Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    It seems to me that I heard about this before. I believe it was
    an ALL-IN-1 memo that was being circulated around. If memory
    serves, the previous report had this happening around I-290/495
    in Hudson (MA). Either this new one is the same guy switching
    locales, or it's a "copy-cat".
    
    
    --- jerry

    Yes, I was thinking that I also had heard a similar story recently.
    
    I have mixed feelings about them announcing it in the paper -- it may
    protect some women, but it also may give someone an idea.  If an
    attacker waits 6 months, the furor will have died down, and he could
    conceivably get away with such a thing.  Especially if the car is out
    of state. 
    
    These stories push all my fear and anger buttons.
    

    The reason they're giving all the publicity is that the police are
    hoping that someone who was accosted and didn't fall for it DID
    get the LICENSE PLATE NUMBER or some other information they
    can use to identify and arrest this particular man.
    
    So, everybody reading this file -- if you were approached by this
    person, report it to Security.  The police need all the
    information they can get. 
    
    --bonnie

    Ladies--
    
    I may be stating the obvious, but NEVER stop your car when someone
    flaggs you down this way!  Also, never drive with your doors unlocked.
    Even if you see someone in trouble by the side of the road, don't
    stop.  You can call for help for them when you reach your destination,
    but DO NOT stop.
    
    Yes, this is cold and callous.  But you don't know if the situation
    you are stopping for may be dangerous until it is too late.  If
    you can't think of protecting yourself, then think of all those
    people who love and depend on you.
    
    Don't ever be fooled into thinking that "That could never happen
    to *me*".  
    
    (Yes, I do teach self-defense)
    
    Jane

       Without wishing to belittle the terrible incident described in .0
       it is a sad reflection on our times that one cannot be a good
       Samaritan today without people at least considering that you
       might be a potential mugger/rapist/murderer.

       If I saw someone about to turn onto Route 3 southbound from Spit
       Brook Road with a dragging muffler/tail pipe I'd tell them:
       though their car would probably make it home without the muffler
       the potential for an accident should it be scraped off at highway
       speeds (not just for the offending vehicle but for those
       unfortunate enough to be behind it) is great.

       If I saw such a car visibly leaking oil I'd tell them. After all
       if they are losing enough oil for me to see it there is a good
       chance that their engine will seize up (couple of thousand
       dollars to buy a new engine, not counting the possibility of a
       crash when it happens).

       /. Ian .\

    Of course (isn't life easy with hindsight?) the right thing for
    the woman to do in this situation is (1) take the license number
    of the helpful person, and (2) head to the nearest gas station.
    If there's a problem, it can be taken care of; if there isn't,
    a call to the police to report the incident is in order.
    
    If you're 20 miles from a gas station, life's harder, but then
    (1) you ask the helpful gentleman to phone for help for you when
    he gets to a phone, and (2) *after he's gone* you can get out
    of the car to see if you really have leaking oil, a dragging
    muffler, etc.  If the problem was obvious enough for this helpful
    person to notice in the dark while driving, you should be able
    to notice it too.
    
    And no, I don't suppose that I'd be suspicious enough to think
    of all this when it mattered, either.
    
    	-Neil

    Well, you can't necessarily see your own leaking oil, or, as
    happened to me one time, the gas sloshing out of my gas tank
    because I got the cap screwed on crooked. 
    
    But doing as Neil recommends will probably work because if the
    person is truly a good samaritan, s/he will in all likelihood say
    "Sure, I'll go call at the gas station," or "Why don't you drive
    slowly and carefully to the next station, and I'll drive along
    behind you to make sure you get there; be sure to stop if the red
    oil light comes on."  If they try to argue, forget about the car
    and get out of there. 
    
    As for the stakeout idea -- do you have any idea how many people
    it would take to cover Spit Brook Road?  This is a semi-rural
    area, heavily wooded in parts, with a number of dark rural roads
    very near the highway.  There's a road just outside the plant
    where I could take somebody and murder them and not be seen in the
    middle of the day, let alone in the middle of the night.  Even if
    there were half a dozen cop cars patrolling the area, the person
    could easily slip through. 
    
    Also, based on the first report, there was no evidence to tell
    whether or not the man was a good samaritan or a rapist.  One
    incident does not make a crime wave.
    
    --bonnie

    According to the 11:00 news on Channel 4 last night (Thursday),
    the police have a suspect in this case.  The man in custody is
    currently out on parole.
    

    I think it's so depressing when a woman can not have a car problem
    without worrying about rapist or murderers.  Our freedom as woman
    and fellow human beings is being directly inhibited.
    
    It seems to be getting worse as time goes on.  WOMEN BEWARE!!!!!!
    
    "to better days and happy endings

    UUUGGGHHH!  I've convinced myself that there are 3 types of people
    in the world.  Women, Men and Sicko's!
    
    And now for something worthwhile.  Yes, they have arrested  a suspect.
     May even find him guilty.  May even remove him from society
    perminently.  BUT DO THE SMART THING.
    
    Those of you who are approached, THINK.  I am not saying you should
    be paranoid, but you shouldn't be foolish either.  If you drive,
    KNOW YOUR CAR.  I am no mechanic, but I know that if I am told that
    I have an oil leak I would know how to verify that and know how
    to handle the situation (ie: how far I could get with the leak).
     I also keep oil and transmission fluid in my car.  Also, carry
    jumper cables.  Should you need a jump, at least *you* get to choose
    who will jump your car, as opposed to relying on the first person
    who has their own cables.
    
    Understand what your car can and can't do, and how to fix simple
    problems.  I have seen many a stalled car that I got started with
    *very* simple techniques.
    
    For those of you who wish to help a stranded motorist, or any other
    situation where you could be of help, THINK.  Don't just 'take charge'.
     Find out what help you could provide and OFFER to call for
    proffesional help.  This will  most often be most confortable for
    the person in need of help, AND offers the most protection for you
    too.
    
    think about it.
    jim