I remember a spate of stories almost exactly like this one (mimicking many
of the details) about 10-12 years ago. Back then, I also had someone give me two
slightly different and mutually contradictory versions of the story about three
months apart. He seemed amazed that I recognized him the second time.
I'm getting the impression this area is going through a cycle of petty
criminal activity. I've seen a few more instances of car windows smashed than in
previous years, and I've suddenly started finding beer bottles on my front lawn
- again, in greater numbers than usual. The reoccurence of this story may be
another piecee of the pattern.
It's a shame, because there are people out there who legitimately could use
a handout or just some person-to-person help. But for a while I'll be more
skeptical than perhaps I should.
Al
Airone
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2005 7:34
PM
Subject: [UC] (no subject)
Kyle Cassidy wrote:
We just had a guy stop by the front door claiming he'd locked his keys in
his car on 36th street (along with his wallet) and needed my help for
something abstract. He said he'd just moved up here to live in 217 with his
grandparents (the Hendersons, who may or may not live in 217) to attend Penn.
When he said this, I realized I'd met him about a year ago when he came to my
door with the exact same story and wanted $20 to pay the locksmith. When I
told him he'd stopped by already with the same story, he said all he wanted
was to call the locksmith to make sure they'd be at his car. I asked what
they're number was (the locksmith) he gave me a bogus number (someone's home
answering machine), when I said it was a home machine he said "Oh, they must
be at my car" and took off.
I'm not sure if he's just hoping to get $20 from someone or,
as Christy suspected, he was casing the place.
Thought I should mention this in case anybody else runs into
him.
He looks to be mid to late 20's, about five five, white, very
closely cropped dark hair, slight gap between his front teeth. He told me his
name was Lee.
Christy says she believes she's also met him when she lived on
20th street telling the same story.
Has anybody else run into this guy?
kc
*********************************************************************************************************
Probably it was two years ago that a young guy came to my door on a
FREEZING cold day, wearing no hat and no gloves and obviously underdressed for
the weather, saying that he'd been sent to me by my neighbor across the
street, that he'd just driven all the way from his home in the South, that
he'd come to stay with his friend or relative Xxxx who also lived on my street
but was not at home. It was vacation time, but he was going to be a
student at Penn in the Spring semester. He was white, I can't
remember what color his hair was-----maybe reddish-brown and
short. He'd been told by a neighbor's son that I was a
good person, that I would surely help him. Curiously, the story
was the same----wallet and keys locked in car, and he needed the money for a
locksmith. I help every dog and cat that comes my way, but I'd
learned to be wary of people. I'll give anyone food, but not
money. I was so appalled that someone was obviously in need of
warm clothes, and hoped he had some of those in the alleged
car. I told him I would meet him at his car (36th and
Sansom!!!) and when the locksmith arrived, I would give the
locksmith the $20, and he could reimburse me right away,
when the car was opened and the wallet retrieved. I
felt the young man might be lying, but his face was so pink and his
hands were red with the cold that I felt really bad for him.
I've locked my keys in my car, I've been a stranger in another
city, so it was hard to turn him away
entirely. I hurried to meet him, didn't take warm
enough gloves for myself and waited and waited, and he never showed
up. I went to the office of my church a block away and
called the nearest locksmith, who said no one had called
in about a car at that location, and furthermore that no locksmith would
do the job for less than $50. I was disappointed, felt a
little hurt that someone would put me to such trouble, but all it
cost was a couple hours and 2 quarters for the parking
meter. Later, when I told my neighbor that her son had sent
the guy to me, she said she'd actually given the same person $20 a couple
months before!
Harden your hearts, everybody!
Barbara
