Pan Handlers Publix Parking Lot

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

My wife was approached by a man in the Publix parking lot on LaGrande Plaza near Spanish Springs. She said the man was very dirty and looked as though he was on drugs. He seemed threatening to her. When she refused, he approached an older gentleman who through a bunch of change at him and ran to his car. When my wife got to her golf cart there was another man looking very dirty and very much like the first man parked in front of her. She took off and stop to call the police. Suddenly they pulled up beside her and demanded to know who she was calling. She said that she was just calling her husband and they took off.

She is now terrified. She was afraid to drive home because she thought that they might follow her so she went into Publix and told the manager. The manager explained that they had no control or responsibility over what goes on in the parking lot. She stayed at Publix for a while and finally drove home.

She is now terrified and concerned that they are going to came and break into our house. She is young and from another country so she was afraid to call the police.

Just be aware of these guys. there have been a few shady characters in this area lately.

[redwitch]

Panhandling is one thing. Being intimidating is another. I can't believe the manager was so cavalier about this. At the very least, he could have offered your wife an escort to her vehicle.

I hope your wife gets over this quickly.

[jblum315]

1. Publix always has someone offer to walk you to your car. Maybe your wife should accept this offer.
2. Don't shop at night.
3. The manger is correct - Publix does not control the parking lot.

[marianne237]

Thank you for letting all of us aware to this. Be cautious out there.

[Taltarzac725]

My wife was approached by a man in the Publix parking lot on LaGrande Plaza near Spanish Springs. She said the man was very dirty and looked as though he was on drugs. He seemed threatening to her. When she refused, he approached an older gentleman who through a bunch of change at him and ran to his car. When my wife got to her golf cart there was another man looking very dirty and very much like the first man parked in front of her. She took off and stop to call the police. Suddenly they pulled up beside her and demanded to know who she was calling. She said that she was just calling her husband and they took off.

She is now terrified. She was afraid to drive home because she thought that they might follow her so she went into Publix and told the manager. The manager explained that they had no control or responsibility over what goes on in the parking lot. She stayed at Publix for a while and finally drove home.

She is now terrified and concerned that they are going to came and break into our house. She is young and from another country so she was afraid to call the police.

Just be aware of these guys. there have been a few shady characters in this area lately.

Thanks for the heads up. I have never liked being the target of aggressive panhandlers either.

[kittygilchrist]

Intimidation is about attitude.
Look at people in public office who Earn disrespect pussyfooting, watch Walking Tall, and say, who would try to intimidate John Wayne??

I am the hero of this fun story..just warnin ya..
Italy, with girlfriends, pushy guy selling roses keeps on and keeps on at my friends putting the rose in their face, touching their arms. It's a bit isolated in the area. He is violating their space. I worked in prisons...so..

I step toward him, and yell, BACK OFF!

One friend heard him mutter as he moved off, in his best mafioso movie english,
"You gonna be buried under da cement..."

[CFrance]

I seem to remember the manager of this Publix acted in a very cavalier manner when someone alerted him to some people shoplifting. It sounds like he needs some people-skill training.

I agree that your wife should accept Publix's offer to take her groceries out to the car. But perhaps she only had one bag, and an offer wouldn't have been extended. Is there anywhere else up there she could shop, where she might feel safer?

[kittygilchrist]

I seem to remember the manager of this Publix acted in a very cavalier manner when someone alerted him to some people shoplifting. It sounds like he needs some people-skill training.

I agree that your wife should accept Publix's offer to take her groceries out to the car. But perhaps she only had one bag, and an offer wouldn't have been extended. Is there anywhere else up there she could shop, where she might feel safer?

I am standing up for publix. Boogie should call the home office. I know a store where pubs paid for FHP to stand on duty.
The mgr should be aware, and is not, of publix commitment to make a safe environment, whatever it takes.
They will never refuse help, if they know publix integrity as i know it from 35 years shopping.

