Women be alert
 

Don't know how true this story is, but thought it better to pass it on as not. Don't want to scare anyone, but I think somentinmes it's good to be reminded to stay alert...

ABOUT A MONTH AGO THERE WAS A WOMAN STANDING BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE TRAFFORD CENTRE, PASSING OUT FLYERS TO ALL THE WOMEN GOING IN. THE WOMAN HAD WRITTEN THE FLYER HERSELF TO TELL ABOUT AN XPERIENCE SHE HAD SO THAT SHE MIGHT WARN OTHER WOMEN.
THE PREVIOUS DAY, THIS WOMAN HAD FINISHED SHOPPING AND WENT OUT TO HER CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT SHE HAD A FLAT TYRE. SHE GOT THE JACK OUT OF THE BOOT 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 TYRE. 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 TYRE AND THE JACK IN THE BOOT 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 SHOPPING CENTRE, AND ASKED IF SHE WOULD MIND GIVING HIM A LIFT TO HIS CAR.
SHE WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED AND SHE ASKED WHY HIS CAR WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD SEEN AN OLD FRIEND IN THE CENTRE WHO HE HADN'T SEEN FOR SOME TIME AND THEY HAD A BITE TO EAT AND LOOKED AROUND THE
SHOPS FOR A WHILE. HE GOT TURNED AROUND IN THE MALL AND LEFT THROUGH THE WRONG EXIT, AND NOW
HE WAS RUNNING LATE AND HIS CAR WAS AROUND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CENTRE.
THE WOMAN HATED TO TELL HIM NO BECAUSE HE HAD JUST RESCUED HER FROM HAVING TO CHANGE HER FLAT TYRE ALL BY HERSELF, BUT SHE FELT UNEASY, THEN
SHE REMEMBERED SEEING THE MAN PUT HIS BRIEFCASE IN HER BOOT 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. SHE SAID SHE WOULD ONLY BE A FEW MINUTES, HE COULD SIT DOWN
IN HER CAR AND WAIT FOR HER, SHE'D BE AS QUICK AS SHE COULD BE.
SHE HURRIED INTO THE SHOPPING CENTRE, 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 BOOT, 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 THE FLAT TYRE, THERE WAS NOTHING
WRONG WITH IT, THE AIR HAD SIMPLY BEEN LET OUT.
IT WAS OBVIOUS WHAT THE MANS INTENTION WAS, AND OBVIOUS THAT HE HAD CAREFULLY THOUGHT IT OUT IN ADVANCE.
THIS WOMAN TOLD THIS EXPERIENCE ON THE FLYER SHE WAS PASSING OUT SO THAT OTHER WOMEN COULD BE WARNED.

Re: Women be alert
 

Jo,

You're probably to young to remember the Yorkshire Ripper in the late 70's, but there was a similar story going round then, which every one swore had happened to a friend of a friend of theirs....except it was'nt a man in the passenger seat, but a little old lady with hairy arms.....who left behind a bag containing a hammer, etc.......The only problem was, how did Sutcliffe disguise his beard?

Re: Women be alert
 

Jo

I would dispute the story on the following grounds..

All that to get into her car? Presumably once in the car he was going to threaten her to drive soemwhere else and not to the other side

Why all that to get in the car . he could have stood around the car next to her pretending to be on a mobile and when she got in. he could simply have got in the passanger side and threatened her without all the charade. Simple as that

But the story means he risks being caught by actually letting down the tyre in what must be the busiest car park in the north of England. Also alerting the person when as you say he puts the case in the boot before asking.

Sorry just all seems a little iffy to me.

Oh yeagh I doubt you can hand out flyers at trafford or anywhere else without security moving you on.. no matter what the subject is. You would need permisison or a licence which this story desn't bend itself to.

Re: Women be alert
 

Where exactly were you about a month ago, Harry?

Re: Women be alert
 

I've had this one sent to me as an e mail about 6 weeks ago, and although I wouldn't put anything past some folk, if this were to have happened at the Trafford Centre, it would surely have been on the North West News, with an e-fit of this man, as well as in the local newspapers.
Have had lots of other warnings via e mail in the past, most of which are doubtful, would love to know who starts these things, as they always happen to a friend of a friend. Think this is just an urban myth like the Kentucky fried rat one a few years ago. 8)

Re: Women be alert
 

The Kentucky Fried Rat?.....tell us more!

