I have read on this forum also that its nice to be good but don't overdo it .... Somewhere on the forum some years back it was discussed that if you find an unattended person who needs help - DON'T help , else you could land in trouble ... Call the community service / police etc instead ...
I m confused -- as here a person responded to the need of the moment , took law in his own hands and is yet recommended by the police ... Whats right and whats not ???? Views ?
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/694065
HAMILTON–Drawn by a young mother's screams, Johnathan Bailey found a man clutching her child in one hand and a broken bottle in the other, threatening to "stab the kid" if she didn't give him money.
Bailey offered the man $20 for the child and when that was refused, snatched the 17-month-old boy from the mugger's grasp.
"He was yelling `Give me $60 or I'll cut the kid,'" Bailey said yesterday, still shaken by the drama that played out Wednesday in the parking lot of a grocery store.
Once Bailey took the boy, he handed him to his girlfriend, Michelle Carpenter. Another passerby, David Skinner, chased the man down and Bailey, 37, tackled the suspect. The two men then held him.
"I guess I took him down hard," Bailey said. "We held him until the cops arrived."
Police Supt. Bill Stewart said the young boy and his mother were traumatized by the incident he called "every parent's worst nightmare." But he said the child did not require hospitalization after being checked out by paramedics.
Stewart said he phoned Bailey to thank him. The police will also send him a letter of commendation.
Police said the woman was loading groceries into her car with her child seated in the shopping cart when a stranger approached. The man took hold of the boy's arm and threatened to harm him if the mother didn't hand over money, Stewart said.
"The victim yelled for help and several people came to assist," he said."The suspect attempted to run with the boy, but (Bailey) managed to get hold of the child," Stewart said.
Jason Boyd, 38, of Hamilton, appeared in court yesterday. He faces charges of robbery, hostage taking and extortion.
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Fido.
I was in a similiar situation but not at this extreme very recently.
Last friday sept 11,late afternoon I returned shopping from Oceans & hwy 7. Usually I park next to the cart returning counter as I have a 7 month old son,so It would be easy for me in unloading/returning process. Earlier,when I was entering the store I noticed this "Looser" kind of guy smoking with shabby clothes,unshaven face scanning thru the cars while owners were gone.
So when I returned back which was around 4.30, I again saw this guy standing next to my van and talking with a big fat guy. As I came near to my van he disappeared. I opened the keys to my van ,put in my purse(which I do at the last) and was trying to take my son off from the sling, and this big fat guy with some loonies in hand came to me and asked "Ma`m, do you have some change for the loonies I have?". I just said a quick NO and turned around to see the other "Looser" guy approaching towards me. And this fat guy insisted"perhaps you will need my help in loading up the grocceries or something I can do ..........." . Holding my son more tight I cut him saying "Thanks, I dont need help " and pulled out my cell phone . To my luck a car pulled over nearby and a bunch of men out of it I gave a big smile and waved at them saying "Hi, how are ya...?". By this time this "Looser" guy is almost near my van signals this fat guy , takes a deviation and starts walking back in between the parked cars.
And I turned around to see this fat guy move away asking other people the same question.Anyways, I called some unknown number and started talking. I put my son in his car seat locked him up threw in the groceries and hurried away.
I still do not know whether there was any threat while these men were trying to corner me as I struggling holding my son and the groceries but I am scared after this incident. 
Any suggestions to save my son and me from these kind of people in future will be helpful.
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you may be someone to the world but for someone you are the world.
You did the absolute right things - observed while going in , observed while coming out , safe keeping key , turning down unwanted offers , whipping out your cellphone asap , waving at some unknown people ... All this needs presence of mind and you have displayed it well .
While parking after dark , try a spot which is well lit ...
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Fido.
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 14-09-09 08:08:46
Shriya,
I would recommend getting yourself a whistle and attach it to your key chain. Noise is a decent deterrent as it would attract crowd. Fido is right. You did the right thing to be cautious.
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Dimple2001
Glad you came out of this.. Its a good idea to report this ? At least this should save the next person from such harassment.
Quote:
Originally posted by shriya
I was in a similiar situation but not at this extreme very recently.
Last friday sept 11,late afternoon I returned shopping from Oceans & hwy 7. Usually I park next to the cart returning counter as I have a 7 month old son,so It would be easy for me in unloading/returning process. Earlier,when I was entering the store I noticed this "Looser" kind of guy smoking with shabby clothes,unshaven face scanning thru the cars while owners were gone.
So when I returned back which was around 4.30, I again saw this guy standing next to my van and talking with a big fat guy. As I came near to my van he disappeared. I opened the keys to my van ,put in my purse(which I do at the last) and was trying to take my son off from the sling, and this big fat guy with some loonies in hand came to me and asked "Ma`m, do you have some change for the loonies I have?". I just said a quick NO and turned around to see the other "Looser" guy approaching towards me. And this fat guy insisted"perhaps you will need my help in loading up the grocceries or something I can do ..........." . Holding my son more tight I cut him saying "Thanks, I dont need help " and pulled out my cell phone . To my luck a car pulled over nearby and a bunch of men out of it I gave a big smile and waved at them saying "Hi, how are ya...?". By this time this "Looser" guy is almost near my van signals this fat guy , takes a deviation and starts walking back in between the parked cars.
And I turned around to see this fat guy move away asking other people the same question.Anyways, I called some unknown number and started talking. I put my son in his car seat locked him up threw in the groceries and hurried away.
I still do not know whether there was any threat while these men were trying to corner me as I struggling holding my son and the groceries but I am scared after this incident.
Any suggestions to save my son and me from these kind of people in future will be helpful.
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The cowards never started,
The weak died on the way,
Only the strong arrived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yK1i9cLAMM
Thanks everyone.
Basically I am not a person who is very cautious of surroundings but this incident taught me a lesson. Thank god for that.
Shriya
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you may be someone to the world but for someone you are the world.
