New law in CA. Refusing to "high five" crankers at the ATM?

[Ilike9mm]

Went to the ATM; early (6:30) in the morning, while doing errands in the "hell hole" where I shop.

I pulled up and parked, not too many people there; didn't think about any perceived threat, I left my "equalizer" in my backpack, stupid me.

There was a young couple (man/woman) standing near a pickup, as I pulled up the woman came strolling over singing on old, old tune: "I only have eyes for you". I think was the Flamingo's from the 1950's, not sure.

My wallet in my hand, digging out my ATM card: another thoughtless thing to do. She comes up and says, "hey how you doing?" I said OK. She was blocking my path. She then holds up her hands and says give me five…"give me five!"

"I'm in a little bit of a hurry, excuse me please". She then starts a tirade: "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME A HIGH FIVE?" I said: "naw", and tried to move forward. Out of the corner of my eye I see the man looking and waiting. I'm not that big, but big enough to protect myself. Studied Martial Arts, never hit anyone in anger. With my years; I "might" be able to thump them.

She continues screaming, that she was going to call the cops on me. I thought: for what?

The guy finally gets into the truck, she's still screaming about me being a ****** ******* and wouldn't "high five"! "You *** **** ***.

I didn't look back, and continued to the ATM, they finally left. Didn't get the plate, felt no need. No crime really. Unless there is a new law on the books about refusing to "high five"? I live in CA., new laws every other day!


Were they trying to "jack me"? Guess I'll have to try to "look mean" or something.


End of rant.

 

[venomballistics]

ya should have gotten a plate and descriptions ... all the elements were there to become a very bad day. Location, distraction, and an operator to blind side you. For whatever reason they opted out in your case.
think about the song choice as well .. custom selected for a a well seasoned target. They needed a talking to by a cop.

 

[blujax01]

You move in for the high five, she drops her hand and places her face in front of your hand. She gets face-palmed and you're caught on an ATM camera assaulting a perfect stranger in front of her Man.

Nice scam. I've not run across this one before.

 

[venomballistics]

You move in for the high five, she drops her hand and places her face in front of your hand. She gets face-palmed and you're caught on an ATM camera assaulting a perfect stranger in front of her Man.

Nice scam. I've not run across this one before.

I can see that working.

 

[arjay]

She was setting you up,but it didn't work.

 

[Martimus]

Another possibility is that she's a nut case...

Of course if you "high five" her, depending on the clothes you are wearing, your shirt might ride up. If you had a CCW she might see it print against your shirt or become visible. This might have been an off-the-wall attempt to determine whether or not you were carrying some sort of defensive weapon... in advance of a hold-up.

 

[W.E.G.]

Criminals.

You got out of it without being assaulted or robbed.

You must have handled it OK.

 

[gunblade]

Next time someone asks for a high five at the ATM, tell them no but you'll be happy to give them six for sure.

 

[Ilike9mm]

Next time someone asks for a high five at the ATM, tell them no but you'll be happy to give them six for sure.

I didn't know what was happening, "wake up call for me".

Snubby holds five; I could have said "I'll give you five".

Also: don't want to touch her, even the hand...you don't know where it's been. Egad!

 

[arjay]

Had a guy distract me with an odd conversation in the foothills last winter.On the way home got a funny feeling and looked in the back seat.Sure enough,my snowshoes were gone.

Need to pay attention to those instincts.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

We all need to be aware of our surroundings at all times. It's called situational awareness (discussed before) which simply means keeping our head in the game at all times. Nature is full of examples. Watch birds feeding, or deer. They eat, yet are always alert and on the lookout for predators. We should do no less. And by the way, an old trick for using ATMs, get out your card and put your wallet back in your pocket. Sit in your vehicle and look around before getting out. Stay in the car if things don't look right. If, after waiting a short time, you exit and someone else does the same, don't continue to the ATM. Stop, go back to your car, and wait to see what they do. Never turn your back on anyone and trust your gut, if it doesn't look right it probably isn't (as in nature, predators are always looking for the weak and inattentive).

