HUGE UPDATE: Knock, Knock....got any cash ?

[david]

In the last 3 days, I've had two different, young women knock on my front door asking for cash.

Each had her own story about being out of money. One said her baby just got home from the hospital and she was $16 short for her medication.

Is this happening to anyone else?

What did you or would you do?

If you want/need to pan handle on the street, go for it. But I find this utterly bothersome to have this happen at my home, especially since I now have a newborn in the house.

(I live near Indian School and San Mateo.)

[Lana]

I've heard the same sob stories over and over again in many different cities. The car is out of gas--the wife and kids are in the car. I have to get to the hospital. Etc. We even had somebody come up to us the other day in Santa Fe. He said that he had been trying for 3 days to get out of Santa Fe. He was in a car. Huh???? What's the problem????

I don't answer the door for any strangers. I've lived places where "home invasion robberies" are not uncommon.

[Doug R]

The answer is pretty simple. Ask the APD what they think of this behavior? They will know if it's an on-going scam or be alerted to a new one. Alot of these new scams are just variations on old themes.

Put yourself in the position of the person knocking at the door. Would you do the same thing? And why? If you wouldn't do the same thing then you have your answer. Get a great description and call the police immediately.

[Rachael]

A few months ago, I was getting into my car outside the credit union and a woman approached me very dramatically with a story about her daughter needing medication from Walgreens, and she needed $17 for it, and she had some long convoluted story about how Walgreens was screwing her over and so forth...and my alarm bells went off and I said sorry, no.

The look on her face when I said no confirmed for me that she was an actress--that the story was false. I thought about it, and thought, how convenient a number $17 is. If you are willing to give her money, and have a $20, you're more likely to give her that and say keep the change. Also, how convenient that she accosted me outside a bank, where the chances were very high that I just gotten some money.

Most of the time when someone outright panhandles or tries to foist a scam on me, I say no. But I admit, I have given people money in the past. I feel in hindsight about a few of those times when I did, that I'd just fallen for a scam, and I feel like a total idiot. At other times, I feel like I wasn't scammed, that I was really helping someone (and not to buy drugs, either). Yet again--I just don't know.

In your case, it does totally sound like a scam and it is incredibly bothersome that they're knocking on your door. Perhaps a sign on the door about no solicitors is in order? That's never happened to me--the only people who knock on my door are religious solicitors and cleaning product people and little kids selling candy or magazines.

[Hairy McLairy]

I went to a course the APD ran for Federal Workers about gunfire in the workplace last year...Tips from the course, turn on the lights, stand away from the doors, and if you can point at the bad guys it would really help APD...

Anyways, they said if you encounter Panhandlers in carparks, go back into the store and complain loudly about it. Walgreens can get them to move along, if they think customers are complaining loudly enough. We complain loudly these days about it. Dont tolerate it, if you want to give, give monthly to a charity that means something to you.

[Doug R]

Neal - talk to any policeman and you'll get the real story. The smart criminals (professionals that pull off big heists) are not in jail. The other ones are creatures of habit and opportunistic. They look for the quick scores and avoid everything else. They do plan their activities and target certain neighborhoods based on all sorts of factors. They do pay attention to the types of people in the neighborhoods. Good hearted people are usually first on the target list, know what I mean?

I live out in a large urban area in California. Some stop when there is car wreck while many drive by and continue onto their appointments. After all, someone else will stop, right? People get upset out here when there is a wreck because they're making us late for something.......(ha ha)

[Dave]

It is bad enough to be panhandled on the street, but to have someone come to your home...that must have been very upsetting.

[K. C.]

Umm, I got this advice from my friend, when I stayed at her house: "Never open the door to anyone if you don't know them." That person, or persons, are ready for a house invasion. Of course, that could sound paranoid, but after living in ABQ for a while and hearing and reading stories of all sorts of crime here, I'd take her word. My recommendation, if you open your door, is refer the women to social services. Who knows the money you give them will further fuel their drug and/or alcohol addition.

[ziaMatt]

20 years ago I was at Bobs Burger on West Central for lunch. I went there because I had some buy one get one free coupons. While waiting outside for my order I was approached by this man who said he just got out of the hospital and didn't have any money and was hungry. He showed me his wristband trying to be convincing. I gave him $2 and my extra coupon thinking he could get 2 burgers and fill up. 30 seconds later I saw him heading to Walgreen’s not Bobs. I didn’t believe his story about just getting out of the hospital but thought he really wanted some food. He wasted my coupon!

[Sun Dog]

This happens to visitors to Albuquerque staying in motels with external entrance doors (no inside hallway). My wife and I were staying for a week at a motel near Menaul and University and we had a visit late at night from a guy with a sad story about his mom and a kid in the hospital. The story was very confused and he was very worked up....it didn't seem like a likely story and we sent him away. I'm sure he just went to another room and did the same thing. About three days later he comes back -- this time about 7 AM -- and goes through the same story. He didn't recognize me and probably figures there is a high turnover at the motel. I reported it that time to the motel office and they called the police. The motel seemed to think it was transients coming into town who are dropped off at the truck stop on University. Probably not.

Not a good introduction to Albuquerque if you are just visiting.

[david]

About 30 minutes ago, there was a loud crash outside my house. Kind of like a car crash. I went outside to find my neighbor standing in her driveway, saying she had just been robbed.

Two young women, came out from the side of her house, and ran over her new garden and landscaping with their CAR in their attempt to escape. Luckily, she got their license plate number.

I went into the house with her to find the back window broken. Below the window was all of her luggage, jammed with her valuables that these two thieving bitches collected in order to leave with. Her brand new 24 inch iMac was also sitting below the window. It appears they left with nothing.

One of the cops told me to call them immediately the next time someone comes to the house. Yes I will. 242-COPS / 242-2677

I am so fucking mad right now. I can't believe it. In broad daylight.

[Jennifer Jane]

Plant cacti under each window- now!