| Author |
Message |
    
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 73
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:21 am: |     |
I saw something this morning and I can't get it out of my head.
I was walking to the train along elmwood/summit area. I see this car idling at curb (a black toyota corolla with tinted windows) and i see it driving up summit and then back down. I see it park in front of a house. THEN as i get to corner of summit/elmwood, I see a guy in a full ski mask walk around the corner onto summit and I think, what? it's not that cold. Then I see him get in the car idling and drive away....
Now there are about ten other people out and about (walking dogs, one guy working on gutters, etc) and I watch as I'm walking but nobody seems to react or look like they think it is strange. The guy didn't rush at all. But why the heck was he wearing a ski mask?? It wasn't that cold..
SO I call my husband (who will be walking to 9 am train) and tell him to keep his eye out..he sees nothing..
Should I have called Maplewood PD, you think? I can't stop thinking about how odd it was...but maybe I've just seen too many movies! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6353
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:38 am: | |
When I see cars idling for too long in one spot or cruising around, I take the license and call the cops. Worst case scenario, nothing is wrong.
A few years ago, I saw a man lure a child into a car in the parking lot behind the Blue Life Karate building. I took the license and drove straight to MPD head quarters. They checked it out and it turned out that the kid was mad at his father because he didn't want to leave karate school. OK - I overreacted. But what if it hasn't been his father?
Maybe it's paranoia, but people up to no good rely on complacency. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11395
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 12:04 pm: | |
Yes, call the police when weird stuff happens. If he's doing nothing wrong, the police will ascertain that, and he'll go on his way. It does sound creepy.
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ken (the other one)
Citizen
Username: Ken
Post Number: 366
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 12:13 pm: | |
Yes you should call the police. My son's neighbor had his headlights stolen over the weekend and the guy was wearing a ski mask. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2400
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 12:24 pm: | |
I think it's always good to trust your gut instinct and act on it. And, in this situation, as others have said, if there was nothing to it then no harm done!
I think I would have found the guy in the ski mask odd too. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8162
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 12:43 pm: | |
Ski masks are for skiing. If they're not on a slope, I'd call the police. |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 977
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 12:46 pm: | |
Maybe he has asthma and was wearing the ski mask to avoid breathing in cold air. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1493
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 1:01 pm: | |
Is this a joke? Or hypothetical?
If not, you should have called the police immediately. |
thegoodsgt
Citizen
Username: Thegoodsgt
Post Number: 898
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 1:14 pm: | |
Hell yes! You call the police immediately! You write down the license plate number, too.
Everyone should have the local police number programmed into their cell phone so that it appears first in your list of contacts. |
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 75
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 1:34 pm: | |
It does sound crazy to read it now--I guess when I was in the situation and nobody else thought anything of it, it seemed like I was overreacting--this was broad daylight at 8:15 am!...I am going to call just to give a heads' up--I got the make and color of car but by the time i thought to get license plate they were long gone...
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shaun
Citizen
Username: Shaun
Post Number: 52
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 4:27 pm: | |
Absolutely suspicious behavior - get the plate and call it in, MPD happy to check it out. Even if they are gone by the time MPD gets there, they will have a record of the license plate and vehicle description and can act accordingly if the car is trolling other neighborhoods.
This guy is counting on no one noticing and calling it in. And he was way too comfortable, not rushing as you say. Was he carrying anything? |
happyman
Citizen
Username: Happyman
Post Number: 387
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:45 pm: | |
Absolutely call the Police. There have been multiple ski mask incidences over the last few days.
Actually first take a picture of the license (though it is probably stolen). Then call 911. It is up to us to be watchful in our neighborhoods.
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Jonathan Teixeira
Citizen
Username: Jhntxr
Post Number: 301
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:54 pm: | |
Who said we don't need cameras in maplewood ? |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2410
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 6:30 am: | |
What kind of "ski mask incidents?" |
Jonathan Teixeira
Citizen
Username: Jhntxr
Post Number: 304
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 8:47 am: | |
It's just some high school kids playing around . Nothing to worry about . |
bill671
Citizen
Username: Bill671
Post Number: 223
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 11:03 am: | |
Maybe you should wait until after a crime has been comitted otherwise some people will accuse you of profiling people who wear ski masks.