Re: Women be alert
 

Kentucky fried rat was one of those urban myths that did the rounds in the early 90's. Don't know who started it, but we never heard it by e mail, but on holiday in a bar in Cyprus. It was something that happened to a friend of a friend (as usual)
The story went that this person bought some food at a popular international fast food establishment, not necessarily KFC, but unfortunately the story became passed on as kentucky fried rat. The food had a funny taste to it, and the person decided to have it analysed (as if) and they found it to contain meat from rat.
I beg to differ on this, if my food tastes unusual, I complain there and then and either get my money back or a fresh meal, which is what I think most people would do. Lots of urban myths have started in bars, and now e mail. Some of them are quite amusing/unlikely and some have a ring of truth.  Just a way of filling silences when you've nowt better to say, gossip really, but intended to provoke a reaction, laughter, shock, disgust etc. :o

Re: Women be alert
 

Exactly and the story posted here is meant to scare people.. Posting a scoremongering story with a dissclaimer saying I don't wish to scare anyone is at best contradictory. The truth is the story is meant to scare.

Scoremingering?
 

No Harry the truth is that this sort of thing goes on every day in the real world...all women should be aware. A member of my family was the subject of a similar incident.
Fore warned is fore armed.

B.

Re: Women be alert
 

We know it does...

What we are talking about is the particular instance as outlined and some people think it is untrue. I am one of them and have outlined why I think this..  I don't really need telling how bad the world is thanks. I have a wife and two teenage daughters and i worry about them all the time.. Like i say. its the particular instance we are talking about.  I am suprised you found that so difficult to follow..

Re: Women be alert
 

What is scary here in America is that in some of the bigger cities to get into the gangs you have to go to a gas station food store etc and break into a car driven by a women and cut parts of the body off. It is a scary world we live in.

Re: Women be alert
 

I sometimes wonder if these things are started maliciously with an aim to damage, in this case, the shopping centre in question, by making people think twice before going there. For example, I once got an e-mail telling me that a certain element contained in shampoo and shower gels was cancerogenous, can't remember the element, sodium something or other maybe. Anyway, I checked all the products I use and they all contained it. Tried looking in the supermarket, and they all contained it, then low and behold some months later, a product came out claiming to be "without sodium something or other".. hmmmm.... couldn't be they started the rumour could it?

Regarding this story, I also doubt it's truth, but I must say it made me think. Contrary to what Harry said, I think the exact point of winning over the woman's trust and making her feel in some way endebted to him, the man had more chance of getting in her car and driving off with her than if he had jumped in. I think this psychological deception is a dangerous weapon, it's certainly put me on my guard,. whether I believe the story or not. Better to be safe than sorry....

Re: Women be alert
 

Well i have heard that story, but in a different way, something about a girl at the Trafford Centre getting to her car a guy stood there saying someone had broke her window and he had seen them and chased them off, but stood next to the car awaiting the "person" who owned it to come.

So the woman said thanks and she will sort it from there, but he asked for a lift home and she refused, he got a bit mad but she drove off.

That saved her life cos she went to get the window fixed, and they found a knife and rope duct taped under the passanger seat.

I didn't know if that was fact or someones warped way of having fun, but i am always aware when i am on my own.  You have to be  :-/

Re: Women be alert
 

It just goes to prove, girls, that you can't trust anyone these days - apart from ol' tealeaf, here.

Re: Women be alert
 

A lot of these warnings go out via e mail, and although I wouldn't put anything past some people, I do think that you have to stay rational and use your common sense. If I believed everything sent to me, I'd be too frightened to go anywhere. The best way to stay safe is to try not to put yourself in a dangerous situation in the first place and listen to your gut instinct ( don't be frightened to make a noise)

It might surprise you to know that us District Midwives and Nurses have to visit houses where the police will only go in twos. That we get called to dodgy areas at night and are usually alone. We are told that if for a moment we doubt our own safety, get the hell out of there and call for assistance, either the police or colleagues. Also not to put anything between yourself and the door if you know you are in a violent household. We do try to go to these places in 2's if we can, but staffing levels don't always permit it. :-/

Re: Women be alert
 

Lettie - you should'nt be going anywhere near these characters. Anyone (other than the mentally ill) who profer violence against medical staff should be refused treatment. It's that simple.

