Back in the mid 1990s a girlfriend I had at the time told me a story about an experience had by her mother. She was sitting alone whilst using a laundrette in the mid 1970s when a man came in who she found really frightening. I don’t recall being told he said or did anything in particular that caused this reaction. I seem to remember that he might have just asked for directions and then left.
Within a few days she saw on the television news the same man had been arrested. This man was apparently the armed robber, multiple murderer and kidnapper Donald Neilson.
Many years later I was told another tale by an Australian colleague which really was a ‘people who should’ve felt wrong but didn’t’ type scenario.
She told me she was driving her first car when it broke down some distance from Perth. This was early to mid 1980s. Whilst stranded a couple passing by stopped and offered to help. The man managed to re start the car after some minutes whilst my colleague talked to his wife. She thanked them and went on her way. She later recognised the couple as serial killers David and Catherine Birnie when months later they were arrested for the murders of several young women.
Both narrow escapes there. Women in broken down cars are particularly vulnerable, but thankfully these incidents seem to be rare.Some years ago I was driving to a lecture at Teacher's college during the holidays as it was for extra qualifications.
My car broke down and as I didn't have a mobile at that time had to call the RACV from a phone box.
They were taking quite awhile and this man came up and offered to help me to get the car started.
I got a really creepy vibe from him, thanked him and said the RACV was coming.
Eventually they did arrive after ringing them again but a few weeks later the same man was on the news having kidnapped some woman whose car had broken down.
A good few years ago stuck in a traffic jam in the pouring rain, I drew level with two women who were trying to take off a wheel which had developed a flat. They were getting soaked so I pulled over and asked if they needed help, ( I had a boot full of tools). I got shouted at and told to eff off! So I did. Coming back in the other direction some 2 or 3 hours later they were still there presumably awaiting recovery. I guess safety was important to them than long delay in their journey.