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New to London, weird encounter with homeless person - did I dodge a huge bullet? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi, I am an early twenties woman just moved to London almost a month ago and was walking home after having picked up a parcel from my local Tesco. I live in the Bethnal Green/Cambridge Heath area, so not the best but I don't think it's the worst either(?).

Anyways, a homeless person just approached me and for some reason I didn't walk away like I would usually do, as I was a bit spaced out. He asked me if I could come close by to help pay for his monthly shelter at the church which would have ended up being like 17 gbp.

I considered it, especially knowing there are homeless shelters in the area (and he was following me so it was a bit awkward), but told me it's cash and I don't do cash and was not going to follow a random person to somewhere unknown even though he said it was "just around the corner" so I finally told him off and he simply left, complaining about how he is used to being ignored.

I have very mixed feelings about the encounter and wish it didn't happen. Checked the map, there does seem to be a shelter in the direction he pointed me towards but it was not "just around the corner" as he put it.

This happened on a1209, between the McDonald's and Bethnal Green tube station.

Did I just dodge a huge bullet? I feel bad - I wish I could help people in need but I feel like I would have risked too much for no reason. The entire encounter felt off somehow. I guess I'm just shocked at the possibility of someone literally picking me off the street and trying to trick me so he could hurt me, and looking believable. I must have been very lucky in my life to have never felt this, and I hate having to become cold/heartless/etc to make sure I stay safe.

Thanks for reading, I just needed to tell this to someone I guess.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

There probably wasn't any huge bullet for you to dodge, but you did the right thing regardless. It's not worth risking your own safety, particularly when you're gut feelings tell you something isn't quite right.

If you still feel guilty and want to help people, make a donation to one of the many good homeless charities. £17 donated today will give someone in need a bed for the night, even if it's not the stranger who approached you.