Walmart Panhandlers

[Evil_Conservative]

Our Walmart has always had panhandlers in the parking lot, but it's getting worse now that the unemployment in Las Vegas is well over 20%.  We stopped by yesterday to pick up a few things and a man approached us and asked if we had any money on us.  I told him no, because I just threw all of my spare change in the Salvation Army bucket. 

I forgot to pick up a couple things yesterday, so we walked over to Walmart today.  On our way back home, a man was sitting on a flower bed ledge of a closed business next to Walmart.  He asked if we could help him.  He didn't want our money.  I told him, "well, we don't have any food."  And he said, "I want you to buy me some chicken."

 

I'm all for helping people out, but the way he said it made me angry.  Sorry, but our family doesn't even get chicken that often.  It's too expensive, unless we find a great deal at the grocery store.

Anyway, I'm about ready to call the store manager of Walmart and find out what they can do to get those panhandlers off their property.  I can't stand them.  They will come up from behind and ask for money.  And they usually target people who are by themselves or with small children, which then has me reaching for my gun thinking someone is going to try and rob me.  About six months ago, someone approached us in the Walmart parking lot, at night, while my husband was putting our daughter back in the car.  I was loading up the trunk.  When he noticed my husband, the guy walked away and didn't look back.  It makes me feel really uncomfortable.  We like to shop at Walmart.  The store is right next to our apartment complex.  It's convenient for us.  Especially on really nice days like today, because it's just a quick five minute walk.

Should I even bother with calling the store manager?  He/She will probably just disregard the complaint, unless other shoppers are getting just as annoyed as we are.

[Chris_]

You do?  Ours are about 99% free of bums and vagrants (not counting the customers themselves).

Definitely, call the store manager about it.  Most states and municipalities have laws against solicitation and aggressive panhandling.

[Ballygrl]

WOW! I've never seen any panhandlers at our Walmart at all, but from what you said? if you complain make sure to mention they seem to be targeting woman who are alone or are with children, I would think they would take it more seriously then.

[Thor]

I'd probably keep my hand on my carry piece were I you (discretely, of course) and be ready to draw down on them. Fear of death or great bodily harm is usually a good enough excuse for self-defense shooting. I'd imagine that they'd stop if they had a piece pulled on them now and again.

[mamacags]

Call the manager.  It is illegal for them to do that on Walmart property.  I know for a fact that the managers here call the cops on them.  9 times out of 10 they are professional panhandlers that make more than you do.

[thundley4]

I haven't even seen panhandlers downtown here let alone at the Walmart.

[Evil_Conservative]

Call the manager.  It is illegal for them to do that on Walmart property.  I know for a fact that the managers here call the cops on them.  9 times out of 10 they are professional panhandlers that make more than you do.

That's what I was thinking.

I've never actually seen anyone give them money, but I don't stick around for long.

[debk]

We don't have panhandlers at ours, but I've quit going at night...just because some of the people hanging out in the parking lot are a little creepy.

I was there right before Thanksgiving, and it got dark while I was inside. I was really glad that I was parked under a light, and not to far down the aisle. As I was leaving in my car, I passed a group of guys standing around their "souped up cars" ....they weren't from the neighborhood...they looked more like they were from the 'hood!!! 

[vesta111]

That's what I was thinking.

I've never actually seen anyone give them money, but I don't stick around for long.

Is this not how they caught the man who took off with the 12 year old after finding her mother murdered.???   They were panhandling outside a store when someone recognised the child.

Actually what is the law about asking the public for help, unless like up here two men were found flat on their backs , drunk as a skunk holding signs for some store in the area.

So the will work for food signs , what does that mean, for themselves or friends and family of 12.?     Are these panhandlers or really desperate people.?

How does the rhyme go-----Rich man, Poor man, Begger man, Thief, Doctor Lawyer, Indian chief. -----some where we will all become one of these as life goes on.

[Evil_Conservative]

Is this not how they caught the man who took off with the 12 year old after finding her mother murdered.???   They were panhandling outside a store when someone recognised the child.

Actually what is the law about asking the public for help, unless like up here two men were found flat on their backs , drunk as a skunk holding signs for some store in the area.

So the will work for food signs , what does that mean, for themselves or friends and family of 12.?     Are these panhandlers or really desperate people.?

How does the rhyme go-----Rich man, Poor man, Begger man, Thief, Doctor Lawyer, Indian chief. -----some where we will all become one of these as life goes on.

Yes, leave them out there to harass shoppers at Walmart.  Panhandlers are trespassing AND harassing the customers of Walmart.  I don't care if they one time recognized someone on America's Most Wanted or rescued a kitten from a tree, they are not welcomed on the property.

When it's 8pm and they come up from behind, while you're loading things in your trunk, and ask for money -- it makes me want to draw my weapon and shoot them.  They could start with the line, "can you spare some change?" and then rob you. 

You don't know their intentions.  I have my daughter with my every single time they bother me.  My first thought is to protect my daughter and make sure they aren't trying to run off with her. 

[JLO]

We don't have panhandlers at ours, but I've quit going at night...just because some of the people hanging out in the parking lot are a little creepy.

I was there right before Thanksgiving, and it got dark while I was inside. I was really glad that I was parked under a light, and not to far down the aisle. As I was leaving in my car, I passed a group of guys standing around their "souped up cars" ....they weren't from the neighborhood...they looked more like they were from the 'hood!!! 