 

[crofoot629]

Backpacks and glove boxes are holsters?
you've been clued in. The rest is up to you.
Emory

 

[thinblueline]

Well they were absolutely up to no good, no matter what their intentions were for you. One thing to watch out for with high fives is people placing skin-absorbable drugs (like LSD) on their hand that they are high-fiving you with. We had a problem in my city where people were doing that to passerbys. This probably wasnt the case in your siuation, but its something to watch out for. I never randomly high five any stranger, even how much they hassel me.

 

[Frizzman]

No matter what they were up to, its was absolutely correct to keep your distance and not comply. There are those who prey on others because they know most of us have been taught that one shouldn't be rude or suspicious of othersand always be nice. You know your mistakes and are able to learn from them and not do those things again. I make a point to always keep my head up and look like a hard target. I NEVER let anyone I don't know get too close or touch me. If I have to be harsh or rude about keeping that rule in effect, so be it. I spent a career working on the street, in prisons and other institutions loaded with predators...That whole event stinks and I would treat it as a threat...I'm glad you survived to tell the tale...

 

[mc5aw]

Any stranger who approaches me at an ATM and demands "Give me five!" will be assumed to be trying to rob me of $5.00 or more. That person's subsequent actions will define my subsequent reactions, defensive, evasive, or other.

 

[Kanewpadle]

This could have easily been avoided. DONT USE OUTSIDE ATM'S!!

 

[LennyLames]

Reminds me of the 1984 NY City subway shooting. Several guys approached Bernhard Goetz, surrounded him, and said "Give me five [dollars]."

After shooting the bad guys, he supposedly told one of them, "You don't look so bad, here's another."

One can never be too careful with these street characters.

 

[cracker57]

4A's Always Aware Always Alert

 

[Steve in Vermont]

The next time you're shopping with your spouse, and perhaps getting bored, try this. Pretend you are a Secret Service Agent and you're assigned to protect her. Good practice for situational awareness and makes the time go by faster. Disclaimer: This doesn't work in the tool department of either Sears or Home Depot. No guy is capable of situational awareness in such places.

 

[vigil617]

Or Victoria's Secret, where she would be much more likely to need accompanying by me.

 

[COL Jagdog]

Went to the ATM; early (6:30) in the morning, while doing errands in the "hell hole" where I shop.

I pulled up and parked, not too many people there; didn't think about any perceived threat, I left my "equalizer" in my backpack, stupid me.

There was a young couple (man/woman) standing near a pickup, as I pulled up the woman came strolling over singing on old, old tune: "I only have eyes for you". I think was the Flamingo's from the 1950's, not sure.

My wallet in my hand, digging out my ATM card: another thoughtless thing to do. She comes up and says, "hey how you doing?" I said OK. She was blocking my path. She then holds up her hands and says give me five…"give me five!"

"I'm in a little bit of a hurry, excuse me please". She then starts a tirade: "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME A HIGH FIVE?" I said: "naw", and tried to move forward. Out of the corner of my eye I see the man looking and waiting. I'm not that big, but big enough to protect myself. Studied Martial Arts, never hit anyone in anger. With my years; I "might" be able to thump them.

She continues screaming, that she was going to call the cops on me. I thought: for what?

The guy finally gets into the truck, she's still screaming about me being a ****** ******* and wouldn't "high five"! "You *** **** ***.

I didn't look back, and continued to the ATM, they finally left. Didn't get the plate, felt no need. No crime really. Unless there is a new law on the books about refusing to "high five"? I live in CA., new laws every other day!


Were they trying to "jack me"? Guess I'll have to try to "look mean" or something.


End of rant.

Good advice from your forum buddies -- we've got your back.

