Hi to my Forum Friends,
Wednesday evening I walked over to the Tyler Galleria Mall and had a very strange encounter. As I walked around the mall, I sensed a man following me. He never said anything, just stayed within a few feet of me, staring at me. Once I became aware of him, I began to take evasive steps to see if he was truly stalking me. I walked to a store window and stood looking in; he was there just behind me. Then, I began to walk back and forth across the mall aisle stopping at different store windows, pretending to browse. As I zig-zagged back and forth across the mall aisle stopping at various store windows -- he was always within a few feet of me.
Twice, I walked up to the man and in a courteous tone asked him, "Can I help you with something?" All he did was stare at me.
While this was happening, in my mind I was thinking about an incident which happened just the previous night at a Walmart store in Lynnwood, California (near LAX). In that Walmart, a 74 year old man was browsing in the sporting goods section. A homeless man approached him and, from what I understand from the reports, asked the man for money. Evidently the man refused to give him money -- so, the homeless man picked up a baseball bat and began to beat the man.
Security was alerted right away by a woman. But, before they arrived, the older man was beaten to death. Then, the homeless man just casually began to walk away. He was stopped by store security, held for police, and arrested. But, his random victim was still dead -- for no apparent reason.
I have to admit that this previous day Walmart occurrence was on my mind when I approached my stalker at Galleria Mall. The man was about 6 foot tall, maybe a bit taller, about 230 pounds, stocky not fat, short cut hair with a receding hair line, and was an African American with light skin coloring. He did not look like a homeless person, nor did he look like someone on drugs. He was dressed in a gray tee shirt and blue jeans, wearing sun glasses -- and looked, in every respect, as a normal, well groomed person.
But, when I approached him and asked if he needed something, all he did was stare at me in a not very friendly manner. He would not say a word.
In the center of the mall aisle are a number of kiosks with young sales people. I walked to one of the kiosk and asked the young lady for the telephone number of Mall Security. While I was standing at her kiosk calling security -- the man was standing at an adjacent kiosk looking at their decorative baseball caps. Later, when I talked with the young ladies who were at that kiosk, they told me that they sensed something was wrong -- because while the guy was picking up and examining their caps, he seemed to not really be interested in them.
Then the man walked into a store by the kiosk where I was standing . When three mall security officers came, I pointed out the man as he was walking out of the store. In all this time, the man never said a word -- nor did he seem to be concerned that we -- three security officers, all the young ladies at the different kiosks, and I -- were watching him. He walked down the aisle, stopped to say something to a young man at the Verizon kiosk -- and then, a few minutes later walked back toward where we were and sat down on a bench.
The mall security officer told me, "This man is truly weird. But, until he actually does something, we cannot ask him to leave."
You would think that his so obviously stalking another person in the mall would be a good enough reason. But, I guess they have their rules -- sort of like police regulations -- until he shoots you or stabs you, we do not have a reason to restrain him.
But, the security officer told me, "We will keep him on camera." At the time, I did not truly appreciate their ability to track the man.
While he was still sitting on the bench, I walked away and moved toward the other end of the mall -- keeping my eyes open that he was not following. All of this happened on the lower level of the mall. Later, after cautiously walking around for a while -- I went to the upper level and began trying to locate him on the lower level. Soon, I found him in the center of the mall, on the lower level below the Food Court (which is on the upper level).
From my vantage point, I could see him through the railing bars -- but, he apparently could not see me. The man was just standing, leaning against the wall, watching people walk by, still wearing his sun glasses. I don't know if he was watching for me, waiting for someone, or scanning for another possible victim.
When I had located him, I called Mall Security again to make them aware of his location and his actions. Before I could tell Security where he was -- the officer told me, "Yes, we have him on camera right now." I can assure you that this made me feel much more comfortable.
Later, thinking about this whole episode, I more fully grasped what Security had told me the first time I called them. The officer asked where I was, the young lady told me the name of her kiosk, and right away the officer told me, "Yes, I have you on camera." That did not really register until later. But, praise God -- from the moment I called, Security had me on camera and had officers on the way.
The next time anyone complains to me about Big Brother watching us all the time, my only reply will be, "Praise God!"
All things can be good and bad, depending upon your situation. However, the next time I, or any of those close to me, decide to walk in Tyler Galleria Mall -- I will feel more secure knowing that Mall Security officers and cameras are watching. And, that they are only a cell phone call away.
I have put Tyler Galleria Mall Security on my cell phone speed dial. The Tyler Galleria Mall Security telephone number is: 951-351-3124. For all my Friends and family living in our community who frequent this mall -- please put this number on your speed dial.
And, I would recommend all of my Friends who live in other communities, do this for the mall or large stores you frequent often. I pray that you never need to use the number. But, better to err on the side of safety.
To the Tyler Galleria Mall management and the Mall Security officers -- THANK YOU for being my Big Brother. You have my never ending gratitude and praise.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
