Man asking for money in Weston Creek?

Common scam. They make remarkable money with this stunt.
I don’t know what is wrong with the Police because they could charge him with: gaining a financial advantage by deception.

It might be an appropriate question to ask the Minister for Police.

I’m sure this guy has been doing this for years. Remember giving him a coupla goldies over a decade ago near Green Square when he had ‘locked his keys in the car’ and needed cash to ring the NRMA or sumthin..

A month or so later when I was having lunch at the tables outside the Transit Bar in Civic, he tried the same story again..

It used to be called ‘begging alms’ and was an offence under the NSW Crime Act as applicable to the ACT; or something like that.

With the intro of self gov and the subsequent repeal of ye ol ‘offences’ it is now allowable and apparently quite lucrative for some.

How Canberran.

Holden Caulfield said :

tim_c said :

I’d just offer to take him to the hospital – it’s not that far from there. If he’s in genuine need, I’ve helped him, if he’s not, I’ve called his bluff.

Unless he accpets your offer of a ride and pulls a knife or other weapon on you while you’re alone with him in the car.

I thought that only happens on Trams?

Canberra seems to be the capital city for beggars. Everywhere we go we are asked for money. Have been asked when living in NSW but not as much as in ACT. If we wanted to pay for drugs we would buy our own.
I’m just as fed up of people asking for money for charity causes. Someone is always calling out to us as we walk around Gungahlin shopping centre. We have two charities that we support and don’t wish to be constantly harrassed when shopping.

Holden Caulfield said :

tim_c said :

I’d just offer to take him to the hospital – it’s not that far from there. If he’s in genuine need, I’ve helped him, if he’s not, I’ve called his bluff.

Unless he accpets your offer of a ride and pulls a knife or other weapon on you while you’re alone with him in the car.

Yeah, unless that happens. That could be awkward.

I guess I could just him my MyWay card – I use it so rarely that I usually only top it up with enough for one or two trips anyway (or just pay his fare for him as he gets on the bus).

Isn’t it begging?

And isn’t begging supposed to be illegal?

tim_c said :

I’d just offer to take him to the hospital – it’s not that far from there. If he’s in genuine need, I’ve helped him, if he’s not, I’ve called his bluff.

Unless he accpets your offer of a ride and pulls a knife or other weapon on you while you’re alone with him in the car.

frazzled said :

. . . . rang the police who said there was nothing they could do as he wasn’t doing anything illegal. So he’s still carrying on his merry way….makes me so cranky as I can imagine people like my elderly mother getting stressed and feeling threatened if he approached them, and may give him money just to avoid any possible attack.

Surely there is something like obtaining money by false dishonest fraudulent deception or something, or at least loitering with intent, it sounds like the police aren’t trying very hard. It makes me cranky too because I can imagine the effect on my elderly mother.

frazzled said :

Yes I’ve been conned by this guy…he knocked on my door in Ainslie and I stupidly gave him money then he came back a few months later and was actually waving down cars to spin his crap. I managed to get the number plate of his car and rang the police who said there was nothing they could do as he wasn’t doing anything illegal. So he’s still carrying on his merry way….makes me so cranky as I can imagine people like my elderly mother getting stressed and feeling threatened if he approached them, and may give him money just to avoid any possible attack.

I had wondered that – is asking for money against any laws? Clearly he’s not being honest but pehaps it’s not illegal.