Parking lot lady loses her purse a lot in Manhattan Beach
I thought I'd pass this along:
I often stop on the way home at the Ralphs at Manhattan Village in Manhattan Beach. On Monday, I had barely gotten out of my car about 6 p.m. when a woman approached me. She said she had lost her purse and asked if I could give her money for the bus.
Now I'm a decent guy, but I'm skeptical about things like that. I said "Sorry" and continued into the store.
When I left the store about 15 minutes later, she was still out there in the lot approaching people.
Well, on my way home again Tuesday night, I needed to stop at the supermarket again.
I got out of my car and what do you know, there she was. She walked up to me and started telling me the same story. I stopped her: "You asked me the same question last night," I said.
I blew past her as she responded, "I'm sorry." I went about my shopping and she was gone when I exited the store minutes later.
I suppose that somewhere someone with a story about losing her purse is telling the truth and needs some help, but hmmm, this same lady two nights in a row? Might this be a con?
I thought you'd like to know. She appeared to be in her mid 50s, white, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, gray hair, and thin.
If you've seen her anywhere else, let us all know.
I often stop on the way home at the Ralphs at Manhattan Village in Manhattan Beach. On Monday, I had barely gotten out of my car about 6 p.m. when a woman approached me. She said she had lost her purse and asked if I could give her money for the bus.
Now I'm a decent guy, but I'm skeptical about things like that. I said "Sorry" and continued into the store.
When I left the store about 15 minutes later, she was still out there in the lot approaching people.
Well, on my way home again Tuesday night, I needed to stop at the supermarket again.
I got out of my car and what do you know, there she was. She walked up to me and started telling me the same story. I stopped her: "You asked me the same question last night," I said.
I blew past her as she responded, "I'm sorry." I went about my shopping and she was gone when I exited the store minutes later.
I suppose that somewhere someone with a story about losing her purse is telling the truth and needs some help, but hmmm, this same lady two nights in a row? Might this be a con?
I thought you'd like to know. She appeared to be in her mid 50s, white, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, gray hair, and thin.
If you've seen her anywhere else, let us all know.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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Sounds like a con artist...
Something similar happened to me in the parking lot of the CVS pharmacy on 190th at Anza in Torrance.
An elderly lady asked me for gas money to get home to San Diego. She told me she wanted $3. As if $3 would pay for gas all the way to San Diego...
This woman was driving a late model car and told me that she had a cell phone in case she ran out of gas. Anyone who can afford a late model car and cellphone doesn't need my money. I refused.
I mentioned this incident to the Manager of the CVS and he said it's the same woman who has tried this ruse multiple times. Last week she wanted gas money to get to Pasadena.
If I were you, I'd report the incident to mall or store security. The CVS Manager asked me to get the license # of her car so that it could be reported to police for trepass.
There's no excuse to be harrassed by panhandlers just because you want to shop there.
you know you are right...i was at the rolling hills shopping center and a young clean kid 18-20 ask if i could help him with gas money i was with a couple of friends who right away said NO.. ya know i felt very bad for him so i kind of broke away from my crowd to look for him TO OFFER HELP I BELIEVED HIS STORY SO ABOUT 6 HRS LATER I AM ON MY WALK THOUGH THE CITY ..HERE COMES THIS KID AGIAN WITH A COUPLE OF HIS FRIENDS AND ASK FOR MONEY BUT USEING A DIFFERENT STORY I SAID DUDE ,,,,YOU ASKED ME EARLY FOR MONEY BUT USEING A DIFFERENT STORY ..I SAID GO GET A JOB BUT LOOK EARLIER WHEN I SAW HIM I FELT VERY VERY BAD FOR HIM BUT YOU SEE I GOT PLAYED ...ONE TIME I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WHILE MY HUSBAND WENT INTO 7-11 THIS LADY WAS OUT THERE ASKING FOR MONEY EVERY OTHER PERSON WHO WENT IN GIVE HER MONEY THEN LIKE A MONTH LATER SAW HER AGIAN DOING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAKING BANK ON HAND OUTS LIKE THAT SHES SMART ENOUGH TO GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE CITY TO CITY ........BEWARE THATS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM ALBERTONS SHOPPING CENTER BY LIL.CO.MARY HOSP. TORR. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE I DONT KNOW ATTRACTS THEM THERE.....BUT TO ME THEY ARE BUMS........
Anon 8:24 - Stop shouting!
The idea of someone panhandling for money using the excuse They need gas money apalls me.I feel bad saying the word No to them ,but now days that seems to be the way to earn a tax free living. They have no shame,this panhandling should against the law.If people need so call help.There churches that offer assistance-to do work,and shelters,etc. you get the idea.Help is out there ,but it so much easier to beg for it ,then try to earn it .
Same lady in the original story hit me up for money in front of the Coffee Bean on Manhattan Beach Blvd & Highland...
unfortunate
do u know how hard it may be to ask for money from strangers? and u wanna shame someone for telling a white lie?
disgraceful.