So I was approached by as I was getting into my car yesterday
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
May 10, 2011 2:24pm CST
I had just placed my handbag on the floor behind the driver's seat He smiled and was very pleasant and said he sees me frequently driving around town as he is a policeman on a motorcycle. He also introduced himself giving is full name - Corporal Watson. He then asked if I would drop him to the police station as the sun was so hot. And it was very hot - so I stupidly agreed to do so.
[b]
As Forrest Gump would say. "My Mama always saa-ays that stoopid is as stoopid
do- oes." His Mama must have been talking about me.[/b]I noticed that his seat belt was not fastened and that he was carrying a small black nylon pouch. He then touched my left arm with his left hand and turned fully towards me. (We drive on the left hand side of the road) I asked him why he was staring and he said that he was looking for his wife. I felt uncomfortable as his right hand that had laid across the back of his seat was now at the back of my seat and my bag was on the floor.
I began to panic not knowing if he had a gun or a knife in the pouch he was carrying. The traffic light was red so pretending to be concerned about the time and told him that I was meeting my son in 15 minutes and apologising for breaking the law, turned around and picked up my bag and after taking out my cell phone placed the bag at my feet between me and the car door.
I speed dialed my son and apologised that I would be late as I was dropping off Corporal Watson to the police station. I reacted as if the son was quarrelling with me and stated exactly where I was on the highway. There was a silence and he asked if I had got myself in trouble again. 
I told him yes as I chatted on.
I prayed as I turned onto the road where the Police station was situated.My cell was on and in my hand so the son could hear what was happening. On hindsight, I should have just driven inside but I stopped in from of the entrance and he told me to drive across the entrance and park. I did so now totally scared as I did not know if he would rob me at gun point or what.
He then panicked a little as I had locked the door, but when I released the lock he quickly departed. I locked the doors immediately and used my mirrors to look for him. I do not where he disappeared to, but he had not entered the car park in the Police Station
So I breathed a sigh of relief and went to the office to have my melt down in private.
Have any of you done anything stupid like this?
I told him yes as I chatted on.
I prayed as I turned onto the road where the Police station was situated.My cell was on and in my hand so the son could hear what was happening. On hindsight, I should have just driven inside but I stopped in from of the entrance and he told me to drive across the entrance and park. I did so now totally scared as I did not know if he would rob me at gun point or what.
He then panicked a little as I had locked the door, but when I released the lock he quickly departed. I locked the doors immediately and used my mirrors to look for him. I do not where he disappeared to, but he had not entered the car park in the Police Station
So I breathed a sigh of relief and went to the office to have my melt down in private.
Have any of you done anything stupid like this?7 people like this
23 responses
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
11 May 11
cynthiann oh yes when we were still in our apartment I was all alone as I had retired and someone knocked on the front door.this youngman startedin on a spiel about working his way through high school selling magazines.
he was in a contest and the highschool student who made the most sales would win a trip to Washington DC.okay this man was at least 25 or 30 not a high school student. and the clincher ,it was a hot day,he had a short sleeved t shirt on, bad idea. I saw what Iknew were needle tracks.He was an addict. He then asked t o come in for a drink of water,now I panicked but I said no, I will bring you out a c up of ice water wait here,I went in and locked the door behind me I got the dixie cup and filled it with ice and water then picked u p this baseball bat my son kept moving with us from one apt to another, he was a man of 49 then lol. I came out with the water. then I said quietly "I called the high school they are not sending out students to sell magazines. drink your water then leave if yuo do not I will call the police."Now I swung the bat slowly scared sick and he said"whats with the bat?" I glared at him, Then I drew it back like a rookie baseball batter and said" You leave and you will not find out, you do not leave I am going to knock your head clean off your body.okay?" He dropped the cup, leaped over my patio fence and ran as f fast as he could. My son came in and asked, why was the odd guy running from our patio?" I motioned to him to come inside the apartment as my knees were wobbling.I told him what happened.He laughed then and said "Mom he could have overpowered you and hit you with that that thing. Why w en you went inside and locked the door didn't you call the police I said" because we are over the city line wo i would have had to call the sheriff and I figured I could handle this myself. Cynthiaann you were so lucky and I wonder just what he was really up to. I am glad it turned out okay. so scary sounding. I was so scared after that ordeal I could do nothing but sit and shake as my son fixed some dinner for us. I knew I had taken an awful chancel.How he got in had to be one of the residents held the ped gate open for him as we were in a gated secure supposedly complex.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 May 11
OMG! I think that was a close call!