[Taltarzac725]

I seem to remember the manager of this Publix acted in a very cavalier manner when someone alerted him to some people shoplifting. It sounds like he needs some people-skill training.

I agree that your wife should accept Publix's offer to take her groceries out to the car. But perhaps she only had one bag, and an offer wouldn't have been extended. Is there anywhere else up there she could shop, where she might feel safer?

I have never encountered aggressive panhandlers around Southern Trace nor in Sumter Landing. These have always been around 441/27 especially up by the Super Walmart.

You do get the various groups requesting money for various causes at certain times of the year at Southern Trace and Sumter Landing but I have always found these people very polite even when you turn them down for donations.

[Irishmen]

Its a safety issue. In Marion County, the county commission had a ordinance in place for all the corner panhandlers but one sued and actually won 150,000 for violation of 1st amendment rights. They went back and changed the ordinance to focus on safety at intersections and all that and now they're gone. At Walmart, We had one guy approach say he was out of gas, we said no thank you, he goes around the corner gets on his bike. Lol.

[CFrance]

I am standing up for publix. Boogie should call the home office. I know a store where pubs paid for FHP to stand on duty.
The mgr should be aware, and is not, of publix commitment to make a safe environment, whatever it takes.
They will never refuse help, if they know publix integrity as i know it from 35 years shopping.
I wasn't dissing Publix in general; just that particular manager.

[kittygilchrist]

I wasn't dissing Publix in general; just that particular manager.

That's right. Me too!

[sunnyatlast]

Did she talk to the police when she got away and started to call? Or did she have to stop calling and get away from these creeps before talking to police?

I agree about contacting Publix about this particular manager. There are probably surveillance cameras covering the doors and parking lot, and they are there for a purpose. Corporate should know that customers are being treated like this.

I would use the car for a trip like that at night, to be able to lock the doors and sound the alarm on the key remote if necessary. Golf carts are unsafe in a number of ways. (However, in that instant the cart could be driven right up onto the sidewalk in front of the store, with horn sounding continuously, to be under the spotlights and drive right up to the automatic door openings to run inside.)

[CWGUY]

I seem to remember the manager of this Publix acted in a very cavalier manner when someone alerted him to some people shoplifting. It sounds like he needs some people-skill training.

I agree that your wife should accept Publix's offer to take her groceries out to the car. But perhaps she only had one bag, and an offer wouldn't have been extended. Is there anywhere else up there she could shop, where she might feel safer?

Maybe this is what you are thinking of:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/witnessed-theft-124981/

Same OP

Different store

Different manager with same attitude.... more or less.

[CFrance]

Maybe this is what you are thinking of:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/witnessed-theft-124981/

Same OP

Different store

Different manager with same attitude.... more or less.
Yes, that's the one I was thinking of. Sorry--wrong store.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

1. Publix always has someone offer to walk you to your car. Maybe your wife should accept this offer.
2. Don't shop at night.
3. The manger is correct - Publix does not control the parking lot.

This happened at 11:00 in the morning. The problem was that she was in the golf cart and the panhandlers also had a golf cart.

[gerryann]

This happened at 11:00 in the morning. The problem was that she was in the golf cart and the panhandlers also had a golf cart.

The panhandlers were in a golf cart?? That's weird......

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The panhandlers were in a golf cart?? That's weird......

Yup, one was in a red golf cart. We think they might live over in the Historic District. We may have seen them driving around here.

[bimmertl]

Its a safety issue. In Marion County, the county commission had a ordinance in place for all the corner panhandlers but one sued and actually won 150,000 for violation of 1st amendment rights. They went back and changed the ordinance to focus on safety at intersections and all that and now they're gone. At Walmart, We had one guy approach say he was out of gas, we said no thank you, he goes around the corner gets on his bike. Lol.

