I need your help. A stranger is hounding my mom :(

[rootaxs]

Here's the gist of it. The complex she's living in has been plagued by attacks by a tall dark man and the victims have been mostly women who come home late in the evening. A notice by the building manager has been sent out several times but there's no security guard available and the police don't usually patrol the area.

Well, just recently my mom noticed that a stranger was waiting in a dark shaded area near her apartment and when she walked towards the door this guy started walking towards her. According to her the guy was wearing dark clothes, somewhat muscular and tall and had a ski-mask on (though it wasn't pulled down) -exactly as described by other vicitms and the notices sent out.

My mom stopped and stared at him. He stopped too and turned his face away while bringing his hands to his face to obscure it. She then started walking slowly to get to the door while still staring at him. He then started moving closer and shouted something like "Ah, i know you're in apartment number xxx". My mom immediately went in the door and locked it tight. She also looked through the peep hole to see where the man went and according to her he just went on and moved towards a couple of bushes close to another apartment.

This really scared the living daylights out of my mother. I live 15 miles away and it's rather hard for me to monitor her safety regularly. I personally doubt it's a neighbor as i know who our neighbors are in the area.

Can anyone recommend or suggest what we should do? The Building manager won't take responsibility for anything and will only go to the extent of sending out these notices. I don't even know what the police will do in this case. I've thought about setting up a security cam but what good would that do in the face of danger.

Any tip, suggestion/help is highly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[amdskip]

the only real solution is to move your mom but thats probably not an option for her

 

[Juniper]

How bout she move in with you?

Or how about you fetch her from work and walk her home?

 

[ys]

Call the police.

 

[GSOYF]

Get some pepper spray and a tazer.

 

[Hammer]

Find the guy and beat his a$$.

 

[ToBeMe]

Well.......I'd say the first thing you should probably do if your only 15 miles away is either stay with your Mom for a few nights, or at least escort her home if possible or find someone whom can! I know I sure as hell wouldn't be leaving my mother alone under those circumstances.............

 

[Geekbabe]

If that was my mother, she'd be out of there till the cops grab that freak !!

 

[NakaNaka]

there are three ways to do this

1) your mom move

2) you call the police

3) she buy some type of tazer device

 

[rootaxs]

She considered moving out but she can't do that until her lease contract expires - another couple of months. I'd let her move in with me but that would mean she'd be travelling 20 or so miles each way, not to mention i don't even have a big enough place to fit her. My fiancee might not fancy the idea either (but then, that's the least of my concerns)

I've thought about picking her up and dropping her off but she works the night shift. From mid-afternoon till mid-dawn so that's going to be tough for a regular 9-5 guy like me.

What's a tazer? Is that one of those electric thingies? Any idea how much these personal security devices cost?

Thanks people!

 

[azazyel]

<< Well.......I'd say the first thing you should probably do if your only 15 miles away is either stay with your Mom for a few nights, or at least escort her home if possible or find someone whom can! I know I sure as hell wouldn't be leaving my mother alone under those circumstances............. >>


Exactly, if there is anyone in this world you need to protect it is your mother. She protected you once and you should be eager to help her.

 

[Jzero]

I second the tazer/pepper spray/handgun solution.

 

[rootaxs]

I've also thought about spending a few nights at her place but again the time differences in our biological clock is different. I'm no light sleeper either. By the time she gets home, i - along with pretty much everyone else i'd think - would be fast asleep.

Aside from a personal security device, do you think i should hire (perhaps for a couple of weeks) some sort of investigator or security personnel?

Thanks.

P.S. I know my mom can take care of herself but she's getting old and i wouldn't want her wrestling with anyone at her age. I'd do it for her if given the chance.

 

[cjchaps]

If something did happen to a woman around the complex, could the apartment owner be held responsible because he didn't do anything about it?

 

[ToBeMe]

<< She considered moving out but she can't do that until her lease contract expires - another couple of months. I'd let her move in with me but that would mean she'd be travelling 20 or so miles each way, not to mention i don't even have a big enough place to fit her. My fiancee might not fancy the idea either (but then, that's the least of my concerns)

I've thought about picking her up and dropping her off but she works the night shift. From mid-afternoon till mid-dawn so that's going to be tough for a regular 9-5 guy like me.

What's a tazer? Is that one of those electric thingies? Any idea how much these personal security devices cost?

Thanks people! >>


Now come on.........your saying it would be "to tough" for you to find a way to watch out for your own Mother???????

 

[fastz28]

Call my 2 good friends - Smith and Wesson, and mabye Mr. 12 gauge.

 

[rootaxs]

Well, i am eager to help and protect her but given the situation at hand it's going to be tough so i'm trying to balance things out by doing what i can personally and having some sort of safety measure in place during the times that i'm not there.

It's not like these hounds are particularly predictable.



<<

<< Well.......I'd say the first thing you should probably do if your only 15 miles away is either stay with your Mom for a few nights, or at least escort her home if possible or find someone whom can! I know I sure as hell wouldn't be leaving my mother alone under those circumstances............. >>


Exactly, if there is anyone in this world you need to protect it is your mother. She protected you once and you should be eager to help her. >>

 

[rootaxs]

They can't be held responsible, i think being held responsible for personal safety is not part of the lease contract. They used to have a security guard at the main gate but let go of him a couple of years ago.



<< If something did happen to a woman around the complex, could the apartment owner be held responsible because he didn't do anything about it? >>

 

[rootaxs]

I am watching out for her, otherwise i wouldn't be concerned about this and asking for help. I'm just saying even if i do the best i can i may not be there for her all the time and thus why i'm asking what else i can do (e.g. security devices, security guard, moving out, etc...)





<< Now come on.........your saying it would be "to tough" for you to find a way to watch out for your own Mother???????

>>

 

[Koing]

<< I've also thought about spending a few nights at her place but again the time differences in our biological clock is different. I'm no light sleeper either. By the time she gets home, i - along with pretty much everyone else i'd think - would be fast asleep.

Aside from a personal security device, do you think i should hire (perhaps for a couple of weeks) some sort of investigator or security personnel?

Thanks.

P.S. I know my mom can take care of herself but she's getting old and i wouldn't want her wrestling with anyone at her age. I'd do it for her if given the chance. >>



the security personnel guy sounds good to me. If you can't be with her to help then thats the next best option. maybe enroll her in a self defence course???

I'm sure that will help her confidene alot. I know it helps most of hte girls I know. They feel MUCH better after taking a course or taking a Martial Arts up......

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

You and your mom switch places for a week or so. Buy a wig, a dress, and a gun and wait for that bastard to come back.

 

[rootaxs]

I'll ask her about how she feels on the self-defense training. That would help in the long run, but in the meantime i think the consensus is either a tazer/mace/spray device or a security personnell.

Thanks again for the input people!

 

[Kev]

you are making some really god damn stupid excuses for not letting her move in with you. she's your mother, quit whining about your f***ing sleep cycle

 

[rootaxs]

Hmmm... interesting.




<< You and your mom switch places for a week or so. Buy a wig, a dress, and a gun and wait for that bastard to come back. >>

 

[rahvin]

Go to the local outdoor/camping store and purchase a bottle of bear repelant. It's about the size of a small can of hair spray and sprays a fairly large cloud roughly 15 ft. It's usually made from a highly refined capsicin <sp>. In other words it's a big fvcking can of pepper spray. If she has a good sized purse and can fit it in there she should be able to get it out pretty quick. Never underestimate how much the lack of breathing and seeing can inhibit someone. If you do get her this stuff make sure and tell her never to use it in an enclosed space or it will overcome her too.