The threatening scammers are scaring shoppers
The Scammers are still out and about. Now they stalk people at The Fresh Market parking lot. Here are two of them.
They literally come right up to people as they exit their cars. They sort of force you, out of fear, to give them money. You have nowhere to go when they hold the car door open and they are right in your face with their hand out and the phony piece of paper threating you.
When they saw me, they ran like the thieves that they are, they ran right across South Bayshore Drive and they dived into the bushes at Grove Hill condo across the street. So Grove Hill people, if your hedges have holes in them, that's why.
One day someone is going to get hurt. I'm just glad the lady in the maroon car here is not my mother. Is it yours? Do the police or authorities even care?
posted by Tom Falco at 10:00 AM
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38 Comments:
Great work Grape, anyone ever thought about secretly watching these guys and watching where they go when their done for the day?
They report to older people, usually a lady in a car. I have written about this extensively. No one in authority cares to stop them.
Grape. Have you contacted the area Commissioner and the NET police officer? Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Especially the elderly.
Have you tried politely saying "No, thank you" and going about your business? That's what I do and they always just walk away. I have never found them threatening or scary, although they are annoying.
Has anyone thought to complaint to Fresh Market. It seems to me Fresh Market should have an interest in keeping their customers from being harassed on their property. I for one would probably take my business somewhere else if I felt unsafe in their parking lot.
Well that time they were kicking and trying to break in the glass door at kinkos where the girls inside where scared for their lives, I did ask them politely what they were doing and they threw rocks and bottles at me and then when they saw me down the block a half hour later, they threw rocks and bottle at me, and all I was doing was walkingto my car, so yes, that has been tried Michelle.
While "No, thank you" does work, I really don't need another distraction while I am trying to get me three kids and groceries in the car. Also, if they are truly collecting for a good cause then why can't they ask the fresh market to set them up with a table in front of the store, like the boy and girl scouts do in front of Publix.
Michelle, you are a village council member and rather than do your job as a village council member you want us to politely deal with these hoodlums? How about you and the rest of the village council get off your asses and do something today about this before someone pulls a gun out and tries to shoot the kids and someone ends up dead ?
If this was legal they wouldnt be running off into the bushes when someone questioned them.
Anon 11:31 - you haven't been paying attention. It's a scam, they have a different thing most of the time youth sports leagues, and they know who to target.
It's an issue no one wants to deal with, but one that truly should be addressed. Grape, who was the woman representing the West Grove that attends many of the meetings? I remember her for wishing she had our problems at the merchant resident meeting. Maybe some assistance can be found there.
Just as an FYI - this has happened to me in the parking lot behind Fuddruckers too. Only in this instance the person was an older white male who was collecting for a charity in exchange for stickers. It couldve been legit but the fact that it was about 10pm and he crept up on our car and scared the crap out of my girlfriend and her mother didnt help (I was in the backseat and saw him coming). With the women in the car and this being the first time Id met the mother, I bit my lip and kept my cool, especially when he made a few stupid comments. It was really annoying though and I didnt appreciate it one bit.
The authorities need to be called and the Fresh Market needs to keep these punks out of their lot. The police also need to keep an eye on this and put a stop to it as it is a total scam and disparaging to businesses in Coconut Grove.
Thanks Grape. If If see those guys I'll call the cops immediately. And I go to the F. Market accros the street almost every day. It's just a SHAME that these Thugs aren't put away, especially their parents or organizers.
Police seems to preferspending their days hiding under the cool of trees in some safe corners, trying to nail us with tickets for running a stop sign. Mr Sarnoff, officials? This is crime. Where are our Tax dollars? Send the Police to the streets, not just to leisurely cruise by or stand by for parking tickets. Thanks.
CI
Where is Grove Crime Watch and Village Council and City Commission intervention? This has gone on far too long! If time can be taken to decide about "Burn Notice" staying or going, then this should certainly be on someone's agenda. In meantime what are we to do?
Thanks, Tom for keeping us informed and safe with your blog.
These guys better be careful coming up fast on someone's car. I have some friends who are concealed weapons permit owners, and if they came up at 10pm outside the Fresh Market from behind the car without warning... it would not end well.
I got hit up by these guys at Sunset Place in South Miami on Friday.
If I were a store manger and saw these guys outside my store harassing and lying to my customers (and it is harassment), I'd be taking picture and letting everyone know its s scam. Exposure is the only way to stop it, keep up the great work on this issue.
This sort of behavior is unique to Miami. Other cities do not tolerate such low quality of life. Thank you to our worthless politicians for making our lives more difficult than they need to be.
Our village council leader sums up what is wrong with our representatives. Good job ignoring the problem! Shame on you.
As much as the Village Council would like to help, the fact is we have no staff, and certainly no police officers in our employ. If these people are dangerous and people are afraid, then the people who are being harassed need to call the police and report it. Also, Fresh Market does have an obligation to the safety of its customers in the parking lot it owns and controls, and they ought to be asking them to leave and/or calling the police when they are there. Tom, sorry to hear they threw rocks at you. I guess maybe they behave differently toward women. I've been approached several times, just said no thanks, and that was the end of it.
"No thank you" doesn't always work. I get hit up entering and exiting F. Market. I support many causes and hate to turn anyone, especially children, down, but I do. Daily.
I really dread running into these guys...
They know they are up to no good. I saw a few in the bookstore a few months ago. They were asking for money for their football team. I was watching them and hoping they would ask me so i could go off. However they probably could tell from my facial expression that I was not to be harrased and so they continued onto the next victim. I would love to get my hands on these kids and give them a talking to. And their monther should be arrested for theft.
You can all go by Police Grade pepper spray at the Police store On 7 street (near where the flea market was)
Spray em then let's see if they bug you again. This stuff is good to carry.
Some people wonder why tourists, and even some locals for that matter, do not want to come to the grove.
These guys are one of the reasons.
ENTREPRENUERS ! I,d say.....kids need money ....no jobs for adults much less a kid in this economy. I give sometimes....sometimes not. Is a buck gonna break anybody. Would you rather have someone breaking into your car or home or just htting you up for pocket change....your choice PEOPLE !
had a kid in a shirt and tie the other day at USl and Bird with a sign saying his mother and siblings were being evicted...he was trying to help. Was it a scam or was it true...if a scam , so what , he got away with some change...if true ....put yourself in his shoes.
I guess Obama's rescue package isn't coming quick enough?
What do you think?
RE: ANON 10:35....WHAT DO I THINK ? I THINK YOU,RE AN IDIOT ! IF YOU CAN THINK....THINK BUSH/ CHANEY AND THAT CROWD OF THIEVES WHO RAIDED THE TREASURY FOR EIGHT YEARS !
And the Obama administration has robbed almost 2 times as much in a few short months. I don't see the point. 99% of politicians are corrupt. That includes Bush, and his cronies & Obama and his cronies. What's your point?
With regards to the scumbags hitting people up at their car door for money, Don't give them any. If they keep insisting, threaten to call police or something. People should not be giving money to any of these vagabonds on the street. If you want to give money to Charity, give it to a real charity and take the tax deduction while you still can. The way this country is going, the government is going to have a monopoly on charity.
To ANON 11:09....I didn,t really see your original point , but I do now...as I suspected...a sorry attempt at political sarcasm. Go crawl back under your dark, dank dwelling place.
Socialism here we come bye pepper spray, spray em and ask questions later
Has anyone ever heard of 911 or the police non emergency number 579-6111. Call them as you are leaving and report these kids.
To ANON 6:15PM......AMEN !!!!!!!
TO THE PERSON WHO THINKS SPRAYING A KID IN THE FACE WITH PEPPER SPRAY WHEN ALL THE KID DID WAS ASK FOR CHANGE....AND CALLING IT SELF DEFENCE...I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU READ THE CRIMINAL CODE .....GOOD LUCK TO YOU.....I HOPE YOU LIKE THOSE JAIL HOUSE PAJAMAS !
"stop hiding behind racial rhetoric"
- I will, as soon as white-on-white and white-on-black crime gets anywhere near black-on-white-crime...
anon 9:59 your a piece of work I bet you love your life you sound like an old scrooge,ha
The scammers are now going door to door. For the second time in a week they have knocked on doors in my neighborhood. It is time to contact law enforcement for an official report. Stay safe everyone.
Law enforcement contacts http://www.grovecrimewatch.org/. Call and email to Commander Jorge Martin 305-643-7150, jorge.martin@miami-police.org have been made.
Error in phone number. Here is correct number; Commander Jorge Martin 305-643-7160.
Aside from the childish name-calling, this post has been very helpful. This sort of solicitation is not good for any community and if allowed, it will encourage more panhandlers from outside the area. This activity discourages people from coming to the Grove. These people/children do have other options for assistance.
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