Saturday afternoon, my wife and I were picking up a few painting supplies at Home Depot in the Red Rose Commons shopping center in Lancaster. When we got to check-out, my wife headed back to the car while I paid for the supplies. Just as I was leaving Home Depot, my wife called my cell phone. She told me that a woman just approached her asking for $1.50 for bus fare, claiming that she's been waiting for her friend to pick her up and he hasn't shown yet. My wife did not give her any money.
So, as I walked back to the car with my shopping cart, I stayed on the phone with my wife so that this woman wouldn't approach me. I walked right by her. She did not ask me for money. Why? Well, she was already asking another couple in the same car aisle as us. They did give her money.
When I got back to the car, my wife told me how she had heard of a scam like this and that's why she didn't give the woman money.
So, now my wife and I had a decision to make - (1) Do we just head back home and let it go? or (2) Do we see if we can follow this woman to see if she asks others for money? This would confirm this being a scam.
Well, we decided to do some detective-work and follow her. Sure enough, as we drove across the car aisles (out of sight of course) we saw her asking another couple for money a few aisles down. Then, she asked another couple a few more aisles down.
OK, this obviously confirmed that it was a scam, so we called 911. We gave the dispatcher her description, etc. The 911 dispatcher said that people who do this scam usually need money for drugs or alcohol. Usually, the come to a place like this with a money goal, and when they reach that, they move on.
We followed her all the way down to the other end of the shopping center, near the Weis Market, as she hit several other people who all gave her money.
But, she wasn't done, she started to work her way back to Home Depot. We continued to follow her as she took at least 4 other people.
Then, the Lancaster City Police showed-up. We sat there as they officer questioned her, called her name in and then placed her under arrest.
As this all happened, my wife and I felt good that we stopped others from being taken. But, we felt a real sadness that this woman is at a point in her life that she's doing this.
At the same time, we felt a sadness that this woman is preying on the good hearts of people. And, that incidents like this may prevent them from helping someone someday who might really be in need.
Bottom line, be careful - spread the word.