It's time the RCN, the RCM & the BMC got their act togeather over this.

Re: Women be alert
 

Yes it is tealeaf, and sometimes we are very wary about houses we are going in. Some of the houses we have to go in include homes which have somebody living there with history of violence towards women (domestic or assault convictions) known paedophiles, or people who have physically abused a child, the only house we were told not to go in recently was one in which the police had found firearms.
We go in there, because sometimes the women in there need help and our care, they have also just had babies and because of their circumstances we sometimes have to assess their ability to care for the baby and report back to social services if there are concerns. It has usually been pre decided by a case conference at social services whether the family can take the baby home or not, but if not, we still have to care for the mother.
The scariest bit is actually being called to a home delivery at night, yes we still deliver babies at home, I have been called to 5 so far this year and they were just local ladies in Accy and Ossy and they don't all live on nice houseing estates. It's amazing how many people are on the streets at 3am in Accy.

Re: Women be alert
 

[quote author=HarryX link=board=general;num=1066740248;start=0#9 date=10/22/03 at 00:31:12]We know it does...

I am one of I don't really need telling how bad the world is thanks. I have a wife and two teenage daughters and i worry about them all the time.. [/quote]
Harry i am in the same boat.Here these stories all the time and even if you dismiss them there is still a nagging feeling left in the back of my mind, what if???

Re: Women be alert
 

God you have to put up with a lot, i really respect people like you  [smiley=thumbsup.gif] i would love a job like that, caring for people, helping and that is challeging etc

Re: Women be alert
 

No worries for you Jo, i thought you took your rabbit with you for protection? No serious its a crap world we live in when you have to think twice about letting your kids walk to school alone and your wife being out on her own.Not ever scared about myself but if anything happenned to the wife and daughters well its not worth bearing about

Re: Women be alert
 

Can we get somehting clear please..

I know its a nasty old world and I know women should be alert.. I have never suggested otherwise . I explained I ahve a wife and two teenage daughters I worry about.

I merely disputed the story posted and listed the reasons why I dispute it.. I thought thats what the post was for.. to discuss. i thought thats what this forum was for.. to debate and talk.. This wasnt posted in the anything goes so everyone could take the P and mess about.. It was made as a serious post wasn't it?

However because I disputed the validity of this particular story.. with good reasons as given.. Some of you seem to think I am saying the world is a nice place and women shouldn't be worried.

I had a point and I made that point.. At no time was I trying to say women shouldn't be on there guard..  I am amazed that you all grasp at what you think I may have said wrong and go off on one about it.

Lighten up people..

Re: Women be alert
 

;)  I know you weren't saying that women shouldn't be on their guard, and lets face it so should fellas. These stories are intended to frighten people and to be honest I sometimes feel that they are a form of terrorism, as I said earlier if you believed everything you read in e mails like this, and we must have all had them, you would be too scared to go anywhere.

Hopefully the people who do commit violent crime are still in the minority, but I do think that everybody should be aware of their personal safety and try to minimise their chances of being a victim by using common sense. That includes men too. :D

Re: Women be alert
 

The story is like the virus warnings you get. You know the ones in your email that tells you to pass this on to everyone. Don't open such and such an email or it will wipe your hard drive. pass this message on to everyone.

Its a hoax. The email is the virus.. A virus is soemthing that spreads and causes harm or distress.. therefore when you pass it on you are spreading the virus and causing distress.

The car park story is the same. Women are already on there guard and reading such a message isn't going to suddenly make them change the way they act. The story is meant to scare them. thats what it is for. hence why I make a point about starting the story with.. I dont want to scare anyone... If you dont want to scare anyone then dont post it.. Jo even admits she thinks its not true but still posted it.

If anyone thinks women needed to read that story to suddenly be aware that the world is a nasty place then your insulting every women on here..

If no one agrees with me then fair enough.. try debatating or discussing it.. But to simply get on a high horse and pretend I am saying the world is safe.. just beggers belief. I don't mean anyone in particular.. But just read the thread ..you can see how it went :)

Re: Women be alert
 

They do seem to be e-mails sent round that can scare you, but everyone has to be on their guard these days, its horrible that there are ceratin people about this world.  You gotta do what you can.

