Forum Topic

Beggars in Morrisons carpark

I was approached by two separate men begging in Morrisons car park today. The first just called out to me but the second was asking for "a pound for chips" obviously targeting trolly returners.I felt quite threatened by the second one and it made me rather nervous.What should one do in these circumstances?

Sara Nathan ● 4958d40 Comments

I would load the shopping into my car, lock the car and then trek back into the shop and make a huge fuss to the manager of the shop. This will probably take an extra 10-15 minutes of your day, though. I would probably report to Safer Neighbourhood Team too.

Clare Gittins ● 4958d

Am I right in thinking that it's technically illegal? Getting out your phone (keeping a firm grip on it!) and pretending to dial 999 should see them disappear ASAP. And the cop shop is only yards away.

Susan Kelly ● 4958d

But is that an over-reaction to something that probably wasn't threatening - I just felt it as stressing.Is it even illegal?

Sara Nathan ● 4958d

Legality may not be relevant; it's on private land, no? Surely Morrisons can forbid them entry

Roy Gillett ● 4958d

In the council car park next to the Oaks car park, I was followed from my car to the ticket machine and back again by a man who just stared at me.  Was a bit odd, but from the look of him he didn't seem all there, so I carried on regardless. I think he was definitely looking for money. I'm bolshie and can handle myself, but it I did think it could be quite intimidating to some.  Not sure what you do about it but interesting that it seems to have started at the same time... I've never had any problems before a couple of days ago.

Sarah Harris ● 4957d

I live on Berrymead, just near Emmhaus.I've seen a new bunch of guys there recently- accent is eastern Europe of some description but I couldn't guess where exactly.They can be quite threatening- they stand around out the front of Emmhausand will eye you up from the time you come into view until the time you walk around the corner at the Natwest.I'm not usually easily intimidated but these new lads seem to be a bit more sinister.Or maybe they are just stoned.Either way I am not enjoying it.

James Richmond ● 4957d

Neither of these two were eastern European - and I don't think either was the worse for alcohol.Will keep an eye out - but was surprised at myself for getting flustered

Sara Nathan ● 4957d

You will find some homeless eastern Europeans kip in the alley behind the shops opposite Morrisons/Steyne Rd. off the high st.

Keith Iddon ● 4957d

I think there is something more threatening about being accosted in a car park rather than in the open. Could they have moved indoors to be out of sight of the police.Strangely today my wife was also asked for money inside Wasabi in Hammersmith.

Bob Crossley ● 4957d

There's a lot of it about...begging or asking for money seems to be a growth area.It happened to me in Isleworth the other day.We can produce enough beggars of our own without having to import any imo.

Keith Iddon ● 4957d

I went to Morrison's late one night 2 weeks ago which I don't often do and there were 2 beggars in the underground part of the carpark.  They didn't seem to be together and both spoke to me as I was going into the store.  As it was around 9pm, I went to the info desk and reported it, but I watched the assistant as I walked away and she didn't report it or write it down so I went and tracked the assistant manager down.  He apologised and said it was safe enough down there (!!)  I said, if you don't send someone down there now to get rid of them, I will be back up if I see them there and you can personally escort me to my car.  He sent 2 men down and the beggars weren't around when I went down an hour later.It's happened before in the daylight there, with one coming up to the car as I got into it.  Very scary.  If I remember correctly, it was the same 2 men.  One black man around 50 - 55 and one Asian/Arabic around the same age.

Angela White ● 4957d

A bit of Googling suggests that begging is illegal under the Vagrancy Act of 1824 and is an arrestable offence. This applies even on private land if the public have access to it.I'm sure Morrison's would be horrified to hear that their customers are being pestered and even intimidated.

Susan Kelly ● 4957d

Sounds like the same two Angela.Obviously a small business opportunity.

Sara Nathan ● 4957d

If this 'habit' is allowed to continue it will get out of control.  Complaints please direct to Morrisons on their web site and to the local Community Police.Should the economic situation get worse this type of thing will increase.  With Bulgaria about to encourage their population to come to England this type of thing probably will increase when the Bulguarians find that the streets of London are not 'paved with gold'.  Did I read that some 90 per cent of those in our jails convicted on petty offences are from Eastern Europe?  A cheap way to get a warm bed and food perhaps/  The governments of the Eastern block countries need to get to grips with this problem, but it is obviously easier for them to encourage their possibly unemployable population to migrate.This all needs to be discussed openly in order to find a solution to this problem that will get worse and not better if it is ignored.  Both Central Government and Local Government politicians no doubt are already discussing this in private.

Dee Cook ● 4957d

The trouble is Dee that it would appear that all the Government and local Councils can do is TALK about the problem regarding the increase in people from Eastern Europe - they can't actually DO anything to stop the flow!After all isn't that what this and previous Governments have signed up to? So it hardly matters what the general public think - no-one is actually listening to us!I dread to think how the NHS, the DHS and other organisations will cope after January 2014.My husband and I have been asked for money in the underground car park in Morrisons on more than one occasion, but that is not the only place where begging is going on!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4957d

Good advice from Clare - tell as many interested parties as possible. They can't know extent of problem if not informed. Begging is illegal and brings no true benefit to anyone including the person asking.

