Panhandlers in Toys R Us Parking Lot near North Star Mall (San Pedro: dangerous, shop)

[LolaSonner]

More than once I've seen people begging for money in the Toys R Us parking lot over by North Star Mall (and interestingly enough I also saw one outside a TRU in New Jersey, so is it a TRU thing?) and was wondering if any of you have been hit up there?

They have a security guard but a few weeks ago I was getting out of my car with my child and this young man with a massive backpacker's pack on came up to me right outside the car and asked for money to get to "the shelter" downtown. He had a buddy with him who had a pack, too.

I was LIVID. Now I am usually generous and have given folks money when I probably shouldn't have, but begging in front of Toys R Us is just nuts to me. People with infants and children are probably going to be feel threatened by that, at least I am. I was absolutely furious and had to run inside to calm myself. I reported them to the customer service desk but they'd run off and the security guard wasn't there that day.

Some man and woman came up to my car at the Arby's drive through on San Pedro once and I gave them 5 bucks to get food (who knows if they used it for that but whatever), but when I'm with my kid and you walk up to me, I am going to instantly be on guard and about to kick you in the nuts (if you have nuts) and assume you're dangerous. Mama Bear instincts and all.

Have you had this happen or seen these guys around? They really had a lot of nerve. And if they were trying to find their way downtown they sure weren't doing a good job of it.

[Azure110]

Panhandlers are all over SA. Probably best you don't take your child anywhere if they make you that livid out of fear for your child. It is not a Toys R US thing.

[TexasRedneck]

I "get" someone being uncomfortable being approached when they have small children with them. I'd tell them forcefully to stay back as they approach. Most will - if they don't, then do what you need to do.

[sapphire]

I don't blame you for being mad. They're a new breed of panhandler lately, it seems like. They have no business approaching people so aggressively, especially people with kids. I can see one of them being shot for doing this, not that I am advocating for that but this is Texas, after all. Park as close to the door as you can and keep aware of everything around you. The managers at these stores need to be aware of what's happening in the parking lots because it's going to start affecting their bonuses when people stop shopping there.

[SabresFanInSA]

Personally I think you over reacted but that is just my opinion.

[Soviet]

It's never an "overreaction" when you're with your kids.

[SabresFanInSA]

It can be...

[sapphire]

Two men approaching a woman with a child is not acceptable.

[Me007gold]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Two men approaching a woman with a child is not acceptable.

Why? The world does not revolve around "mom and her baby". If they are just getting out of the car, how are the men suppose to know there are kids in the car?

[sapphire]

The world does not revolve around 2 panhandlers who "want to get downtown" either.