Workplace Violence: Stranger than Fiction Crime
I heard this story on the evening news and it's so bizarreI had to share. A 23-year-old female was shopping at a Phoenix,AZ Target store and noticed that a man was following her. The next thing she knows he's dropped to the floor and biting her foot. He apparently bit through two layers of skin before she was able to kick him away.
News Report of the Attack:
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/north_phoenix/man-bites-womans-feet-in-target-store
The news reporter does a great job covering the story but when he gets to the very end he makes a comment suggesting that women may reconsider wearing open-toed shoes before they go out shopping. It seems this comment was said in jest but it got me thinking about how the media sometimes creates fear where it is not needed. This is indeed a strange and bizarre story, but it's certainly not necessary for women to wear closed-toed shoes while shopping.
For years in our personal safety seminars women would share a fear that a man would hide under their car and slash their ankles when they were entering. This rumored story has been going wild for years, and while we have investigated many reports, we've never found an incident that was substantiated.
There is an important lesson with stranger than fiction stories: Don't buy into fear based stories and rumors - they are probably false! So shop with or without your open-toed shoes just remember to be aware of your surroundings and be careful if you think someone is following you. And if you do notice someone following you, head immediately to the safety of other shoppers or employees.
To learn more about Violence Free's Personal Safety Programs call (623) 242-8797 or email safety@violence-free.com.