No, he didn't win $150,000, it was $10,000.


the 13th juror: Homeless man wins $10,000 <br>in panhandling lawsuit (http://jackiedowd.blogspot.com/2008/09/homeless-man-wins-10000-in-panhandling.html)

[bkcunningham1]

My wife was approached by a man in the Publix parking lot on LaGrande Plaza near Spanish Springs. She said the man was very dirty and looked as though he was on drugs. He seemed threatening to her. When she refused, he approached an older gentleman who through a bunch of change at him and ran to his car. When my wife got to her golf cart there was another man looking very dirty and very much like the first man parked in front of her. She took off and stop to call the police. Suddenly they pulled up beside her and demanded to know who she was calling. She said that she was just calling her husband and they took off.

She is now terrified. She was afraid to drive home because she thought that they might follow her so she went into Publix and told the manager. The manager explained that they had no control or responsibility over what goes on in the parking lot. She stayed at Publix for a while and finally drove home.

She is now terrified and concerned that they are going to came and break into our house. She is young and from another country so she was afraid to call the police.

Just be aware of these guys. there have been a few shady characters in this area lately.


I sincerely hate that your wife was frightened. I also want you to know that I appreciate the heads-up about the men. It isn't any of my business, but since you put it out there, why would she be afraid to call the police? Please, help her understand to never hesitate to call the police or seek out a police officer if she needs help for anything. Teach her about 911 and to not be afraid of the police.

[DonH57]

Its a safety issue. In Marion County, the county commission had a ordinance in place for all the corner panhandlers but one sued and actually won 150,000 for violation of 1st amendment rights. They went back and changed the ordinance to focus on safety at intersections and all that and now they're gone. At Walmart, We had one guy approach say he was out of gas, we said no thank you, he goes around the corner gets on his bike. Lol.

The guy getting on his bike sounds like the one we encountered at a Sonic in Orlando.LOL

[rubicon]

Something about the explanation of these panhandlers is just not right. It would seem that these folks can be forced to move on just because of the loitering rules and possibly people feeling harassed. I can't imagine a store claiming no responsibility for activities in their parking lot. If someone tripped and fell in the parking lot you know the injured party is looking to the store and those maintaining the parking lot . The Publix manager mentioned is getting away with this because no one has pushed the issue

[B767drvr]

My wife...

She is young and from another country...

:bigbow:

Attaboy Doc!

[Pietrina1]

I am wondering why no one, either the Publix manager or the woman, called The Villages Security or the Police

[sharonga]

My daughter was accosted at that same area. About a year ago. A young guy and an old guy. Almost carjacked her until a lady came along and they ran away.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I sincerely hate that your wife was frightened. I also want you to know that I appreciate the heads-up about the men. It isn't any of my business, but since you put it out there, why would she be afraid to call the police? Please, help her understand to never hesitate to call the police or seek out a police officer if she needs help for anything. Teach her about 911 and to not be afraid of the police.

In her country calling the police is useless. If they do show up at all, the chances are that they might extort money from you. I've tried to explain that most police in this country are not like that. She is still a bit leery and at this point feels that there is nothing the police can do. I've tried to explain that you file a report on the incident and then the police are aware of this kind of activity and will keep a look out for it. She has a hard time understanding that.

The other thing is that she wasn't touched and the guy never really got any closer than about fifteen feet from her so I'm not really even sure what we would report.

[patfla06]

Whether he touched her or not he acted in a threatening manner.
No man should be approaching a woman alone.

Must have been very scary!

[rubicon]

Let's face it we live in a less safe world today. The police can't be everywhere and so it falls upon us all. Publix along with others in thisand all surrounding shopping area should maintain good recording cameras, perhaps share in private security guards to patrol the area and with some safety meetings find other avenues of protection.

Private citizens should arm themselves with mace, perhaps some training in self defense, awareness, avoidance and getting a better handling on the do's and do nots when con fronted.

