Ed Ames
Member
The problem comes when they use threat fixation against their victims.
Two people working together...one dressed as a student or in business dress (slacks, dress shirt, maybe a tie), the other in your face or otherwise fixing your attention ("thug", crazy bum, even a girl with an unbuttoned blouse). One distracts, one reaches into your bag or opens your car door and grabs something off the front seat...or whatever. One you perceive as a threat, the other does you harm.
Not saying that'll happen to you, but it happens to a lot of people. Treating all panhandlers as a threat is OK so long as it doesn't distract you from other less obvious threats.
Two people working together...one dressed as a student or in business dress (slacks, dress shirt, maybe a tie), the other in your face or otherwise fixing your attention ("thug", crazy bum, even a girl with an unbuttoned blouse). One distracts, one reaches into your bag or opens your car door and grabs something off the front seat...or whatever. One you perceive as a threat, the other does you harm.
Not saying that'll happen to you, but it happens to a lot of people. Treating all panhandlers as a threat is OK so long as it doesn't distract you from other less obvious threats.