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As our Website e-mail is not functioning, I will post important news on this home page. This link will lead you to a series of e-mails that were forwarded to me for disseminating. Please read!
NOTE: This is the e-mail I sent to Tanya Normand, our APD District Liaison
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Tanya--
Sorry about the length of this -- but I thought it should be brought to your attention. Unfortunately, our e-mail is not working so I cannot send this to all of our members. I have requested that it go to the members of our Yahoo Group. I assume a lot more of this will go on as $$$$$$ matters get worse.
Stevie Tompkins
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Date: Monday, November 17, 2008, 11:56 AM
Ladies,
This is just a reminder to keep your eyes on your surroundings and purse at all times. A few minutes ago Gigi (my coleader) was at the HEB buying groceries and had an odd thing happen to her. She was in line at the regular checkout line when a young man pushed in line between her and the person behind her with just a pack of mints- he was behaving in a way that made her really uncomfortable then he followed her closely out to the car and just as he started to approach her she saw a man she knew from school walking near by so she rapidly went to him and explained the situation- the young man stopped walking towards her and waited and then ducked back into HEB when she stayed with the man. It may be nothing but it also could be that he was going to grab her purse or worse. With the holidays coming up this type of thing gets more frequent so keep your eyes open even in broad daylight!
Jen
I had a similar experience a few months ago. I was going to my car and a young man drove up to tell me he needed gas $$ and couldn’t get a hold of his parents. Thankfully, I was in my car and could drive off. Another friend also was approached by what we think is the same person a short time later as she was walking to her car.
I did report it to the store manager, and I was told to feel free to ask for someone to help me carry out my groceries. I got the impression this is happening all-too frequently at this HEB location. I always take a look around now at this location before I walk in the parking lot.
Tammy Wishard
Okay, I also had a creepy thing happen to me there. I actually ended up calling the police. A man in a car (not parked) was watching me get in my car. I thought he was waiting for my parking place. He let me pull out but then followed me out of the parking lot, right on SSR, I was turning left on Texas Plume, but I did not put on my turn signal and just quickly turned left with no warning. He past me, but then U-turned about 10 feet past where I turned and then came up Texas Plume fast. I then decided not to go home to my empty house and started driving around while I called 911. He followed me every turn. They told me to go to the nearest public building or find a group of people while they sent someone. I saw a lawn crew across from the school, so I pulled up and parked there. He then drove past. I was pretty shaken up. I gave an ID as best I could, but they didn't find anyone. They told me that was a bad location in general for crime.
Juli
Subject: Fwd: Creepy Incident at the HEB on Spicewood Springs/183
Girls, I emailed this thread to you not with the intention of scaring you, but to remind you that these people exist, even in what we assume are innocuous places like HEB. Once you start driving by yourselves, you need to be extra aware of your surroundings. The scam of coming up to you in the parking lot and asking for $$ for a gallon of gas or bus fare is common. It's happened to me twice in this area. While it could be just creative panhandling, it also a way to get you to stand still and open your purse. Do your good works through scouts or church and don't feel impolite when you ignore the stranger in the parking lot. If you feel that you are being followed to your car, turn around and go back in the store. If you are in your car and think that someone is following you, do as Juli did below and call the police on your cell and drive to someplace very public.
Always trust your instincts. One leader pointed out that she heard a psychologist say that humans are the only animals that ignore their instincts for fear of looking dumb. Men have brawn; women have adapted strong gut feelings. Trust yours.
Teresa
This has happened to me on three different occasions. Once was for gas money at the Walgreens on 183/McNeil, another time at the HEB on Spicewood Springs/183 for cab fare to get to UT to take a final as her car had broken down and one time for baby milk money at Stein Mart. Bob was standing by the car at Stein Mart so I did cough up a couple of dollars as I thought - oh my, what if it is really true. (I saw her the next week as I was going into Hancock Fabric and I was in my ignore mode but she was busy concentrating on someone else.) For the gas money request I was alone and turned around and went back into Walgreens and complained to the manager who accompanied me back out and the man left the lot immediately. For the cab fare request at HEB I was with a daughter and I said no and went into the store – the daughter was smart enough to say nothing.
What a shame.
Subject: Fw: [Fwd: Fwd: Creepy Incident at the HEB on Spicewood Springs/183]
To: "Stevie Tompkins WebAdmin" <
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Date: Monday, November 24, 2008, 11:40 PM
FYI
Perhaps we can alert the HOA area and inform the police in charge of this area (they should already know but it helps to let them know so they know we are expecting them to be more alert in their patrols and more frequent patrols). We used to see the Sherriff's cars patrolling often before the City annexed us. Since then we are lucky to see the Austin Police on occasions. One policeman told me that they are busy with calls in East Austin and our area is not considered a priority since there are few incidents here. We pay the taxes for others who most likely do not pay the taxes, to get the protection. We have been spreading the wealth for many years! Only to get worse...
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