Its pretty obvious these panhandlers and their like have little concern patrolling these areas which in my view speaks volumes

[PammyJ]

The guy getting on his bike sounds like the one we encountered at a Sonic in Orlando.LOL

This has happened to me four times in recent years. The idiot at walmart in Palm Bay goes to the same store every time. didn't believe he was out of gas the first time, wonder what he is thinking?
There have been several times where I have seen others hanging around the parking lot and approaching other people. Most of the time they stay away from me due to the fact that I start throwing my stuff around and acting all crazy. Works almost very time! This type of panhandling is more common than you think, especially in Brevard County.

[kittygilchrist]

In her country calling the police is useless. If they do show up at all, the chances are that they might extort money from you. I've tried to explain that most police in this country are not like that. She is still a bit leery and at this point feels that there is nothing the police can do. I've tried to explain that you file a report on the incident and then the police are aware of this kind of activity and will keep a look out for it. She has a hard time understanding that.

The other thing is that she wasn't touched and the guy never really got any closer than about fifteen feet from her so I'm not really even sure what we would report.

Here I go on another rant. Another cup of coffee please…

First, whoever is giving the panhandlers money stop it! If there were no reward they would go away. This is their work. They hassle and aggravate people until they get money.

Second, if you are too timid, young, small, old, or infirm, to walk past these people without giving off a signal that you are a good victim, prepare some defence:
Hold a loud alarm in your hand, or A canister of pepper spray, put a whistle around your neck. At the very least learn how to set off the alarm on your car from a distance and scream like you mean it.

Third, thank you for the reminder that certain areas are not safe to be in the villages. I will try to remember to carry my gun in those areas. And the whistle. I like my whistle...

[GeoGeo]

So sorry your wife had this experience. But thank you for posting so that others can be aware.

I agree with Kitty that people should stop giving them money. If they don't get rewarded then perhaps they will move on. And be prepared....have a plan like some of the ideas Kitty mentioned.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Here I go on another rant. Another cup of coffee please…

First, whoever is giving the panhandlers money stop it! If there were no reward they would go away. This is their work. They hassle and aggravate people until they get money.

Second, if you are too timid, young, small, old, or infirm, to walk past these people without giving off a signal that you are a good victim, prepare some defence:
Hold a loud alarm in your hand, or A canister of pepper spray, put a whistle around your neck. At the very least learn how to set off the alarm on your car from a distance and scream like you mean it.

Third, thank you for the reminder that certain areas are not safe to be in the villages. I will try to remember to carry my gun in those areas. And the whistle. I like my whistle...

I just bought her a can of mace. I tried to get here to carry one a few years ago and she refused.

[DougB]

I am wondering why no one, either the Publix manager or the woman, called The Villages Security or the Police

What's the phone number for "Village Security"?

[mulligan]

What's the phone number for "Village Security"?

Why ? There's no law against panhandling.

[CFrance]

What's the phone number for "Village Security"?

Why ? There's no law against panhandling.

There's no Village Security, either.

I believe if you are "panhandled" and then followed in your cart and asked whom you're calling, that's threatening and grounds for calling the police.

[Taltarzac725]

There's no Village Security, either.

I believe if you are "panhandled" and then followed in your cart and asked whom you're calling, that's threatening and grounds for calling the police.

That would probably be a hard case to proof without more but it does sound like a point to call the police. Let them sort it out as to whether charges were filed.

I stick up for myself if faced with individual panhandlers. If there's a group of them though I look for an easier approach. I took a wrong turn while trying to get to the ferry station after attending the American Association of Law Libraries Convention in San Francisco in 1992 and wound up in a rather nasty part of the Tenderloin. The tables were kind of turned so I had to be the one looking for a quick exit. I do not know if they have cleaned up these areas of the Tenderloin by 2014. http://www.sfgate.com/homeless/

[BobnBev]

What's the phone number for "Village Security"?

:a040::a040: 1-800-who-cares

[cquick]

I am so sorry that your wife was frightened! Hope she is ok now.
:sad: