Panhandling as prelude to a robbery?

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

OK, with the current discussion about crime I want to ask an opinion of the group. If you have a couple of youths ask you on the street for money, and they don't look homeless, is it a good idea to call the cops on them as "suspicious persons" or is it just me being suspicious?

Comments

[sly-salkie.livejournal.com]

When I was waiting for a train in Philly, a guy actually waited for my boyfriend to go outside and have a cigarette to address me while I was eating, telling me that he needed to go to Jersey so that he could go to the hospital there, and proceeded to show me his gangrened foot and tell me that he had AIDS. Then, when my boyfriend came back and sat down, he called him a racist and got angry when we told him we didn't have enough money to give him.

I also felt terrible for an old woman begging on the street once, saying she was hungry. I didn't have cash, so I bought her a bagel with my debit card. When I brought it out for her, she yelled that there was nothing to drink, and asked for cash.

I wish there was universal panhandler etiquette, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to come with the nature of the job. I also don't like being taken advantage of. I still give to people when I can, but I have gotten a lot more choosy about it.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I always find myself having the debate of "is it better to give someone money on the street, or give it to an organization that help homeless or poverty-stricklen people?" I always wonder which one ACTUALLY helps hungry people more.