Good thing you had the presence of mind to do as you did. To not panick and be on the phone.
I hope you take this as a reminder to never ever agree on driving any stranger anywhere.
But, I'm glad that your fine (aside from the meltdown, of course).
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
I was so foolish. I have always been too trusting in life
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
Thank you little blue bunny. It was scary. I started off badly by letting him into my car but I did work out what was happening reasonably fast. My son heard everything and leapt into action
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
'make this section? - not understanding what you mean. Apologies.
1 person likes this
What were you thinking, sweetie?
You know you cannot give any stranger a lift anywhere.
even the pope can walk where he want to be.
Never do that again, okay.
or i will come and whip you.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
Okay. I promise that I will try not to be stoopid again. Please don't whip me
Please don't whip me
@MrsLegend (11)
• Australia
10 May 11
Wow!! That was unreal. It's the stuff you see in movies, you don't expect it to happen to you. I think you were amazing to keep your head so well and even to have a conversation with your son on the phone. That was very well orchestrated.
It's not a situation that anybody would dream would ever happen to them. There are some very strange people out there in the world isn't there? I see them everyday as I work on the railways, somedays are stranger than others. I had this guy one day jump on my train while we were at the station and run through saying "they're after me" Jump out the other end of the carriage and run down to the river. It was about 6.50am. He wasn't harmful though, just strange. Having someone who you think you should be able to trust in your car would be so much more horrific because your car is your sanctuary, your territory.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
I am over 60 and I think that the may have followed me from the bank. I tend to park at a central part in town and then walk to where I need to go. I was targeted as someone who would not give trouble - but I did.
Yep! The world is full of strange people all right and they have always been attracted to me
Yep! The world is full of strange people all right and they have always been attracted to me1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
I acted very stoopidly but it is or was the custom out here to give people a lift as the transporting is not so good. we have stopped doing this in recent years because of crime rates increasing but I just reverted to the old times when giving a lift was the norm
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
Sorry was trying to change the word transportng' to transportation but pressed send instead
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
11 May 11
You are so lucky!! I am glad you were able to call your son. I would have reported him to the police. I have not, but my boyfriend did years ago. He picked up a hitchhiker in my car, while I was a work. When I got off work, he told me we were taking his friend to the next town. I did not think anything of it, until we were on the road and heard the conversation. We get where he wanted to go, and then he changed his mind and wanted us to take him somewhere else. Thank goodness my boyfriend told him that his ride was over and we had to get back to town, and he just left willingly. I yelled at him all the way home.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
I can oicture you yeling. yes, the police have now been informed and the Security company that operates that car park. Iam lucky to be alive. It will not happen again!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
11 May 11
I have been in some pretty precarious situations before so I could feel your fear as I read this. You handled it really well, I think. Telling you that he was a police officer, obviously, you are trained to obey and trust them. I probably would of done the same thing in letting him into my car and I think a lot of people would have. It's easier to think in hindsight...a real officer would not have even considered asking a woman who is all alone to give him a lift. Actually, he'd probably call a fellow officer if he really needed a ride. Anyway, you did well. I hope you reported it at some point becauses this guy will continue on and maybe the next woman won't be as lucky as you were.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
Thanks Sid, I don't feel quite so stoopid after reading your kind response. I should have known better but when we are rushing we are distracted and I was rushing to get back to work.
@zukichucha (991)
• United States
11 May 11
Sometimes things happen so we will learn a lesson from it. I am glad everything worked out okay because it definitely could have been much worse. That was smart thinking calling your son! But please think twice before picking up a stranger. You don't want to be so nice and get hurt because of your kindness!
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 May 11
Wow, no I haven't, I would be too scared to let any man I didn't know into the car. But you did handle it very well, considering how scary it was.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 May 11
Yes, that was quick thinking and not at all stoopid...
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
And considering how stoopid I was. But I made a good recovery and was proactive I think
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
11 May 11
OMG cyn! WTF? Sorry for the language, but what were you thinking or
not thinking and my first question is "was he wearing a police uniform?
Now, I am responding from email so I don't know the answer yet or know
what anyone else has said, but can't wait to see! You are just too nice
and naive, as usual! God is definitely always watching out for you or
your angels are! And, yes I have done many stupid things in my life
like trusting the wrong people, but I now trust pretty much no one!
@zukichucha (991)
• United States
12 May 11
You most definitely have a guardian angel watching over you. That is why you knew what to do in this sticky situation. Another person would not had such quick thinking and something very bad would have happened to them. I am glad everything worked out!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
Yu have described me to a T - totally naive. No no uniform. Should have asked for an I.D. orsomething. Will not ever let a stranger into my car again. afriend told me that I give my Guardian angel a lot of work
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
11 May 11
Wow cynthiann! That was close! I would not chide myself for ‘doing something stupid’ as you said. As a nice, kind and trusting human being it is all too easy to believe a person who asks for help especially if he claims to be a police man! You acted very calmly and smartly by having the phone line open; it may have been what saved you from possibly being robbed or hurt by this individual. Thanks for telling us your story and I am so thankful that all is well; you have given us all a reminder to take more care no matter how much we love to trust and help others. Great to know you are okay...
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
You are so kind as I was stoopid. Really stoopid. But I will never let a stranger into my car again. he wasn't a policeman and the police have now been informed and the Security Company who manage the car park have also been given a description as well.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
11 May 11
Wow, that was a very scary incident and i salute you for being so brave.
Had i been in your place, i would never ever let that man ride with me. I would abruptly shut the doors and go. He can call me rude but i have my reason. I don't want to take a risk.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
I am too trusting and it has been my mistake all of my life. It gets me int awkward situations that are hard to get out of. Will never take that risk again.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
10 May 11
Wow that is a scary story. You could have been hurt. It is so understandable if you believed he was a real cop. We mostly trust all cops and many would have reacted as you did. Thank you for sharing your story. I am very happy all turned out well and maybe your telling this incident will help others to be careful.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
I should have asked him for identification. He looked so clean and well dressed and was very disarming in his approach. I was an idiot to believe him
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
Stoopid to begin with but ended up thinking smart. I was very scared though. he could have forced me to stop on highway and were the Police station is is a very crowded busy area with markets etc. So he could have stabbed/shot me and escaped in the crowds before anyone knew what had happened. Mind you - I would not have put up any resistance
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
As Forrest Gump would say. "My Mama always saa-ays that stoopid is as stoopid
do- oes." His Mama must have been talking about me.
Run Cynthie Run
This will never happen to me again.
This will never happen to me again.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
10 May 11
Hi. cynthiann. This was a scary situation that you was in here! I can't quite say what is up with this police officer, but something tells me that it is not good at all. I am so glad that you are okay and I am glad that you drove him right to the police station. If he is up to no good, let the cops deal with him there. I wonder why would he panic after you locked the car door? That was very strange, so strange! I hope that he does not need a ride again any time soon. If he does, you may need to decline his help. Your son was also a blessing to have called just in time as you were in the car with him. Stay safe and be careful at all times, cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
I think that he was just pretending to be a police officer to lull me into a false sense of security. I should have asked for identification before allowing him to enter my car. I will never take him up if I see him as I think that he is a criminal but if I could - then I would take a photograph of him with my cell phone and ten go to the police
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
10 May 11
Cynthi, Cynthi, u know better.U are too good for ur own good but u know better than to pick up any stranger!!!!! U have got to be more careful. U are going to get hurt or worse. I'm sooo glad it turned out like it did but u have got to stop taking foolish chances. PLEASE!!!!!@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 May 11
I just believed that he was a police officer. I was very stupid and as Rachel said - angels were guarding me! I will never ever do it again - that is a promise. Was really scary.
1 person likes this
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
11 May 11
That was scary! he could have other intentions!!! and good thing you think fast and dialed your son!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
Yes, and I did not hang up so he knew what was happening and was racing to reach me whilst trying to get the police. But the police did not answer the phone unfortunately. I was so lucky. I held the phone in my hand whilst driving. I was stupid to let him in the car without asking for an I.D. though
@TallPaul69 (70)
• United States
10 May 11
Wow that is extremely scary. My heart would have been pounding! You were very smart, I'm not sure what I would have done in that situation.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 May 11
I was very scared, very very scared but I just kept chatting and he realised that my son knew exactly where I was. I felt the hairs rise at the back of my neck and just knew something wasn't right. I was so lucky that I was not hurt
1 person likes this
