I am attaching the text of an email that my daughter, Tarheelchase, received regarding the robbery of a friend of hers this past Friday. It was not a geocaching matter, but it is another good reminder for us to be careful when we are out caching, especially in urban areas. Here is the story in the victim's own words:

"I'm telling you this to help you be safe, aware and on your toes at all

>times. Especially there on the corner of Vineville and Forest.
>Tell your mom, sister, all the women (men too) you love. It CAN happen
>to you and you CAN NOT be too careful.
>
>I went to Kroger on Pio Nono Friday night about 6:30. When I left, I
>decided to go around the back of Kroger, you know the road that leads
>to English, where you can turn left onto English, then right onto Oak
>Haven then onto Vineville. I like going that way because it avoids the
>Kroger and Vineville traffic lights. It's a quick cut through.
>Ashley, if you cut through there please stop!
>
>I won't go that way ever again. It was dark, about 7:00. As I stopped
>to look for on coming traffic on English, two black men yelled
>"HEY...HEY" and ambushed my car. One at the driver's window and one at
>the front passenger window. Both had guns pointed at my head. The one
>on my side told me to roll down the window and give me all my money.
>ALL THE TIME WITH A GUN POINTED AT MY HEAD.
>
>Looking back, I realize I should have stepped on the gas and taken off.

>Believe me when I say, it's hard to think logically when a pistol is
>inches from your temple.
>
>I fumbled with the electric window buttons and the passenger side
>window went down. Then I rolled down the driver's window and the man
>yelled again to give him all my money. I NEVER CARRY CASH, but luckily,

>I had stopped at the bank earlier that day. I had $44 in my wallet. I
>don't know what would have happened if I hadn't had something to give
>him.
>
>I told him that was all I had. He yelled "Don't tell me that shit.
>Give it all to me!!" Sort of waving the gun at me. The guy on the
>other side reached in and took my purse off the seat. I showed the guy
>on my side inside my wallet to prove I had no more cash. I realized he
>could grab my wallet with credit cards, etc, so I dropped it in the
>floor board so he wouldn't get it.
>
>This sounds like a long story, but keep in mind that all this happened
>within about seven seconds.
>
>He took a step back and told me to get out of the car. Then I came to
>my senses. I knew if I got out of the car it was over. I knew I had
>nothing to lose by speeding off, so that's what I did. He pointed the
>gun in the air and fired off about three rounds. The guy on the other
>side shot a hole in my back left cargo window. Thank God, for several
>reasons, that Margaret wasn't in the car with me. Mostly because that
>bullet passed within inches of the back seat.
>
>I was robbed at gun point. Two guns. Right outside Kroger, by two black

>men at 7:00 in the evening.
>
>I came home and called the police, but I couldn't give him a
>description. I couldn't see the man on the right side, and the man on
>my side had a hat on and a bandana tied on right below his eyes. I
>couldn't see him. I could describe the gun, however.
>
>Nothing will ever come of it. They'll do it again and again.
>
>A lady called Saturday afternoon to say her sons had found my purse.
>I got my cell phone and extra set of car keys back. I had to cancel my
>business checking account because that check book was not recovered.
>
>The police told me to stick to main roads and never go in the Clisby
>area. He said there had been a lot of arrests around Buford Place on
>the Vineville end, and a house set on fire on Clayton! They got the
>sixteen year old who set the fire. I don't know which house. I didn't
>hear anything about it whenever it happened.
>
>He also said ROFF AVENUE, right there at Freedom Park, is horribly
>dangerous. So when leaving ball games, go back towards Shamrock, cross
>the RR tracks and hit Vineville. Stick to the main roads!!! He said you

>can move anywhere in Macon and not be any safer. He said it's
>everywhere and you can't get away from it in this town. He was so nice.

>He said he thinks everyone should carry a gun for protection!
>
>Please be careful and aware at all times."
>

Believe me, that section of town is very bad. I try to avoid it even in the daytime. If anyone decides to go after the two caches near Freedom Park, make sure there is a lot of people with you. It is a little better during the daytime. I would advise that you stay away from there from about 5:00 pm until sometime the next afternoon.

Oh my! I have been in some of these areas at dusk/dark.

That's a scary story. I had an acquaintance who was gunned down under similar circumstances in 1999. Philip Rau was the nicest guy.

~erik~

I read the page Erik...that was tragic.

Apparently the problem is still continuing on the south side of Vineville Ave. Here is an article in today's Macon Telegraph...seems a woman was shot in the hand Monday night when five men tried to stop her car as she was leaving the Kroger.

The Macon Telegraph:

'Macon police are investigating whether two armed incidents behind the Kroger grocery store on Pio Nono Avenue are linked.

Two women have filed police reports saying men with handguns approached their cars. One woman said she was robbed Friday at 7:15 p.m. while the other woman sped away after being approached at 9:40 p.m. Monday, according to police.

"(Investigators) are looking into the possibility these crimes could be related," police Sgt. Melanie Hofmann said.

Hofmann said officers are increasing patrols and beefing up police presence near Mailey and English avenues while the armed incidents are investigated.

Security measures are in place to ensure shoppers' safety while on the grocery store's property, said Glenn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger.

He said Macon-area stores staff off-duty security officers and use surveillance equipment.

The first woman said she was in her car, stopped at the intersection, when she heard someone yell at her, according to a police report.

She told officers a man with a gun approached her driver's side door and told her to roll down her windows as another man with a gun walked up to her passenger side door.

The men allegedly demanded money, grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and fired several shots in the air before running away, according to the report.

The second woman was leaving the grocery store and driving toward English Avenue when about five men attempted to stop her, according to a police report.

Instead of stopping, the woman told police she sped away, putting her head down and covering it with her hand. She said she heard gunshots as she passed the men and later found she'd been shot in the hand.

Officers reported finding several bullet holes in the back of her car and six .22 caliber casings near the intersection.'