Not a Bird, a MAN Swooped down to STEAL MY DOG!

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Very scary experience! I'm glad you locked the doors right away. I do that as a matter of habit now for safety. Although my doors lock automatically when the car starts to move, I don't want to be taken by surprise before I start moving.

I agree with SA and it is something that I have to actively remind myself of because I have been more preoccupied lately. Being a tall woman, I am not a typical target, but I think that is changing with the bad guys becoming more brazen. Last year, I had a man approach me in a Target parking lot in the middle of the day. I didn't break my stride and I put my hand up in the stop position. I was ready to throw my cup of hot coffee on him if necessary. Luckily, I scared him off.

Speaking of crazy, we had a guy in the DC area going to shopping malls and stabbing people in the rear end. He was eventually caught, but who knows what his motive was.

I agree with SA as well, and it has always been my routine to lock the door before closing it...have locked myself out accidentally a couple times that way, too. LOL I keep my doors locked in or out of the car...always.

I rented a car once from the Columbus, OH airport then drove to Urbana. My directions 'ran out' along the way, so I stopped at the only open store for directions, but it didn't look like a highly reputable part of town so I wanted to sit there for a few minutes to size up the area and my situation before proceeding. The minute I turned off the ignition, all the door locks flew open. Not happy about that but not knowing the car or how to re-lock all 4 doors, I just went ahead into the store. It turned out that my hotel was across the parking lot, so I wasn't actually 'lost' nor was it a 'bad' part of town, but in the dark to a newbie, it looked bad...the car auto-locked all the doors when you hit 25 mph, but I have a very low opinion of cars with that feature to this day.

I ride a motorcycle and here there seem to always be people walking up to cars stopped at traffic lights, begging for money for whatever cause they have. I despise this technique of fleecing such a captive audience as well as the danger of people walking in traffic. I have literally had to yell at people "Do not approach the bike!" more than once. Sitting at the red light, both hands and both feet are busy...feet holding the bike upright, left hand on the clutch, right hand on the brake. They even put the fire department in bunker gear out in the middle of 4-land highways with firetrucks parked in the median, blocking traffic's view of turning traffic...no problem, though...soliciting donations with taxpayers picking up the tab. I personally think we pay more for the fuel to drive the trucks there and for their salaries than they collect from people in cars. Ironic...

We had someone here many years ago that would lie in wait under cars in the (little) mall parking lot and cut the achilles tendon(s) when people (women) returned to their cars at mall close...they wouldn't see 'him' under their cars when they approached so he would cut their heels while they were unlocking their car doors. This was before 'clickers' of course...lol They would fall down and he'd take their car, them, their purchases...whatever he wanted. It wasn't publicized, though, so people wouldn't get scared and NOT shop at the mall ...very freaky. The mall is a little bigger now, but still really small compared to what I got used to before moving to FL...there is no way to know if anything like that still occurs, even with the 'mall security parking lot guy' driving the parking lot at night.

I am glad the guy in Target's parking lot took heed of your warning...at least you didn't have to waste your coffee on such an idiot.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by navillusc

No kidding...a book on 'gut' instinct? Fascinating!

A topic for a different forum, perhaps...lol, but I do believe and wholeheartedly agree there is a 'connectedness' that we 'pick up on' at certain times...there is much we do not consciously 'know' but trusting that 'gut' instinct has saved many, from what other people have told me of their own experiences.

Leaving that elevator car like you did may have been the best thing you did for yourself...and us...that day..."us" because, while nothing negative that might have happened can be proven, but possibly because of your actions, you certainly survived, allowing us to meet you here on YT.

As I recall it was called "Blink" by a guy named ?Gladwell/Gladewell? I think. Pretty interesting how we thin-slice so much about what we like or dilike, trust or distrust. It covers many instances of how those who trust that little voice within for no reason are so often glad they did. Like the time I wouldn't get on that elevator. The guy could have been a choirboy but something about him just sent bad vibes and I was gone in an instant. Better safe than sorry when you get "that feeling".

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

As I recall it was called "Blink" by a guy named ?Gladwell/Gladewell? I think. Pretty interesting how we thin-slice so much about what we like or dilike, trust or distrust. It covers many instances of how those who trust that little voice within for no reason are so often glad they did. Like the time I wouldn't get on that elevator. The guy could have been a choirboy but something about him just sent bad vibes and I was gone in an instant. Better safe than sorry when you get "that feeling".

I'll have to look into the book. It's not just people that do this, though. My Yorkies make those 'snap' decisions, too, and most if not all of my other fur babies have, also. For example, I had a Shep/Lab mix that never met the guy, but always barked when one particular UPS guy delivered near our house...even without seeing the UPS truck. He rarely barked, but it was always the same guy driving the UPS truck when he barked, and all the other UPS guys he never barked at...nor did he bark at other UPS or other kinds of trucks. There was 'something' about that one guy.

It is interesting to watch the Yorkies. We take them with us every where they are allowed to go. They normally love everyone, but occasionally, they dislike someone they've never met and bark and posture, too. It's not a male/female or adult/child distinction, either, or financial status...it seems to be very specific individuals they take immediate exception to.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Oh goodness, animals live by their instincts & instantaneous reactions. Theirs are much faster and more developed than ours. They trust them without a second thought as humans do. Often our reason overrules our gut.

[Shelby&Seymour]

I have heard of way too much of this kind of stuff going on lately..... so glad that you and your little furkid are OK.... So glad that you had that leash on your wrist!!!

Tis the season.... sad but true.