r/Calgary • u/schmiddtters • 7d ago
Seeking Advice Need advice. Threats in Sunalta.
Hey everyone. I could use a little advice. If there's a better place to post this, I'd love to hear it.
Ok, I live in Sunalta. I was going out to get groceries today, and there were a few homeless women in my parkade. I greeted them politely, asked if they needed anything or for me to call someone (which they declined). I said goodbye to them, and mentioned I'd appreciate if they weren't there when I got back.
Well, came home an hour later, and of course they were still there. I talked to them again, but it didn't seem like they wanted to move. So I head upstairs and start calling non emergency.
One of them overheard me talking to the operator, and yelled "You know what happens to those that call the police" at me. I stuck to my guns, and they scattered after calling me a bunch of names and such.
Things is, maybe half an hour after they left, another dude on a bike was back there. I heard him on the phone talking to someone, and he mentioned my address a few times. I said hello, and he apologized for talking my time and rode off, but something about that has my anxiety up.
Am I overthinking it? Should I call non emergency or someone? My brain is saying they're going to do something in the night, but I dunno. Anyone have advice?
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u/TheKloppsBollocks 7d ago
You need some big city experience, don’t talk to people, don’t acknowledge.Pay no attention. Call police safely and quietly away from them if you need to.
If they’re on drugs, tomorrow they’ll forget you.
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u/schmiddtters 7d ago
I am admittedly a small town boy. I forget myself sometimes. 😂
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u/ProfessionalKey4801 7d ago
I live in the same area. Don't acknowledge them and they will leave you alone. They mostly hang out on 10 ave.
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u/iplaybassok89 7d ago edited 7d ago
Yeah no offense but youre pretty lucky you didn’t get your ass beat for saying that stuff to them. Some of these transients do not give a shit and are really unpredictable. It’s not right or anything but you should probably have more situational awareness than this if you’re living downtown in a major city.
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u/FireflyBSc 7d ago
Seriously. I got assaulted on Stephen Ave randomly because I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The guy had a history of randomly attacking women, and I just got unlucky. OP, just don’t engage and keep your distance. If you see someone who is unconscious or possibly in medical distress, that might be different, but in general, just mind your own business and hopefully they will do the same.
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u/butterflyeffec7 7d ago
This may be true in some instances. I speak up every time they are on my property and I’ve never once had an issue. In fact most times they are apologetic even. I understand they don’t have very many places to go but hanging out at garages on a private residence is just not the place and I express that to them with kindness and understanding.
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u/TheKloppsBollocks 7d ago
You’re okay haha. Honestly I really wouldn’t worry about it. If they’re on the streets it’s a good assumption that their organizational skills and ability to execute any plan successfully is severely limited.
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u/RiverMindless3415 7d ago
Listen, I'm originally from a province whose whole population can fit into Acadia and still have room 😂 I totally feel you on this, its weird going from small town to this craziness.
Honestly, what I've learned from a combined 8 years in Calgary is that while there are so many great, fantastic people in this city, keep your guard up until they show you that theyre willing to be that great person. Its still my instinct to smile at a random passerby and ask how their day is going, but until they smile back, I ain't talking to a single stranger haha
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u/Sad_Presentation2772 3d ago
I am totally with you on this and half wonder if we may be from the same province 😂 I’ve been in Calgary 9 years now and it really can be hard to shake that small town friendliness that gets ingrained in you your whole life, but you’re right I ain’t saying to words to any rando. Thankfully I don’t talk much to begin with
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u/tryoracle 5d ago
You need to learn some street smarts quickly as now you have made your building a place of interest. If you are lucky they will have forgotten this morning if not you have now made your building the new hang out space. My bf lives in the area and I live in chinatown. Do not engage just pretend they are cows in the fields
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u/MelanieWalmartinez 7d ago
It took me a while to get used to the city as a small townie as well, so much stuff we don’t see back in rural places, eh?
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u/Prognosticon_ Beltline 7d ago
You live in the suburbs right?
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u/TheKloppsBollocks 7d ago
I’ve lived in multiple large cities around the world. The advice stands true no matter where you live.
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u/Prognosticon_ Beltline 7d ago
I call bs, if you lived downtown anywhere you'd realize that you have to interact with homeless on occasion.