This photo is way creepy.  That is my face (or my twin)  planted on a f'n pinko body that also resembled me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/JLO101/pinkfinger.jpg

[catsmtrods]

I tested one of the will work for food guys once. I stopped and said jump in. He did and I told him he could rake my lawn and we would give him dinner. He declined and ask if I had any more work he could do. He said he would work for $25 an hr! I brought him back to his corner and kicked him out of the car. Once when I was working in the company van I saw a girl and a dog with a sign that said they were hungry. I had a nice box lunch with me and thought I would offer it up, I could buy mine I thought. The bitch didn't take it, she said she wanted money to get food for the dog. I said then give the dog the sandwich. She tells me the dog needs special food! After those 2 I don't offer help anymore. I am thinking of making a sign to keep in the car that reads "Get A Job!"

[NHSparky]

I also love the, "I ran out of gas" types.  Funny how when I show them a gas can and point to the gas station, suddenly they really don't want to impose on me.  Go figure.

[debk]

Several years ago, the local paper did an article about a couple of so-called "pan-handlers" that were always at the same spot. The reporter had sat somewhere nearby and watched them for a couple of times before doing interviews and writing the article. I can't remember all the details, it's been too long ago. The upshot of the article - was the "pan-handlers" were making a whole lot more money than many of the people who were giving them money!! I had given money to one of them several times!!

They always had signs that said "VietNam Vet - homeless and needs money for food..." and had on green Army jackets with patches. Since they weren't far from the Vet Clinic, I always just figured they were Vets. I do remembering the article saying they weren't vets at all....but pretended to be because they got more money that way. 

Have you ever looked at some of these people asking for money? Really looked at them? They look pretty darn clean for someone who is homeless. At least the ones around here do. I saw a girl the other day on a corner...with some backpacks thrown on the ground beside her. "Homeless and stranded"....her hair looked clean, and her clothes were wrinkled but looked pretty clean too. If they really are homeless....where are they getting cleaned up?

[Thor]

Several years ago, the local paper did an article about a couple of so-called "pan-handlers" that were always at the same spot. The reporter had sat somewhere nearby and watched them for a couple of times before doing interviews and writing the article. I can't remember all the details, it's been too long ago. The upshot of the article - was the "pan-handlers" were making a whole lot more money than many of the people who were giving them money!! I had given money to one of them several times!!

They always had signs that said "VietNam Vet - homeless and needs money for food..." and had on green Army jackets with patches. Since they weren't far from the Vet Clinic, I always just figured they were Vets. I do remembering the article saying they weren't vets at all....but pretended to be because they got more money that way. 

Have you ever looked at some of these people asking for money? Really looked at them? They look pretty darn clean for someone who is homeless. At least the ones around here do. I saw a girl the other day on a corner...with some backpacks thrown on the ground beside her. "Homeless and stranded"....her hair looked clean, and her clothes were wrinkled but looked pretty clean too. If they really are homeless....where are they getting cleaned up?

I saw a similar, if not the same article. I recall that many of them were making something like $50/ hr pan handling.


There are places like homeless shelters that will provide laundry & showers to the homeless.

[Evil_Conservative]

I also love the, "I ran out of gas" types.  Funny how when I show them a gas can and point to the gas station, suddenly they really don't want to impose on me.  Go figure.

Some of them use that line on me.  I just tell them too bad.  If you can't afford the gas, you can't afford the car.  It costs me about $40 to fill up now.  So I don't want to hear people crying for gas money from me.  Most of them need to walk off some pounds anyway.

[Karin]

That is super creepy and scary to have some dude walk up behind you (and especially with your daughter!)  Definitely keep armed, and complain to the manager.  This is a public menace. 

I had a guy pull this kind of line..."I just need $5 more dollars to make bus fare to get to ______ where I can get back on my feet."   Reminds me of the DUmp, where they were just $1 away from something (the Andyscam?)      
I think I donated a quarter or something. 

[Karin]

Here's a small DUmmy campfire concerning this:  Link

[DumbAss Tanker]

We don't have panhandlers at ours, but they pretty much the rendezvous point for the almost-certainly-illegal day laborers to link up with farmers and building trades employers.

[Wineslob]

They don't come anywhere near me. One look is all it takes.

[IassaFTots]

We don't have panhandlers at ours, but they pretty much the rendezvous point for the almost-certainly-illegal day laborers to link up with farmers and building trades employers.

My town got tired of them hanging at the Home Depot, so they built them a pavilion.  The  Day Labor Center.  No lie. I can't make this up.   

The Day Labor Center is available for individuals to gather in one central location to seek work.  The Day Labor Center’s purpose is to provide an organized and supervised alternative to hiring temporary labor and to create an equitable system for the selection of workers.  Both contractors and individuals are welcome to use the Day Labor Center to obtain workers.  The Day Labor Center is a partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission and the WorkSource for Dallas County.

[Eupher]

My town got tired of them hanging at the Home Depot, so they built them a pavilion.  The  Day Labor Center.  No lie. I can't make this up.   

Oh, FFS. Can anyone spell "illegal" in Texas?   

[IassaFTots]

Oh, FFS. Can anyone spell "illegal" in Texas?   

It gets better.  The day labor center is directly across the street from the bus stations for Turimex Internacional, and Transportes El Mexicano.   

[Eupher]

It gets better.  The day labor center is directly across the street from the bus stations for Turimex Internacional, and Transportes El Mexicano.   

 

Thanks, Tots. Now I have a headache. 

[Airwolf]

Smith & Wesson and me. Don't **** with either of us and you don't get shot.