Punch Drunk Loov
Gaaaaary Roberts!
- Dec 6, 2011
- 4,991
- 2,792
This took place in December of 2017. Four of us attended a Leaf game (carpooled) and we parked in the large parking lot directly adjacent to the ACC in the square. After the game ended we grabbed food to waste time while vehicles exited the parking lot. When we returned to retrieve our vehicle the lot was pretty much empty thus a clear path to depart.
My friend was driving and noticed there was a car parked at the unmanned parking arm. This was the main exit and naturally you wait for the person in front of you to scan their ticket and after the arm lifts, you drive out. Again the car was simply sitting there so we wait behind it. Suddenly that car starts reversing. Slowly and deliberately. My friend honks the horn, no reaction from the car in front, they bump into us.
A large young man steps out of the car and approaches the window. He looks into our car and he sees there are four of us. My friend angrily asks him "what was that?". The young guy's expression was emotionless and replied in a phrase that gave off the impression like it was scripted: "I was looking for a parking space and I didn't see you. Are you guys okay?" My friend says that we are fine and he gets out and looks at his car and then gets back in. We then back up and the fellow leaves the exit booth and parks into the closest nearby space.
I looked around and there were a group of people all the same age (approximately 30) standing around the exit watching the encounter. They looked like they knew one another. One of the men was wearing a safety vest which gave me the impression that he was an employee of the parking lot. The others were wearing casual attire similar to what the driver was wearing. The whole incident was somewhat disturbing as the driver of the vehicle and the spectators were the only ones present and I couldn't help but think that it was an insurance scam or possibly a robbery. I imagine this area would have a number of cameras so we were all baffled what they were planning. Our car wasn't damaged but there was no doubt in our mind that they were intentionally blocking the exit. Perhaps they decided not to proceed with whatever they had in mind when they noticed it was four people instead of 1 or 2. The guy was not looking for a parking space as he had claimed. The parking lot was basically empty at this point and he wouldn't be lined up to exit the lot if this were the case.
Does anyone have any clue what this was about or have any safety tips if this happens? I think in the future I'd elect to immediately leave after a game to avoid being stuck in a parking lot with a group of these fellas. My buddy was a little aggressive with them but I'm a massive wimp. Would appreciate any insight. Thanks
My friend was driving and noticed there was a car parked at the unmanned parking arm. This was the main exit and naturally you wait for the person in front of you to scan their ticket and after the arm lifts, you drive out. Again the car was simply sitting there so we wait behind it. Suddenly that car starts reversing. Slowly and deliberately. My friend honks the horn, no reaction from the car in front, they bump into us.
A large young man steps out of the car and approaches the window. He looks into our car and he sees there are four of us. My friend angrily asks him "what was that?". The young guy's expression was emotionless and replied in a phrase that gave off the impression like it was scripted: "I was looking for a parking space and I didn't see you. Are you guys okay?" My friend says that we are fine and he gets out and looks at his car and then gets back in. We then back up and the fellow leaves the exit booth and parks into the closest nearby space.
I looked around and there were a group of people all the same age (approximately 30) standing around the exit watching the encounter. They looked like they knew one another. One of the men was wearing a safety vest which gave me the impression that he was an employee of the parking lot. The others were wearing casual attire similar to what the driver was wearing. The whole incident was somewhat disturbing as the driver of the vehicle and the spectators were the only ones present and I couldn't help but think that it was an insurance scam or possibly a robbery. I imagine this area would have a number of cameras so we were all baffled what they were planning. Our car wasn't damaged but there was no doubt in our mind that they were intentionally blocking the exit. Perhaps they decided not to proceed with whatever they had in mind when they noticed it was four people instead of 1 or 2. The guy was not looking for a parking space as he had claimed. The parking lot was basically empty at this point and he wouldn't be lined up to exit the lot if this were the case.
Does anyone have any clue what this was about or have any safety tips if this happens? I think in the future I'd elect to immediately leave after a game to avoid being stuck in a parking lot with a group of these fellas. My buddy was a little aggressive with them but I'm a massive wimp. Would appreciate any insight. Thanks