A guy approached me in a parking lot today

[texas yankee]

I'm out on the middle of a parking lot this afternoon, no other cars anywhere near us - I'm standing next to my car talking with another guy - he happened to be a CHL guy, like me, and we were dividing up a deal on a bulk ammo buy. We're talking about this and that when I notice a guy coming our way across the parking lot - early 20s, 5'7", 160 - he was walking towards us but away from the stores and cars and where other people were going into and out of stores. As he get's closer, he starts heading directly towards us. He's got a hooded sweatshirt on, head down, and his hands are stuffed into the front pockets of the hoodie. I remember reading on one of the CHL boards about maintaining a safety zone, so as he approaches us (my friend's back was to the guy so he didn't see him approaching), I step off to the side and hold my hand up in a STOP gesture and say - "Don't come any closer - how can I help you?"

He says "Huh?" and he continues kinda moving towards us, and I again say (in a louder voice this time) "Don't come any closer - what do you want?"

He says something about a pair of jumper cables - well, there weren't any cars anywhere around him, we're standing out in the middle of nowhere, away from everyone else - he seemed very suspicious to me, so I told him we didn't have any - he walked away and turned around about 30 feet away and told me that I didn't need to be rude about it.

What was weird, was after he walked away from us, still looking for a set of jumper cables, so he said, he continued on in the general direction he was going when he approached us - away from where his car supposedly was, away from any stores or other people and cars, off actoss the parking lot out towards the street.

Probably nothing except a guy that thinks I'm a rude person, but who knows - I'd rather be safe than sorry.

By the way - I have helped folks broken down before - many times - but this guy just didn't look right.

[Dragonfighter]

A lot of people die because they deny their gut. Good call.

[mctowalot]

Rude but alive! My wife was loading kids and groceries when she saw a guy cutting through the cars towards her. She told me she was scared - rightfully so IMHO - so she held her hand out like a traffic cop and shouted "HALT!"
(Her other hand was ready to draw). The guy stopped in his tracks and shouted that he just needed "directions". She told him to ask the security guard in the store. She watched him walk away, but not towards the store. I hate to think what his true intentions were. This isn't the first time she's had to assert herself, and I'm sure it won't be the last. I feel very lucky that she's aware of the dangers in this world (as opposed to many men and women who, not wanting to be rude, expose themselves to potential harm - which I'm guilty as well). We don't live in fear, but were not living in the "it won't happen to me" bubble it seems so many folks are.

[arnoldstrong]

You only get one life to risk...good job!!

[LittleGun]

I think it is important to trust your instincts. I've helped people and give directions, etc. But when it doesn't feel right, don't ignore that feeling.

[suthdj]

On the back of your DL is a phone# for Texas roadside assistance tell him to call them it is toll free, pay phone is inside the store.

[fm2]

Good call.

[lws380]

Good awareness!

[Munk]

Rude? Heh, I've been called worse.

[texas yankee]

Thanks for the support guys - LOL - the moderator modified my original post, rightfully so - the questionable guy didn't use the word rude - he choose a more emphatic word to show his displeasure with me - now, if I actually was the body part that he called me, I wouldn't have been able to help him with jumper cables anyway.

[karder]

I don't know how smart that hoodie dude was. If I saw a couple of guys, off by themselves in a parking lot, dividing something up, I wouldn't approach them and ask for jumper cables!

[Keith]

Its a perfect car jacking set up. Middle of parking lot no one around. Good call. If he had a gun he could have gotten the drop on you even if you were packing. I would rather be rude then in court for shooting someone any day of the week.

[wford]

Just curious how would you have handled this situation had you been unarmed ?

[witchdoctor575]

good job, bad guys prey on weak folk and use surprise to their advantage, being strong minded and aware prolly made him think twice about targeting you. personally I could care less what a stranger thinks of me, if they put themselves in a position that makes people uncomfortable then they get the proper response. I has been my experience in the past when a person is in true need they have a slight distressed look about them and try to get your attention way before they get close enough to cause concern.

[texas yankee]

Just curious how would you have handled this situation had you been unarmed ?

- I have a CHL, and the gun is usually in my IWB at 3 o'clock - but when the guy approached me, my gun was actually in the car next to my seat - it was on the right hand side of the driver's seat where it usually rides in the car - I couldn't keep it on me that day because I was wearing a loose pair of wind pants without a belt - I was on my way to a doctor's visit for a post-surgery checkup and needed to be comfortable. The gun was about 2 or three steps away from me - maybe it was my commanding presence and self-assured demeanor that kept him away. Maybe if he had pulled a gun, I'd have been in trouble, BUT, I think that those kind of guys are looking for victims.

I know that the guy I was there to meet has a CHL - I don't know if he was carrying then or not.