Tulsa Couple Is Robbed After A Kind Act To Strangers
By brokentia
@brokentia (10389)
United States
December 9, 2006 3:19pm CST
http://kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=115989
KOTV - 12/8/2006 10:44 AM - Updated 12/8/2006 6:13 PM
A married couple gets robbed inside their Tulsa home. They are 78 and 81 years old and have spent the last two days calling credit card companies and getting new drivers' licenses. Now, they have a warning for others.
News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says Greg and Joanne have been married for 59 and a half years, are full of life and love to laugh. However, they realize they made a mistake that this time, cost them their wallets, but could've cost them their lives.
Joanne is still in the Christmas spirit, despite a recent visit from Scrooge. A woman knocked on their door early Wednesday morning. She was with a young person she said was her son, they said they had car trouble and needed to use the phone. Greg took her a cordless phone, and then they asked to come in out of the cold, then to use the bathroom, then for some food.
That's when Greg saw the woman grab his wallet and take off. He tried to go after her, but he has a prosthetic leg, lost his balance, fell and hit his head. "I instinctively tried to chase after her. In my prime, I could've caught her easily." Joanne: "He caught me." Greg: "That was a whole lot better catch."
They still have their sense of humor, but, weren't very happy when they realized the thieves also took Joanne's purse out of her walker. They know it could've been worse. Joanne: “To put it in a type of perspective. We were lucky. They did not try to hurt us and this is much luckier than a lot of people. I would like to be first in the firing squad if they're standing up against the wall."
They say cases like this sour the milk of human kindness and they feel they can no longer be the people who are willing to help others who claim to be in need and they want others to learn that lesson as well. Joanne: "The police really emphasized and our children emphasized, don't open the door, to put it politely."
As much as people don't want to hear it, it's true, you can't open your door to anyone you don't know, no matter if they're crying or say they're in trouble. You can help. Talk to them through the door and offer to call help for them.
.......
Are you less likely to do random acts of kindness afraid to be robbed or hurt?
Or do you go out on a limb hoping your kindness will not be abused?
20 responses
@Noxmorexlies (739)
• United States
10 Dec 06
That is so terrible, I cannot believe how people can be so greedy, and do such terrible things all for money and items. People will do anything kill,steal, and so on. It is disgusting.
@buddiecoder (7)
• India
10 Dec 06
There are many peopple who do such things so be cafefull guys....
@medooley (1873)
• United States
10 Dec 06
I am sorry to say that answer is yes. Stories like this do make we think twice before helping people. There has been a couple of times I have driven past a woman on the side of the road who has had car trouble, and after I pasted I thought that I should have stopped to see if she needed any help.
First of all, I can't fix the car to save my soul, but I should at least ask if she needs any help... shouldn't I?
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
10 Dec 06
Exactly my point...should you?
If she was actually in need of help, she would have to be cautious of you. But because you stopped and she could try to rob you, you have to cautious of her.
I am too trusting...so I try to remind myself that when I see someone on the side of the road, they must have a cell phone that they can use to call for help. I really can't endanger myself for the sake of my kids. But I also feel guilty for passing the person that may really need help. What to do????
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
10 Dec 06
People like these crooks are what make people think twice before helping another person. But it also makes it much harder for those who do need help. For the ones that do have a car break down. They have to wonder if anyone will help them or not.
I know for myself due to situations like this I'm a lot more cautious. If I'm alone and I see a car broken down I can't stop since there have been cases here of people faking it to then rob (or in some cases worse) the good samaritians. However if possible I do call someone to help, usually the police. I want to be able to help others but when you have slimeballs like that who take advantage of that giving nature it makes it very hard.
@prawiner (690)
• India
10 Dec 06
Yes you have to help people who are in need of it, but before that you have to make sure that you will not end up with any problem. Why I am telling this because not everyone is a cheat, just because of this incident we should not stop helping others, but have to be careful, if found anything risky like this incident better you do not go out and help a stranger.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
10 Dec 06
It's unfortunate that these days people have to contemplate even helping others anymore, in fear of their own safety. I never open my door for people anymore because you never can tell if they are truly in trouble or if they're scoping out your house to see what there is to steal from you. According to my mom, it wasn't so uncommon for people to do things like picking up hitchikers on the side of the road, now it's a big "no no" because you can't trust anyone these days.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
10 Dec 06
It is a shame people have to be like this anymore. I cannot believe they continue to Prey especially on the Elderly. I often wonder how if they continue to do this without being caught how they can sleep with themselves at night. It is not worth it to choose a lifestyle like this, and often things will catch up with you and you are in trouble. But they are Lucky this was not more serious, and would just make me too more leary who to really trust if this was me.
@euniceeleanor (5967)
• Singapore
10 Dec 06
this is one good reason why people refused to help anyone anymore, whether it's genuine or not. i for one, are very relunctant to help someone with car trouble, you dont know what they have up their sleeve and prefer not to take chances.
@dragonlord2708 (233)
• India
10 Dec 06
these r exactly the kind of acts that scare ppl frm helpin others.......well i would help ppl in need but in a limit...i.e. i would nt allow them inside the house but try to help them with the door closed
@icgcarlos (57)
• Philippines
10 Dec 06
Good samaritans are hard to find these days, in todays world every stranger could be a potential criminal.
@lovein (345)
• India
10 Dec 06
Live in moment. You can not stop opening door, as you are human being.
Your action has proved that you are human being.
Please continue to open your door, nothing will happen.
It was feelings of one moment only.
You see me in the same way, as you want to see me.
Still a point you had not seen a man as theif.
It is upto you. You will change your look or not.
And police- It upto them, the way they will look at man,
they will be looked as they like to see them.
I should not look at theif or police, I being a woman can focus on my husband only to learn from his views and looks.
Thanks
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
10 Dec 06
It's really sad that people are like this and do these stupid things. Yes things like this stop people from helping those who really need it. It makes me reluctant and yet I'm the first one to try and help someone else. I've just been lucky so far. We all would like to trust in people but it's getting so bad out there. Especially at Christmas time I find people are even more desperate. Its a sad world when people have to stoop to those levels.
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
10 Dec 06
I would not open my door to strangers and help them. It was even worse to let those people in their home. It is too dangerous, especially now a days to do something like that. i will peek out the window and if I do not know or recognize them, I will not answer the door. I will help my family and my closest friends and my close neighbors but nobody else that comes knocking on my door. I wouldn't feel safe.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
9 Dec 06
i would do random acts of kindness you never know when you might need it.
@lissaj (532)
• United States
10 Dec 06
And everyone wonders why no one stops to help stranded motorists on the road anymore? It is so sad that people have to stoop to that level. I, myself, won't stop because I am usually alone, or with my children. There are a lot of crazy people in this world. I also don't let strangers in my home. There is a gas station right down the road from me, they can use the restroom there. I am glad that couple can still have a sense of humor after their ordeal, but I bet in the future they will think twice before helping someone who may really be in need because of this. That is so sad.
@cachitodemialma (1313)
• United States
9 Dec 06
Thats exactly why so many people are less likely to help out strangers anymore. It's sad. I've seen people stranded on the road, and my own fears keep me driving. Its sad...but you just cant trust anyone these days. Im more paranoid now than I've ever been before. :(
@malsun (1528)
• United States
10 Dec 06
this is so horrible! why should people go ahead and help others? Because of such acts, people will hesitate to help out genuine victims. It is a very sad thing.