For my part, I'd volunteer to come enroll pro hac vice in the CA bar, and defend you for "failure to render a high five"

"Your honor, my client would have gladly rendered a High Five
but he recently had rotator cuff surgery on his dominant arm and was told by his orthopedist not to overextend his arm -- he might have been able to give a low five, but he did not want to offend Miss Skammer. He has been going to physical therapy every other day as prescribed by his doctor -- but his arm and hand function are still so limited that he cannot even handle his beloved 9 mm pistol. I am embarrassed to reveal on behalf of my client that he has been reduced to carrying and shooting a .25 ACP Baby Browning -- so, your honor, there are mitigating circumstances that mandate an acquittal of my client." "If the hand can't go high
my client gets a bye"

(with some literary leeway borrowed from Johnny Cochran).

End result: You win, Ms Skammer goes away downtrodden

And once again, justice has prevailed.

On a more serious note, I think you handled it perfectly. Kudos are yours.

 

[P&R Fan]

I once had a very strange individual try to shake my hand on the street late at night. I was armed, but did not want a "situation". I thought quick and said "nah, I just sneezed in that hand".
He looked grossed out and walked away.
I chuckled at my originality.
Jim

 

[feralmerril]

I dont know why I am remembering this: Years ago I had a couple that were close friends of mine. "Frank and bonnie". They went to TJ mexico. They went to a store front window and another american couple was also peering in the window. Bonnie had her elbow sticking out. The other woman turned fast and bonnie`s elbow caught her in the short ribs. The woman screamed, YAAAAAA I been stabed!

 

[OLDFED]

Get a Plate Number

You did well. Getting their plate number and calling the police would have been good. You weren't the first victim and won't be the last. If you don't report it...it didn't happen.

 

[snubbyfan]

Some crazy people out there. She might have been just tripping on something and the guy was being entertained by her crazy behavior. Ya never really know sometimes. I always keep my snubby with me. My wife calls it my pocket protector.
I like that line "I'll give you five."

 

[jag312]

I sincerely wish I could make the acquaintance of these two fine upstanding members of the community. It certainly would make my day.

It sort of reminds me of the time three other fine upstanding members of the community tried to mug me in San Francisco.

 

[Ilike9mm]

I once had a very strange individual try to shake my hand on the street late at night. I was armed, but did not want a "situation". I thought quick and said "nah, I just sneezed in that hand".
He looked grossed out and walked away.
I chuckled at my originality.
Jim

What a great idea: If someone wants "contact", sneeze in your hand (honk a lugie) and then offer it to them. Ha ha.

 

[Ilike9mm]

We all need to be aware of our surroundings at all times. It's called situational awareness (discussed before) which simply means keeping our head in the game at all times. Nature is full of examples. Watch birds feeding, or deer. They eat, yet are always alert and on the lookout for predators. We should do no less. And by the way, an old trick for using ATMs, get out your card and put your wallet back in your pocket. Sit in your vehicle and look around before getting out. Stay in the car if things don't look right. If, after waiting a short time, you exit and someone else does the same, don't continue to the ATM. Stop, go back to your car, and wait to see what they do. Never turn your back on anyone and trust your gut, if it doesn't look right it probably isn't (as in nature, predators are always looking for the weak and inattentive).

This incident has made me more aware.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I believe it was a nuanced attempt at panhandling. She says, "Give me five" and some percentage of people are going to give her a $5 bill. Then if she is nailed for panhandling, she can say she was asking for a HIGH five.

 

[Houdini1953]

The next time you're shopping with your spouse, and perhaps getting bored, try this. Pretend you are a Secret Service Agent and you're assigned to protect her. Good practice for situational awareness and makes the time go by faster. Disclaimer: This doesn't work in the tool department of either Sears or Home Depot. No guy is capable of situational awareness in such places.

Oh there is situational awareness alright but the situation is a great big toystore with all kinds of stuff to play with and do things with, heck leave me alone I will find what I want and also what I need, can a borrow more money, no problem you can get a credit card for Home Depot and Lowes just try to be careful and not fill your house with all kinds of stuff like I am now throwing out. If you need to fix something then alright but 5 drills and saws and several battery packs along with flashlights and bags or cases, be careful