Re: Women be alert
 

Any of you girls do self defence?

Re: Women be alert
 

my eldest daughter is a black belt karate 1st dan and used to do OK at compotitions ..the club used to take her to chorley on sundays to compete. my wife has been to kickboxing.

I still worry

Re: Women be alert
 

Ive done kickboxing

Re: Women be alert
 

Harry, you've got me ther, mate - seems we all agree with each other, I have RE-read the posts, but don't think there is anything to debate, can't find anything that put your remarks in question - we all seem to think it's a hoax and obviously agree with you that women should be alert anyway.
:)

Hat off to you, Lettie Luv!! want to come and deliver for me in Italy when I get to that point????

Re: Women be alert
 

Mmmm, might ask management if I can claim mileage allowance for Italy, (know what the answer will be) ;D

Did Karate when I was younger, but had to give it up to study for exams, my dad thought I was dossing too much and was probably right. Taught basic restraint techniques and very basic self defence, never had to use it, only been in a couple of threatening situations with work, and managed to talk my way out. Tend to get to know any problem families quite well, and spend time with them at clinics before visiting the houses. By the time I go into the house they know me very well and vice versa.
It's random attacks that are scariest I think, and lets face it they can happen to man, woman, child or even pet. There are some bad beggars out there, but they are in the minority. It makes my blood boil that some people are afraid to leave their houses eg. the elderly for fear of attack. >:(

Re: Women be alert
 

karate gave my kids confidence.. It will help the 19 yr old son if anyone bothers him.. but my daughter.. i think just the confidence...

elderly are the worse hit in todays violance... they can do very little :(

Re: Women be alert
 

[quote author=HarryX link=board=general;num=1066740248;start=0#22 date=10/23/03 at 11:09:23]


If anyone thinks women needed to read that story to suddenly be aware that the world is a nasty place then your insulting every women on here..

Agree with you totally there Harry X

Re: Women be alert
 

Yes karate gave me confidence too, I was very shy as a kid and my dad didn't like the thought of me being picked on, so sent me to karate. Unfortunately gave it up just as I was getting good, but had so many hobbies as a teenager that my parents were called into school and told my work was suffering as I failed all my mock O Levels. My Dad thought I had too much on and stopped everything so that I could revise. When my exams finished I got a job, cos we were a bit hard up and never went back to karate, but it certainly brought me out of my shell. ;D

Re: Women be alert
 

Never to late to take it up again lettie.

Re: Women be alert
 

Hey Celticlass...you think this thread is for real?

Re: Women be alert
 

at the margram in the petrol station a woman had a lucky escape because the cashier spotted a man getting into the back of her car while she was paying for petrol and stopped the woman retuning to the car and rang the police

THIS IS NOT A MADE UP STORY the cashier told me herself when i went there later the day it had happened and this thread reminded me of it

remember to lock your cars when going for petrol

Re: Women be alert
 

Good God chav did the police get him in?

Re: Women be alert
 

by the time the police arrived he figured out there was a delay for some reason or other and scarpered

Re: Women be alert
 

Thanks for warning chav i'll make sure i pass it round friends !

Re: Women be alert
 

no problem i guess men should lock their cars as well

i know men will say if any body gets in my car i will kick their ass but its hard to do when your attacker grabs you from behind a car seat

Re: Women be alert
 

Yeah this true. I didn't see it reported in any papers?

Re: Women be alert
 

you would be amazed how much crime dosnt i guess unless somthing does happen it isnt news worthy

Re: Women be alert
 

yep true point, it will be reported on when it's to late for some poor bu**er!

Re: Women be alert
 

Moral of the story everyone should know how to change a tyre, l don't!

A woman being escorted into an ambulance got into my Mum's passenger seat, as she stopped near Ossy Mills, locked the doors and told her to drive to Brockhall. lt took 15 mins. to get her out.

Moral, always lock your passenger door if you're alone.

Re: Women be alert
 

Wait a minute...
The previous day?
She wasn't a bit shocked by this, so she had the time to write out flyers, print them up and the day after the event go and distribute them?

...

God, I'm pedantic.