Aggressive panhandlers at Rose Ave Wal-Mart (Oxnard, Simi Valley: prices, floors, shopping center)

[GM1258]

This is getting out of hand.
You can't go into the Wal-Mart/Vons shopping area on Rose without running into panhandlers.
I mean persistent/aggressive panhandling.
By the time I get to the door I've been hit on by two or three people with some clever sob story.
You can't even wait in yer car without them coming right up to yer window to throw their pitch.
And when you decline they start getting mean, throw cigarette butts, etc.
Today I literally had to chase one guy off.
These guys are getting worse and worse over there.
To a lessor extent this also goes on across the street at the food courts and gas stations.
But the Wal-Mart and Vons parking lots are their big hunting ground.
That place is turning into a real life Tobacco Road.
I think I'll be taking my business elsewhere from now on.

[bznavyveteran]

Tell this to the Oxnard PD and the city council members.

[GM1258]

Originally Posted by bznavyveteran

Tell this to the Oxnard PD and the city council members.

A lot o good that'll do.
I'm just going to do my shopping somewhere else from now on.

[nightlysparrow]

Well, Simi Valley made panhandling a hot topic at their City Council meeting this week.

[oh-eve]

OP, please report them and do us all a favor.

Not everybody (inlcuding me) is "man's" enough to scare them away like you are.

Or give them a bus ticket to Ventura, they seem to be welcome there.

[GM1258]

I did call the police.
They said they are "aware of the situation" .
They asked me if I knew any names of individuals involved.
Sure...I looked at all their welfare checks, I said.
Predictably, that was the end of the conversation.
This aggressive, wont-take-no, panhandling has been going on for some time over there.
If the police are "aware of the situation" why haven't they done something about it by now??
I understand times are tough but that's no excuse for their in-your-face approach.
They can make a sign, put out a bucket, and go stand on the corner like others do.
I've done my bit. I'm not Robocop or Batman and have better things to do with my time.
I'll just take my business elsewhere.

[24hr7]

Unfortunately no town or shopping center is immune to panhandlers. Do a simple search on the internet and you will see tons of discussions regarding this topic. There is an article stating panhandlers make up to or approximately $300 a day. The gullible people that fall for the panhandler's fabricated stories and give money are not helping the situation.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Oxnard has a very nice Target over at the Collection. I have not seen any panhandlers over there. Maybe try Target. I think that the Target looks nicer anyway and is not as cluttered and old looking as the Walmart is. When you are done shopping head on over to the Yardhouse for some food and drinks. LOL

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Here is what I do when it comes to Panhandlers. I offer to tell them where the local charities are. I made a list. Also the rescue mission offers meals for those that are in need. Then I keep a list of places that are hiring and fill them in on that. When I have some time i try to take as much of their time explaining it to them. Figure it keeps them from stealing from others and I find it amusing.

My wife, whose family started out working in the fields, tells them to pick strawberries if they need work. She says if that kind of work is good enough for poor Mexicans than it should be good enough for poor Americans.

[volosong]

I was so excited when Walmart finally decide to expand into California. My first experience with them was the Flagstaff store and I was blown away with the prices, look of the store, and (at that time), everything was made in the good ol U.S.A. They would not sell foreign stuff.

So, when the Oxnard store came in, I was very happy. Then, I went to the store. YUCK! This is a Walmart??? It is an awful place. Junk all over the aisles, dirty floors, cluttered, etc.

I shopped there twice, then I was so fed up with the clutter and filthiness that never again.

---

If you do want action, go into the store and talk to the general manager saying that you will no longer shop in his/her store because of the situation in the parking lot. If enough people do that, you can be sure that they will get some action. Most Walmart locations have seen declining sales, and if they really care about their individual store bottom line, they will get results.

Do the same with Sam's Club. There is an excellent option right across the freeway. The other stores too. Let them know that they are losing sales.