Teacher Beaten In Grocery Store Parking Lot (Dallas: crime rates, college)

[FarNorthDallas]

That Preston and Belt Line area has been declining for awhile now with low income apartments in every direction. I'm glad the Barnes and Noble moved.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

That Preston and Belt Line area has been declining for awhile now with low income apartments in every direction. I'm glad the Barnes and Noble moved.

Yeah, all the way to Beltline and Montfort. So far away!

[FarNorthDallas]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Yeah, all the way to Beltline and Montfort. So far away!

Yes, out of that Tom Thumb strip mall.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

Yes, out of that Tom Thumb strip mall.

Was it where that Spirit Halloween store is now?

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Was it where that Spirit Halloween store is now?

Yes, that shopping center on the SW corner of the Preston/Belt Line intersection.

[FarNorthDallas]

I don't know. I don't go over there anymore. If you are looking at Tom Thumb, B&N was to the right of Tom Thumb.

When that all was first built and they had those apartments right there sharing the same parking lots, I thought it was kinda cool. You could live in the apartments and walk over to Tom Thumb, Old Navy (which also moved out) or Barnes and Noble. But then the apartments sortof declined. I think one was there before the strip mall and one came in right after. There have been a couple of other high profile crime incidents in that same area. The older apartments due west are especially bad.

Even though B&N moved just up the road and on the other side, at least they aren't sharing a parking lot with old apartments. Course, now it's sharing a parking lot with Wal-Mart so maybe I'm being delusional.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

I don't know. I don't go over there anymore. If you are looking at Tom Thumb, B&N was to the right of Tom Thumb.

When that all was first built and they had those apartments right there sharing the same parking lots, I thought it was kinda cool. You could live in the apartments and walk over to Tom Thumb, Old Navy (which also moved out) or Barnes and Noble. But then the apartments sortof declined. I think one was there before the strip mall and one came in right after. There have been a couple of other high profile crime incidents in that same area. The older apartments due west are especially bad.

Even though B&N moved just up the road and on the other side, at least they aren't sharing a parking lot with old apartments. Course, now it's sharing a parking lot with Wal-Mart so maybe I'm being delusional.

I live in some townhomes that are on Montfort between Preston Oaks and Verde Valley; it's fine in my gated complex. Of course, the complex next door is loud and disruptive. You'd get that pretty much anywhere in DFW unfortunately; apartment living sucks.

[FarNorthDallas]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

I live in some townhomes that are on Montfort between Preston Oaks and Verde Valley; it's fine in my gated complex. Of course, the complex next door is loud and disruptive. You'd get that pretty much anywhere in DFW unfortunately; apartment living sucks.

Like near the Anne Frank Elementary? In the 80s I was a waitress in Addison and lots of people I knew lived all around that area (and in those apartments that backs up to Tom Thumb). A lot of those older apartments were new back then or only a few years old and then, of course, a lot of that was just open field. Now it's like nice place, yucky place, nice place, yucky place, nice place, yucky place. Very hit or miss it seems.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

Like near the Anne Frank Elementary? In the 80s I was a waitress in Addison and lots of people I knew lived all around that area (and in those apartments that backs up to Tom Thumb). A lot of those older apartments were new back then or only a few years old and then, of course, a lot of that was just open field. Now it's like nice place, yucky place, nice place, yucky place, nice place, yucky place. Very hit or miss it seems.

Pretty much, yup. I'm within walking distance of Anne Frank. My place was built in the 1980s and it's nice.

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Teacher Beaten In Grocery Store Parking Lot - News Story - KXAS | Dallas



That happened in broad daylight at the Tom Thumb on Preston and Beltline...the same supermarket where I did my weekly shopping on Saturday.

I didn't think that area was all that bad....

===> This may be off topic, but please allow me to suggest a few safety tips:

1. Always be aware of your surroundings. ALWAYS. When you are in a parking lot or out in public spaces stay off your cell phone and turn off your Ipod. Situational awareness is one of the most effective self defense tools you have. Know who is near you. Pay attention to people/things that seem out of place. Trust your instincts when something/someone doesn't feel right. Do not be afraid of hurting someone's feelings or offending someone if you have a bad feeling about a person or situation and need to distance yourself from someone. It's ok to say "NO" you do not have the time/change/etc. Walk with your head erect and your hand out of your pockets/hand on your purse. Walk with confidence and purpose. Before you get out of your car take a quick look to see who is around you. As you approach your car in a parking lot do the same again and check your back seats before you get in the car. Park under lights if you are out at night.

2. Try to avoid shopping/atms/malls/Wally world at night. Gas up during the day. Stay away from convenient marts and liquor stores. Sure bad things can happen during the day but they are much more likely to happen at night.

3. Carry pepper spray/mace or even a whistle. Something to temporarily immobilize an assailant so you can RUN away as fast as you can.

4. Obtain your CHL and carry a concealed weapon for situations like the poor woman in the Tom Thumb parking lot where it's either you or them.