What would you do ?

I would have talked to him the first time I saw him. "Are you waiting for someone?" or "Are you locked out"? or something like that.

What I did next would depend on how he responded.

peace to youraying:

 

I would probably talk to him or have someone with me when I talked to him if I felt insecure. Go from there.

 

I think I may have a little understanding of your fear, but I don't generally operate on fears in these situations. I think I have seen too many homeless and down trodden to have fears, even if they may be reasonable (what is a reasonable fear?).

If he was drunk, yeah, call the po po. Or the Leasing office. But he might be homeless or locked out or hungry or....

 

I can understand your dilemma. Calling for someone to investigate the situation is not unreasonable, if he needed help then the police should be able to guide him to help, if he is locked out then the leasing office can help. ( how come he has not called the leasing office if he belongs there) I have seen a lot of homeless folks too and when they are where they are not suppose to be they can get belligerent and aggressive fast. The best thing you could add is to pray for him in earnest.

 

My thought is that if he's not supposed to be there, he needs to go. If he's not paying rent to live there, not visiting friends or relatives in the building, or not fixing something broken, he has no business being there, much less sleeping there. Your apartment is a private building, not a public homeless shelter.

I would have called the cops to come get him and take him to a local shelter. Yeah, he's probably cold, hungry, and tired and you feel sorry for him. He could also be drunk, high on drugs, or a criminal. I think you did the right thing.

 

Depending upon situational assessment I would at least have one hand on my firearm (or knife~~I always have one or both) and another on the cell calling law enforcement.

At 6'2" 260lb shaven head & permanent scowl I don't get hassled, but then I don't take chances either, my family depends up me. When I was single things were different...

 

I'm with Mr. Jim.

 

What he said.......

 

"I see ya out here, dude----can I help you with something?'' "You ain't locked out or nothin'?" Let me give you a hand!!! It doesn't need to be much----just a little contact with the fella and he'll tell ya what he's doin' out in that hallway!!

All this time I'd have my hand on my pocketknife---ready to whip it out!!!!:laugh:

 

I prefer a "pocketgun". :smilewinkgrin: Them rowdies down here in S. Texas don't get close enough for a pocketknife.

 

Gotta think the replies over. I have had a theory for several years that many people are fearful, not because the world is so dangerous, but because there is so much violence on TV and in movies. I have been fortunate. God has led me to many places in our world and I have met many people in interesting situations including beggars and bums. I have been approached by both in a number of countries, including the US. I have never been made to feel uncomfortable by any such person .. and no I do not carry a pistol or knife of any kind. I am sure someone will ask what was my response. Often it was to buy them food or give them food or fruit that I had with me.

I may post something later. First I have to think over the responses already posted and I am sure some that will be posted after this one.

I would like to hear some personal experiences, when they helped and what happened, from board members.

:flower:

 

I believe it does take discernment. I would be more hesitant if I saw a group of men approaching than a single individual.

There are a lot of people who are down on their luck, especially at the current time and I believe the vast majority of these folk will not harm people that they approach.

 

..and if they don't attempt to harm me or innocent folks around me then I won't have to shoot them..see how it works?

 

I can see it in Montgomery County~~I've been to Waldorf loads of times, always seemed like a pleasant enough place, just far enough away from DC, but then it was always daylight when I was there:laugh:

 

Waldorf is in Charles County. I've been there at night ... no problem. I've been in Montgomery County also at night ... again no problem.

 

A single woman living alone should call the leasing office or the police and not confront or talk to the person. That is just common sense to me, for a woman. Around here, there is lots of crime and lots of people who might seem harmless who are not.

I had situations in my previous apt a few times where drunk men were just a few doors down from me, sitting on the floor, drinking. I don't think they lived there nor do I think they knew anyone who lived there. I did not call police because I would have had to walk by them to go to the lobby downstairs and let the police in, since the front door was locked (though the back door wasn't, but I thought the police would come in the front way).

So I called the leasing office and the next time I saw what the office called "courtesy officers" (not really security as they had no weapons), I told them about it. Not that much was done. I never felt totally safe living there and always prayed when I had to come home late at night, park in the parking lot alone, walk into the bldg, go up the elevator, and then down the hallway to my apt.