Seriously, have you never heard of armed and strong-armed robberies here in Maple'hood? Like it or not, it happens here all the time.
Very lucky for you that YOU weren't the target. |
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 76
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 11:22 am: | |
My husband did call...
The guy was not carrying anything...This was not a high school kid, this was an older guy from what i could tell...
Literally, when I saw the guy walk around the corner, there were at least five people out and about--walking the dog, 2 kids walking to school, a guy working on a house, etc. It was bizarre...
To what kind of ski mask incidents are you referring??? |
happyman
Citizen
Username: Happyman
Post Number: 388
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 12:03 pm: | |
The incident on Friday in SO (see thread) included four men in ski masks. Having then read this thread on Monday, it is not unlikely that these blatant perps could have continued on to Maplewood. I was not trying to be an alarmist; it's just that it takes watchful eyes, on the part of a community, to stop much of this crime. I think you did the right thing in being observant and then calling the police. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5329
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:24 am: | |
If the cameras were installed Jonathan and no one is monitoring them, since it would be prohibitively expensive to monitor all the CTV feeds 24/7 how would they help in this situation? They would only help AFTER the fact. The advice given on this thread is far better than a camera. Call the cops if you see something like that. We, the populace, are the eyes and ears of the police on the streets. If we don't do it then we can have all the cameras in the world and we won't stop a crime. We may more easily solve it...but in the end which is preferable? |
Jonathan Teixeira
Citizen
Username: Jhntxr
Post Number: 307
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:46 am: | |
You know , maybe, just maybe , a camera would capture the image . And you can replay it , and maybe the license plate would be there for as long as you want , just in case a witness didn't get it in the few seconds , that it takes for something to happen .The first thing the cops ask you is " did you get the license plate "?
Helping 'after the fact ' is better than no help at all .
Have you ever noticed the cameras on Burnet ave , at the corner of Laurel ? That whole intersection is covered , so it's technically Union , I think it's great . Because there is a senior citizen residence right there , and there were a lot of accidents , hit and run . Now you can hit but you can't really run that far ! |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5337
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:03 pm: | |
I think, on this point, we are saying the same thing. That camera's would be helpful AFTER the fact. But a person on the street calling in a suspicious event is 100 times better in the actual fight against crime as it may well prevent one from being committed. And, as with the State Troopers car in the median of the Parkway, with cameras...after a while they lose their deterrant effect. IMHO. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5338
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:07 pm: | |
Besides we can always save money and buy some of these..
 |
Jonathan Teixeira
Citizen
Username: Jhntxr
Post Number: 311
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - 9:50 pm: | |
Hey ! That might very well be the answer . I'll give anything a try .
All kidding aside , we really have to be more alert . I have been saying it all along. |
Alberto
Citizen
Username: Buckwheat
Post Number: 17
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 7:57 pm: | |
ONE SUNNY JUNE DAY THIS YEAR, AT THAT START OF SUMMER VACATION, 4 YOUTHS WEARING TSHIRTS DOWN TO THEIR KNEES, BAGGY BLUE JEANS, AND SCARFS WERE WALKING DOWN MAPLEWOOD AVENUE. ONE OF THEM HAD THE SCARF COVERING HIS FACE- THAT IS TO SAY HIS NOSE AND MOUTH. AS HE PASSED, I ASKED HIM TO REMOVE IT- THAT IT WAS A THREATENING GESTURE. HE LAUGHED AND KEPT ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOWN, GOT A COP ON THE BEAT AND DESCRIBED THE KIDS. THE COP MADE SURE THEY TOOK OF THE SCARFS, AND GENTLY FOLLOWED THEM OUT OF TOWN.
1- CALL ATTENTION TO THEM;
2- IF POSSIBLE GET THE POLICE
3- NOTICE THEIR CLOSE/VEHICLES/ETC.
4- STAND UP TO THEM- SHOW THEM NO FEAR.
IT WORKS.
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