safety
raymax4
Posts: 6,070 Member
I like walking/ jogging.
One day while I was on one of my trips I noticed there was a lot of White trucks on the trip so I started playing a game, how many different varieties of white trucks where, (extra cabs or not, logos, tool chests, etc...).
I had finished my route and started on my way home, but decided not to cross the road where I usually do because it was getting hot and where I was was shaded by trees. This was unusual for me.
As I was walking I noticed a white truck pull over and park on the side of the road that I would normally be on. Right where I would have liked to cross the road because the shade was gone. I decided to stay where I was and kept walking. When I was about across the road from the truck, the truck pulled forward about a 1/4 mile and stopped agian. No one got out, they just parked there. When I got close to the truck again I began to feel uneasy so I chose to walk up the grassy knoll by the road about 10 feet and kept walking. Again when I was about even with the truck it moved forward about a 1/4 mile up the road. I start wondering what was up with this guy, so I started analyzing what he was doing. It occurred to me he was parking on my regular jogging path where the path narrowed toward the road due to a drainage ditch and a deep incline by the road.
I started freaking so I called the police and told them what was happening and where I was. The truck turned and drove past me and drove away seconds after I heard the 911 operator dispatch the police. When the dispatcher asked me to describe the truck all I could say was it was a white truck without an extra cab without any identifying marks or customization.
I wondered If that truck had passed me before I started playing my game.
When I got home and calmed down it dawned on me that I had my phone, why didn't I take a picture.
Anyway, whether this man had bad intentions or if he was a product of my over-active imagination, I have started thinking about all my walking routes. and started carrying pepper spray.
These are some of the things I am looking at:
Time of day
Are there other people out walking
Escape routes
Whether some one can drive up behind me
Restricting or narrowing of a pathway
Line of sight
One day while I was on one of my trips I noticed there was a lot of White trucks on the trip so I started playing a game, how many different varieties of white trucks where, (extra cabs or not, logos, tool chests, etc...).
I had finished my route and started on my way home, but decided not to cross the road where I usually do because it was getting hot and where I was was shaded by trees. This was unusual for me.
As I was walking I noticed a white truck pull over and park on the side of the road that I would normally be on. Right where I would have liked to cross the road because the shade was gone. I decided to stay where I was and kept walking. When I was about across the road from the truck, the truck pulled forward about a 1/4 mile and stopped agian. No one got out, they just parked there. When I got close to the truck again I began to feel uneasy so I chose to walk up the grassy knoll by the road about 10 feet and kept walking. Again when I was about even with the truck it moved forward about a 1/4 mile up the road. I start wondering what was up with this guy, so I started analyzing what he was doing. It occurred to me he was parking on my regular jogging path where the path narrowed toward the road due to a drainage ditch and a deep incline by the road.
I started freaking so I called the police and told them what was happening and where I was. The truck turned and drove past me and drove away seconds after I heard the 911 operator dispatch the police. When the dispatcher asked me to describe the truck all I could say was it was a white truck without an extra cab without any identifying marks or customization.
I wondered If that truck had passed me before I started playing my game.
When I got home and calmed down it dawned on me that I had my phone, why didn't I take a picture.
Anyway, whether this man had bad intentions or if he was a product of my over-active imagination, I have started thinking about all my walking routes. and started carrying pepper spray.
These are some of the things I am looking at:
Time of day
Are there other people out walking
Escape routes
Whether some one can drive up behind me
Restricting or narrowing of a pathway
Line of sight
0
Replies
-
Sorry that happened and you got spooked. It's better not to over-think it all though because then the bad guys win and our peaceful lives are disrupted. I like going where there are lots of other people around. It makes me feel safer. Although it sucks because I would actually prefer to be alone. I am an introvert through-and-through.
I also like using headphones but I keep the volume down so I can hear everything well enough. 0 -
Every time you got closer it moved away from you? Was a duck driving the truck because that's what ducks do when I try to get close to them?0
-
Wow, What a waste of police time and money. Really?0
-
0 -
could the OP perhaps have at least had the decency to use the non-emergency number. 911 calls cost tax payer money and wasteful calls like this delay help getting to people that are, you know, actually getting attacked. or at the very least, people that actually have white vans parked on the same side of the street as them.0
-
This content has been removed.
-
safety is always an issue but I also don't think you should let it consume you.
be visible. be aware.
I run early in the morning. and I've changed my routes in the past due to a rash of muggings and car jackings. I also run with my dog. she likes to bark at people
also if it's not an emergency, do not use the emergency numbers0 -
Sounds like a meter reader doing a drive by.0
-
I like walking/ jogging.....
These are some of the things I am looking at:
Time of day
Are there other people out walking
Escape routes
Whether some one can drive up behind me
Restricting or narrowing of a pathway
Line of sight
Here are some things I look at while walking/jogging.
Cute dogs
Cute chicks
Other people working out providing motivation
Ducks
Nasty pigeon flocks (They're fun to run through)
Cranes
Beautiful sunrises.
Here's what I saw this morning.
0 -
dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.1 -
michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
yes, i know that. but i can still express my own attitude and opinion toward it.
ETA: bold to indicate what i'm responding to.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
yes, i know that. but i can still express my own attitude and opinion toward it.
ETA: bold to indicate what i'm responding to.
Oh, I wasn't directing that towards YOU. Just a general comment about some of the other responses so far. Sorry for the confusion.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
yes, i know that. but i can still express my own attitude and opinion toward it.
ETA: bold to indicate what i'm responding to.
Oh, I wasn't directing that towards YOU. Just a general comment about some of the other responses so far. Sorry for the confusion.
I gotchya - no worries.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
meanwhile, here in the real world, the van was on the **other** side of the street and every time she got close to it the van drove two blocks **away from her**. so no, unless she has a hella telephoto lens attached to her iphone, she was never close enough to take a pic of the plate
Hell, since the van kept moving away and she kept closing the distance, a case can be made that **she** was the dangerous stalker. do you also support the van driver's decision to dial 911 and report the OP?0 -
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
meanwhile, here in the real world, the van was on the **other** side of the street and every time she got close to it the van drove two blocks **away from her**. so no, unless she has a hella telephoto lens attached to her iphone, she was never close enough to take a pic of the plate
Hell, since the van kept moving away and she kept closing the distance, a case can be made that **she** was the dangerous stalker. do you also support the van driver's decision to dial 911 and report the OP?
I don't really care. I don't take these forums nearly as serious as you do. I wasn't there. The OP was. Whatever they chose to do I have no opinion about. My post was merely to state that safety should be a concern at all times.0 -
Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.0 -
Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
pretty sure it wasn't.0 -
Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.
agreed. but, i would have used 911 as i have no idea what the non-emergency number is. 911 would be the only way i would know to contact the authorities in a threatening situation.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
meanwhile, here in the real world, the van was on the **other** side of the street and every time she got close to it the van drove two blocks **away from her**. so no, unless she has a hella telephoto lens attached to her iphone, she was never close enough to take a pic of the plate
Hell, since the van kept moving away and she kept closing the distance, a case can be made that **she** was the dangerous stalker. do you also support the van driver's decision to dial 911 and report the OP?
:massive eye-roll that has caused my eyes to get stuck in the back of my head:0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
meanwhile, here in the real world, the van was on the **other** side of the street and every time she got close to it the van drove two blocks **away from her**. so no, unless she has a hella telephoto lens attached to her iphone, she was never close enough to take a pic of the plate
Hell, since the van kept moving away and she kept closing the distance, a case can be made that **she** was the dangerous stalker. do you also support the van driver's decision to dial 911 and report the OP?
I don't really care. I don't take these forums nearly as serious as you do. I wasn't there. The OP was. Whatever they chose to do I have no opinion about. My post was merely to state that safety should be a concern at all times.
no one has ever said that safety shouldn't be a concern.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.
agreed. but, i would have used 911 as i have no idea what the non-emergency number is. 911 would be the only way i would know to contact the authorities in a threatening situation.
911 would have given you the non-emergency number if it was something they typically don't handle. If you were to call 911 for a burglary if you walked in after the incident was over they would give you the non-emergency number.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
Being aware of our surroundings at all times is important. OP, if you were that close, could you have noted the license plate? That may have helped identify if this was a work van and someone was merely doing their job.
As far as the bold - mocking people is standard procedure on these boards.
meanwhile, here in the real world, the van was on the **other** side of the street and every time she got close to it the van drove two blocks **away from her**. so no, unless she has a hella telephoto lens attached to her iphone, she was never close enough to take a pic of the plate
Hell, since the van kept moving away and she kept closing the distance, a case can be made that **she** was the dangerous stalker. do you also support the van driver's decision to dial 911 and report the OP?
:massive eye-roll that has caused my eyes to get stuck in the back of my head:
i'll use 911 to get an ambulance to you, STAT0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.
agreed. but, i would have used 911 as i have no idea what the non-emergency number is. 911 would be the only way i would know to contact the authorities in a threatening situation.
911 would have given you the non-emergency number if it was something they typically don't handle. If you were to call 911 for a burglary if you walked in after the incident was over they would give you the non-emergency number.
nice. good to know. so, 911 then would need to be called in any case.0 -
ok, let's get this straight.
If you are out walking and possibly crossing jurisdictions, 911 is totally a prudent number to call.
If you are at home and your car was broken into the night before, 911 is not a reasonable number to call, look up the local police number and call them.
As for this situation, I wasn't there, but the way I see it unfolding in my head it sounds like imagination got the best of someone. Calling 911 though isn't a problem. Yes, it costs taxpayer money, but that money is spent anyways and they constantly deal with "false alarms" and the staffing levels are setup to handle that.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »michellemybelll wrote: »Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.
agreed. but, i would have used 911 as i have no idea what the non-emergency number is. 911 would be the only way i would know to contact the authorities in a threatening situation.
911 would have given you the non-emergency number if it was something they typically don't handle. If you were to call 911 for a burglary if you walked in after the incident was over they would give you the non-emergency number.
nice. good to know. so, 911 then would need to be called in any case.
Not necessarily. 911 is the main emergency number. If you are not in danger or possible danger you should use the non-emergency number. If you call 911 and it is something not handled by them they will give you a different number to call.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »michellemybelll wrote: »Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.
agreed. but, i would have used 911 as i have no idea what the non-emergency number is. 911 would be the only way i would know to contact the authorities in a threatening situation.
911 would have given you the non-emergency number if it was something they typically don't handle. If you were to call 911 for a burglary if you walked in after the incident was over they would give you the non-emergency number.
nice. good to know. so, 911 then would need to be called in any case.
Not necessarily. 911 is the main emergency number. If you are not in danger or possible danger you should use the non-emergency number. If you call 911 and it is something not handled by them they will give you a different number to call.
right. so, if you don't know the non-emergency number, you would need to dial 911 initially in order to obtain the aforementioned non-emergency number. at least, that is what i am understanding from what you've said.0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »michellemybelll wrote: »Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.
agreed. but, i would have used 911 as i have no idea what the non-emergency number is. 911 would be the only way i would know to contact the authorities in a threatening situation.
911 would have given you the non-emergency number if it was something they typically don't handle. If you were to call 911 for a burglary if you walked in after the incident was over they would give you the non-emergency number.
nice. good to know. so, 911 then would need to be called in any case.
No.
In many places a 911 call means an officer HAS to respond even if it is not something they would respond to or could handle later/by phone/whatever. It can be a waste of resources.
They ask you to call back on the non emergency line to keep the 911 lines/operators free for emergencies.
Don't call 911 unless you need it. Find the non emergency line another way.
0 -
michellemybelll wrote: »michellemybelll wrote: »Cranquistador wrote: »
Pretty sure calling the cops was the silly part.michellemybelll wrote: »dude. that would've totally freaked me out too. i don't think i would've called 911, but that's a weird and unusual occurrence. i run alone and mostly the same route, with variations here and there, and i have co-workers, family, friends constantly chastise me about my safety and how i should carry pepper spray. Giving the OP a hard time for calling the cops is silly.
Glad you're ok OP.
I would have called the cops if I felt it was suspicious. I probably would have used the non-emergency number, but the police are there for situations like this where someone thinks there could be a threat.
agreed. but, i would have used 911 as i have no idea what the non-emergency number is. 911 would be the only way i would know to contact the authorities in a threatening situation.
911 would have given you the non-emergency number if it was something they typically don't handle. If you were to call 911 for a burglary if you walked in after the incident was over they would give you the non-emergency number.
nice. good to know. so, 911 then would need to be called in any case.
NO. try this. "Okay Google" wait for the beep. then say "dial police non emergency number." trust me, it works. I used it last month when I had a custody situation with my ex. I had the courtesy to not delay help getting to someone that was in an actual life or death situation by taking 2.6 seconds to look up and use the correct police number for my situation.
or maybe you have an iphone. i bet it's got the same capability. using a RAZR? no problem, that's what directory assistance is for. use the non emergency number for non emergencies. it ain't that hard.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 430 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions