T.J. Maxx
620 US N Highway 441, Rolling Acres Plaza, The Villages
(352) 430-2341

The designation of The Villages or Lady Lake does not matter. Villagers do a lot of shopping there.

As to the posters who think that a gun is the answer, I would say "WRONG".

A purse snatcher would typically pick a person that he thinks is older and non-athletic. He would run at them from behind, hit them with enough force to knock them down, grab their purse and take off running to a nearby car driven by an accomplice.

The purse snatcher is not going to target a younger looking and athletic looking lady as a victim nor is he going to target a male (no purse). So, those people have little to worry about.

If the victim had a gun in their purse - it now belongs to the robber. If they had the gun on their body somewhere, after shaking cobwebs out of their head from being knocked down, the robber would be a hundred yards away and a pistol is not going to hit a target running a hundred yards away - and your life is not in danger anymore so Stand Your Ground is not a defense to shooting.

Best answer is to Be Aware of Your Surroundings. MACE or a gun is not a viable answer.

Maybe it's time to change a few laws. I'll leave it at that...

This sad news has bothered me all weekend. I wish there was something we could do for this poor lady, and I wish there was something I could do to this thug.

I can not imagine which law change would have changed the outcome of this crime other than “No Running in the Parking Lot”.

I think an answer would be to buy a can of pepper spray and carry it in your hand while going to your car. Probably you won't even have to use it.
By the way, where can you buy pepper spray around here?

Buggyone got it right. Much as I'd like to think a gun or mace would save the day, reason tells me his scenario is correct. I'm for tough punishment for criminals so that perhaps they'd think twice before committing these acts. Currently there is little more than a slap on the hand, if that. Why not take that purse, or kick in that door?

Actually, if you are aware of your surroundings, have a concealed pistol with the knowledge and license to carry it, this becomes a very viable answer.

TraceyMoore RN?????
 

Please come on and give us an up date on this poor woman.


Having a broken pelvis for an eighty year old is very serious. Since Tracey told us she is from another country, I wonder if she has friends here and I worry on top of being in pain she is in the hospital alone without someone coming to see her.


Wonder what if anything we could do to help her?


Salybow? You usually know about this kind of stuff, having been a hospital chaplain. Can you think of anything we could do?

"A purse snatcher would typically pick a person that he thinks is older and probably somewhat frail. He would run at them from behind, hit them with enough force to knock them down, grab their purse and take off running to a nearby car driven by an accomplice.

The purse snatcher is not going to target a younger looking and athletic looking lady as a victim nor is he going to target a male (no purse). So, those people have little to worry about.

If the victim (older, frail person) had a gun in their purse - it now belongs to the robber. If they (older, frail person) had the gun on their body somewhere, after shaking cobwebs out of their head from being knocked down, the robber would be a hundred yards away and a pistol is not going to hit a target running a hundred yards away - and your life is not in danger anymore so Stand Your Ground is not a defense to shooting.

Best answer is to Be Aware of Your Surroundings. MACE or a gun is not a viable answer."
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"Actually, if you are aware of your surroundings, have a concealed pistol with the knowledge and license to carry it, this becomes a very viable answer."
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I can understand what you are saying BUT remember, the target victims of purse snatchers in a parking lot will probably be the older (late 70's or 80's) and somewhat frail ladies. These ladies will not be likely to be carrying a concealed pistol on their person (not in the purse) nor will they have the reflexes to quickly identify a real robbery about to happen and to have time to pull their pistol and calmly pull the trigger. Remember, shooting in a stressful situation is entirely different than at a gun range.

Just be aware of your surroundings, walk in pairs if possible, and have purse strap over the shoulder - not the neck.

:bigbow: