Scammers all over the place
At the same moment that this police car was parked on the sidewalk in Center Grove (there is another police car in front of it), there were the usual scammers going after people at the Shell Station on US1 and 27th Avenue.
This dude walking away, said, "Can you spare any money for my broken down car? And if not money, can you spare some gas?" And he pointed to the SUV in the corner with the hood up and the doors open, made to look like it was broken.
I told him to take his scam elsewhere and that there are two or three scammers at any one time at the Shell Station, some get violent if you deny them money.
So anyway, I took my camera out and shot a few pictures, the "broken" car managed to take off like a bat out of hell when that happened. I have a magic camera, it fixed the car with just one snap shot.
I think the cops need to patrol the Shell station and The Fresh Market lot, where lots of scammers hang out, instead of hanging on the sidewalk, under shady trees. The other BP station is under renovation (Bird and 27th), otherwise a few scammers hang out there, too.
I don't like being accosted by these people who come up from behind and scare the hell out of you in the process. Maybe a boycott of Shell gas station is needed if the police won't do anything. Shell appears to be oblivious, too.
posted by Tom Falco at 12:01 PM
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19 Comments:
Very True.. but the Police seem to prefer sitting in the shade, hiding behing stop signs to give tickets to the GOOD neighbors here in the Grove who pay for their comfortable 60K salaries, instead of actually patrolling the STREETS, on foot, horse or whatever, looking for these true nuisances and actual perils here. it's just more comfortable, isn't it, plus they need more of our money, tickets, safer and less stressful than PROTECTING our communinity from such filth.
Shouldn't we be boycotting Shell anyway. Seriously, I was there (Shell) one day in the heat,and in a not so a good mood when some low life woman came up to me and asked me to put gas in her car with my bank card. She said she had to be somewhere. I actually blew up at her and told her to get a life. My mood got better after that.
Liz
this is true, I go to the Shell almost every day and usually around dusk is when i find it to be the worst. I will usually give the old homeless people my change, which i never do, just because i see them there every time i go there.
What's disappointing is that a lot of the time, the cops are only a few yards away at the Dunkin Donuts.
I always get hit on in front of CVS on Grand Ave. or the Food Spot next to Foccacia. One guy actually tried to sell me a purse for $10 that looked like he had just stolen it. And there's always cops parked at that Food Spot too! I just don't understand it!
My seven year old son just loves to pop out of the back seat to do the "big boy" job of filling my tank. I go out with him, for many reasons, not the least of which, for a few years anyway, I control the credit card.
What I just hate is when my back is turned and people approach my kid, and then me. I am usually defensive that they have solicited my son, and when they get rude with me and I refuse them shouting ensues, I have to explain all of this to my son on the drive home.
The Shell doesn't care. The police don't care. One would think that our police officers would like to be community members, but they aren't.
Did anyone think about reporting it to the manager of Shell station? If he is not there ask for his phone number or the number of owner or anyone in there that has a franchise. You can also call the police non-emerg number to report it 579-6111. Keep that number in your cell phone.
Reporting to the Police is probably the best approach. Thanks for posting this Grape. It pisses me off. Usually, when I get asked I say "no" and thats that. Any further begging leads to me saying, "get the f*** away from me" with a menacing look which usually does the trick.
Keep some of those tracts that get left on your door, and hand the scammer one and tell him that if he'll accept Jesus as his personal savior, God will provide. Add a big smile.
As anyone who spends time in the Grove knows, this problem has been going on for YEARS. I have a really good question: WHY DON'T THE OWNERS OF THESE BUSINESS HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS?!?! I see them at Publix and some other places, but I think the cost of employing somebody is far better to pay than losing consistent business from locals. Besides, I don't expect the employees to be forced to deal with every fruitcake out there, they'll NEVER get ANY work done!!!
If it is a shell corporate owned station you can always call shell and make some noise. If it is a franchise -calling corp hq will not help as their usual response is - "it is a franchise and we have no control over what they do". Corporations seem to want to deny any responsibility when they franchise their name - not realizing that the corporate brand is what brings in customers - its not "JOES might fine gas" that you go to. They take the fees, % of sales, etc., but "say" they have no control over the owners. Not true- you persist long enough on corp level and you can get action.
As usual, it boild down to this: What do our so called "representatives" at City Hall do about this? ZILCH, Nada, Nothing, Rien, Niente.
Isn't Law Enforcement a HUGE priority for any City? Are you reading this, Manny, or Mr. Sarnoff? These politicians certainly need the Grove's generous Tax dollars to spend elsewhere in the City of Miami, they love to hit us with parking tickets, stop sign tickets, etc. But when it comes to Law Enforcement, they disappear, and we have to deal with these nuisances and real Dangers every day.
Thanks Manny, Thanks Sarnoff. Be careful out there with the family, as we all have to, these thugs might attack you too.
I was there the other day and some low-life in a suit hit me up for retractable roof basball stadium.
The Shell is owned by Chambliss, Ltd. FLAGSHIP SHELL LLC located at 6550 N FEDERAL HWY STE 240 in Ft. Lauderdale. I think it would be beneficial for concerned Grove residents (myself included) to call their offices and demand enhanced customer security. Their office number is: (954) 938-7211.
Thanks, Ana. Armed with the information you have kindly given us we have no excuse for not calling them.
I appreciate it.
Why doesn't someone go before the Village Council and discuss this on their televised meeting. Get Village Council involved - they helped with CVS to some extent. Now those gates are closed after a certain time at night whereas their parking lot was open all night. What an invitation to crime.
Quality of life issues need to be addressed. They snowball into major crime if left alone. Timoney is such a disappointment as police chief. I had hope when he was appointed, but he has done absolutely nothing to make us feel secure. Nothing could be more important to commerce and to families. Priorities, people.
This is a universal reality from N. to S. pole. I believe I read once that such was an honorable profession in India. It's best to smile, yet ignore these people, smile, walk around them politely and go about your business.
JOBIE has the right approach....as the Brits say ' Spot on '
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