Jan Norman ● 4957d

Our streets will be paved with 'gold' when they're all trying the 'dropped ring' scam simultaneously.

Susan Kelly ● 4957d

Have had the dropped ring tried on me twice in Paris - but never in Acton.All I can say to counter Doris's worries is that there was no way either of these guys were Bulgarian.So that's all right then.

Sara Nathan ● 4956d

Smack him if he keeps on.

David Wright ● 4956d

So David you are advocating Sara sticking one on these blokes? Apart from the fact that is not her style imo,what woman is going to assault a bloke and how is that a solution?

Keith Iddon ● 4956d

SO not my style and would be rather mean anyhow as they probably didn't mean to be threatening - I just felt threatened - which isn't the same thing.Anyhow, there's a knight on white charger out there somewhere!

Sara Nathan ● 4956d

what woman is going to assault a blokeOne that is not afraid or intimidated.

Nikki Howard ● 4956d

Or sane!Daft thing to do - even/especially in broad daylight, probably with witnesses and with no physical provocation.

Sara Nathan ● 4956d

I don't know wheher to say 'Them's fighting words'or 'Famous last words'...anyway,violence is not the answer and most women would not get the better of most men in a straightener,like it or not.

Keith Iddon ● 4956d

I am sure these men don't mean to be intimidating at all - but they are by the very nature of their operation, the location and the timing at night, for me!

Angela White ● 4956d

Or even during the day for me...But I think it was mostly my perception,not necessarily their intention.No noticeable security or employees around though - even during the day.

Sara Nathan ● 4956d

Anyhow, there's a knight on white charger out there somewhere!Don't bet on it, (not even a Mars bar.)

Nikki Howard ● 4956d

This morning I was confronted in Spencer Road by an elderly  Eastern European woman after she appeared to bend down and pick up a large gold ring from the ground. She blocked my way to show me the ring, and pressed it into my hand.She wanted me to have the ring, and in return she wanted food and a cleaning job! Said she had come to London from Yugoslavia (which technically no longer exists does it?)five days ago. I said I had no money and would take the ring to the police station! I remembered the comment on this thread about the 'dropped ring scam' and so I was aware of what would be the outcome.Please be aware of her.

Amanda Knights ● 4921d

I was listening to LBC a few weeks ago. The producer of the late show said she was at an ATM. As she entered her card and pin, the man behind said she'd dropped £5. As she bent down to pick up the note, he grabbed her card and cash and ran. On calling her bank, she was advised that several hundred pounds had been taken. Quite a common scan..beware. (The presenter next morning said they'd tried it on him too...but he simply put his foot on the note..took his card and cash..then bent down and picked up the fiver. Nice one.)

Phaddaeng Thumraksa ● 4921d

The ring scam was featured on the local TV news yesterday - apparently it happens a lot in the West End.

Lorna Dodd ● 4921d

It happened to us in Hyde park after doing the Race for Life a couple of years ago. Luckily my friend was aware and we just walked off rather quickly!

Chris Hurley ● 4921d

I haven't had it near here but in Paris and somewhere else I can't recall. Surely only works, if at all, when fresh.

Sara Nathan ● 4920d

Someone tried to pull it on me last week in the centre of London. New Cavendish Street just round the corner from the BBC.I laughed

Roy Gillett ● 4920d

Am I being thick as I do not understand the scam aspect of the dropped ring?  She asked for food and a cleaning job isn't that begging?  Where is the scam?

Jen Morty ● 4920d

Jen,My understanding of it is that the 'scam' is that the ring hasn't been dropped by anyone, but the person who 'finds' it on the ground wants you to think it has been dropped by someone else.I am not sure what the other people who have tried want to gain from it, but this lady was asking for food and a cleaning job!

Amanda Knights ● 4920d

Found on google searchThe "Found" Ring: An innocent-looking person picks up a ring on the ground in front of you and asks if you dropped it. When you say no, the person examines the ring more closely, then shows you a mark "proving" that it's pure gold. He offers to sell it to you for a good price — which is several times more than he paid for it before dropping it on the sidewalk.

Bob Crossley ● 4920d

Bob that would be a scam I am still confused about how asking for a job or food is a scam.

Jen Morty ● 4920d

Jen,I only gave the post the title of 'dropped ring scam' as that was what was referred to further up the post. It is the same ploy , but she was asking for items other than money. Sorry if the title confuses you - but to me it wasn't the same as obvious begging. She attracted my attention by pretending to find the dropped ring - not by just coming straight up and asking for food or a job. One definition of 'scam' is - "a stratagem for gain.", and she was trying to gain from it - all be it only food or a job!

Amanda Knights ● 4920d

And - if you weren't a sceptical London cynic - might have made you think she was honest and caring and therefore be more likely to give her a job or whatever.

Sara Nathan ● 4920d

Hi Amanda, I now see what you mean. When I think of scam I think of duping someone,  taking advantage and almost stealing something from them but I get your point.I had a Bulgarian knock on my door the other day asking for money,  he saw me from the pavement and obviously thought I looked like a soft touch. Do people really just hand over money when someone knocks on their door and says I'm from Bulgaria can I have some money for my family?

Jen Morty ● 4919d