Expert: Jack Toomey - 1/27/2008

Question
Hello
I work for a medium city. City truck. Usually by myself. Utilities. I get approached, a lot, from street people asking for money, or a ride, or both. When they approach, sometimes two at a time, one in front of me, one behind me... I hold out my right hand, firmly say STOP, do not come any closer, they usually walk away. When they try to make conversation with me, I do not let them get started. I say "NO, I do not want to hear what you have to say." When they ask me why not - I say "you are going to ask for money, or a ride, or both. The answer is NO to either!" Again, they usually walk away. Some get mad, some complain, some yell. But they usually walk away.

Except for the middle of 2007, thru last week. These people no longer "walk away." They are now DEMANDING that you give them money. I had one quickly approach me as I was walking toward a mini-mart to pay for gas for my car. I stopped, looked directly at him, put out my hand and told him with an authorative voice; NO, STOP!! Do not approach me. He became very aggressive, very angry, followed me into the store. I had to hold my hand against his chest to keep him from coming up against me. He gave a slew of verbal threats. Customers, employees, the manager, all demanding he leave.

I paid, went out, to my car to get gas. He will still pressing against my hand this whole time. Still angry, still demanding money from me. His pupils were like pinholes and his breath reeked in alcohol. I guess about 19 years old, very skinny and shorter than me.

While this situation is going on, I am thinking, is this guy blind? I am 6'2" and I weigh 270 pounds! I fix fire hydrants for a living! I can pick him up and bodyslam him with no problem at all! I kept saying to myself, he is not attacking you, just bothering you, get into the car and drive away. That is what I did. But it still bothered me. These guys are getting more and more aggressive.

Telling them to stay away no longer works. What should I do?
I work alone, no way around this. And I cannot keep calling in for help on my city radio everytime one walks up to me. Cannot call 911 every time I am after work and one walks up to me. I get about 1 a week now days. I read in the newspaper about guys who carry guns, they shoot these guys for reasons like "he pulled the door handles on my car when I was waiting at a light." I find that to be NONSENCE. The door handles were locked. They were not smashing the glass, just pulling on the door handles.... Please, I do not want to be like that one day. And I do not want to go around pepper spraying everyone who comes up to me and demands money. That lowers me below them. I have then lost control of my fears.

I am frustrated and confused.
What should I do about these people.

Answer
  That must be one hell of a city.  I worked in a large city and never had a single bad experience with a street person.  However the only thing that I can suggest is that you keep calling the police because if you do the word is going to get around that you are not someone to approach.  The "grapevine" between homeless people is quite good and I think that before long the word will get out not to approach city workers.  And I cannot empahsize this more.  DO NOT carry a gun.  There is no reason in the world that you should do that and I am glad to read that you have sense enough not to do that.