hurt if we were all a little more cautious.
https://www.gavindebecker.com/ I suggest reading his book, The Gift of Fear.
http://www.girlsfightback.com/ The woman who started this came to my campus to talk to us about preventing violence, and she really knows her stuff.
Regardless of whether or not this particular story is true, women really are vulnerable to violence, and it's important to follow your instincts like the woman in the story because real women really have been attacked that were victims found in mall and grocery store parking lots. Haven't we seen enough security camera video replayed over and over again on the news to know these things are true? Another thing people need to realize is that even though the man seemed "nice," being nice is not a characteristic you are born with. It is a choice you make. MOST people make the choice to act nice with NO ulterior motives, but SOME do. Don't mistake niceness for WHO a person is but more WHAT a person chooses.
@Liera@xanga - Exactly.
I'm sick of xanga reporting on stories that have long been proved false.
I heard this story millions of times with different people dressed a certain way getting ready to kill or kidnap someone, but the person was smart enough to find some help and get away before something did happen. But this could happen in real life...So thanks for the post.
@smilesandsunshinebones@xanga - Momaroo doesn't "report" anything. I think it was pretty nice of this user to share this post with the community. Sharing is caring!
Also, growing up in Florida, home of the huge strip malls and box store plazas, I've seen news reports on these type of kidnappings and attacks.
This is one that is particularly close my heart as it happened near my home: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-12-03/news/9512011812_1_philip-chandler-trunk-latch
@smilesandsunshinebones@xanga - Agreed. Doesn't anyone check Snopes.com anymore?
Good that I always doubt people's intentions.
Even if the story isn't true, it isn't out of the realm of reality that it could happen. There is nothing wrong with remembering to be cautious.
i saw or read something recently about incidents like that.
i was working at the local mall, and whenever one of the employees was leaving anytime after/around dusk, they either had to wait for a security guard to come and walk them out, or had to wait a few minutes to trek to the parking lot with a group (i worked at victoria's secret, primarily employed by women). we were instructed to park in specific areas so we would all be in close proximity to each other in case something happened. if we couldn't park near the other employees, one of them would give us a ride to our cars and wait until our car started up.
one of my managers was stalked through the parking lot and even followed for a considerable distance as she headed home. luckily she was smart enough not to lead the stalker to her home, and instead continued to drive around. i can't remember how she said she got rid of him that night, but she filed a report at least with mall security on his car, model, make and license plate...
anytime i walk through a mostly deserted area, especially parking garages or outside anywhere after dark, i always have my cell phone in my hand, just in case there's a problem. but overall, i just try to avoid putting myself in a potentially dangerous situation. if it can't be avoided, i make sure to either call someone and talk to them until i'm safely in my car with the doors locked or request that someone walk me to my car to insure i get there safely. i'm only 5 ft tall and i weigh less than 120 lbs, so i know that chances are slim that i could overpower anyone who attempts to attack me.
even though the story posted here isn't legitimate, i do agree that it at least serves as a reminder and a warning. most people think these things will never happen to them, until they do. and then it's too late.
@Morningstarrising@xanga - you took my comment :) I love Snoops.
This is almost as annoying as the whole "facebook will start charging ".
(and this is coming from someone who has been in an attempted abduction situation).
@Morningstarrising@xanga - Exactly.
I am cautious, but I will not cower in fear in a corner my closet because of some made-up story. In my experience, it isn't the random strangers/"boogie men" in life that you have to be wary of, it's the people that you think you know.
I also wouldn't have even noticed the guy in the suit because I would have been sitting in my car with the A/C blasting and my ipod on, waiting for roadside assistance to come change the thing. If he knocked on the window? "Oh, no, thanks, I don't even know that there's a jack in the car. I have someone coming...until then, I'm enjoying my break from the house and kids! Thank you, though!" *rolling up window and air-guitaring along to Pantera*
Oh and by the way, I wasn't saying to not be cautious. But don't believe everything you read. Be smart... have your keys in your hands as you walk to your car, be aware of your surroundings, etc. And who would accept help from a stranger in that kind of situation? That's why I have roadside assistance - for car trouble like that.
I'm sorry but if you want to educate the public on being safe use real stories. They are out there. Just research your material before you repost urban legend.
I don't like scare tactics as a learning tool. Those who are frightened by it are usually the ones already cautious.
The three biggest things: Always listen to your intuition even if it doesn't make sense, if it feels wrong it is. Never be complacent. And always be aware of your surroundings. The end.
@Morningstarrising@xanga - ha ha.
Scare tactic fail.
It isn't an urban legend.
It's the way Ted Bundy used to play his victims.
Either through pretending to be maimed or through doing an act of seeming "kindness".
Even though this particular story isn't true, it's still a good reminder to be cautious as things like this DO happen. I'd recommend using a real story next time though just because there is no shortage of them out there and using a made up story isn't necessary.
Urban myth or otherwise, accepting help from a stranger is bad news. Have we all forgotten our mothers' admonitions "not to talk to strangers"???? Especially if you're a woman, especially if you're out on your own.
Letting the guy sit in your car to wait is a bad idea, too. What if he hijacks it?
It's why I have OnStar too. LOL!
Come on, ladies, learn to change your own tires! If I can do it (5' tall, 95 pounds) then ANYONE can.
(Although, I haven't tried it with screaming kids in the car yet...roadside assistance does sound kinda nice.)
Urban myth or not, I'm glad that I can change my own tire.
@x__RainOnHerParade
absolutely. that WOULD be ridiculous, if it didn't happen EVERY DAY. i
used to tell my friends stories i read on xanga (i should have been
suspiscuous when i didn't hear them on cnn, today show, or any.. other
news) - and people would roll their eyes and tell me how blatantly NOT
true it is. im sorry, but it actually happens a lot more than you think.
@babydreams@xanga -
Well, that would be true if I had said "I'm sick of momaroo.." NO. I said, "I'm sick of XANGA.."
In the past week, I've read at least 5 blatantly false stories on Xanga, and not user created stories -- within momaroo, lovelyish... etc.
Your right, this story would be very informative and helpful, if the story was true. The story was so clearly made up, that it teaches us nothing about true scenarios that happen, and therefore teach us nothing about protecting ourselves from those scenarios.
How is this post any better than a chain email..?