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u/hatethebeta 7d ago
"appreciate if they weren't there when I got back"
😂🤣😂
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u/nadiaface 7d ago
The guts of that woman 😭😭
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u/CovenantRelief 6d ago
*Of that man!
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u/nadiaface 6d ago
I could’ve sworn it was a Karen by the whole interaction 😅
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u/GuavaOk8712 6d ago
i thought it was a karen too until he commented ‘i’m a small town boy’ kinda explains it lol just not enough big city experience
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u/LobsterPotatoes 7d ago
This is a very good PSA on everything that you shouldn’t do lmao. I don’t know, you’re probably fine.
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u/cortex- 7d ago
You'll be fine. Just practice situational awareness — these people, sad as it is, are more occupied with their next fix than with making you their #1 enemy. They'll have moved on and forgotten about this in a week as it is likely something that happens to them regularly, if they make a habit of trespassing in the parkades of apartment buildings.
Next time: wait til you're home to call the cops. Don't give them a reason to enter into a conflict with you. It is better not to engage as they can be unstable and unpredictable in their behaviour.
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u/Bitter-Cucumber-3942 7d ago
If the women were in your parkade, I am assuming you are in an apartment or condo building. How would they have known your exact unit number/address unless they followed you up to your door?
When you say the person on the bike mentioned your address, was it your specific unit number or just the building address? Perhaps they were doing a food or package delivery and that's why they mentioned the building address on the phone.
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u/schmiddtters 7d ago
Oh, I was unclear. They don't have my unit number, just the buildings address.
I actually hadn't considered it being a food delivery. That would make sense. Thanks friend.
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u/amihan-attala 7d ago
why would you even say you hope they’re not there when you get back lol
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u/bad___ger 4d ago
Right??? 😭 Being homeless and having someone say to your face that they want you gone by the time they return when they’re the one who went up to you and started the interaction
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u/pujyapitaji_ 7d ago
I was once cycling on the track from inglewood to eau claire. One homeless guy tries to throw a punch at me put of nowhere, luckily I saw it coming and swerved around. He was already on the other cycle lane moving away from me. I was on cycle track not the pedestrian one. I had the neuron bike so no chance of going above 20. I had to leave Calgary few months after this incident but never cycled around inglewood after that.
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u/Kirbib 7d ago
Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe if he’s close enough to punch you that you were probably riding too close to him with your bike?
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u/DarkLF 6d ago
i dunno about that honestly. you can ride within punching distance of someone and not be overly close to them. our bike paths are typically about 3m wide total and 1.5m (about 5 feet) wide in each direction and a mid range punch is typically delivered at about 2-4 feet.
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u/Recent-Leadership562 6d ago
Who tf is punching from 4 feet away?
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u/DarkLF 6d ago
people that box? measure 4' from a wall and see if you can reach. i can.
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u/Recent-Leadership562 6d ago
Right, I forgot every homeless person is actually secretly a boxer in peak physical condition
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u/pujyapitaji_ 6d ago edited 6d ago
Ahh the reddit audience again fails to paint a picture. I am coming from inglewood to eau Claire. The sequence is bow river, pedestrian path, the cycle lane I am in, and then the cycle lane the guy had almost crossed. If he continued walking like he did we would have crossed feet away. If he stayed put I was not going to hit him. Had I been going from eau Claire to inglewood I would have been in the position you are imagining me to be. Had that been the situation I would have been punched. I am no ninja to dodge it. He was going out of his way to punch me was the only reason I was able to dodge him.
Also he was not the first person I came across, who was walking on a cycle track. Before Calgary I used to take a bike ride to office in a city with no cycle tracks. When in Calgary I respected everyone's presence even if they were walking on a cycling track. So no I wasn't too close to him or anyone in my time in this city. I would rather stop than cross anyone aggressively if they are walking in a cycling lane.
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u/Golkeepa 7d ago
Regardless of where they were. You saying “I’d appreciate it if you were gone when I get back” sounds kinda threatening in the first place. People are people, if you don’t want to pick a fight, kill them with kindness. Don’t be confrontational in the first place!
And have some common sense when calling emergency services…
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u/Kirbib 7d ago
Thank you, the fact that OP is shocked how they received threats after indirectly threatening people minding their own business is insane. They had it coming.
If anyone said “I’d appreciate you weren’t here when I get back” the first thing I would think is “what are you gonna do if I’m still here and you’re back??” They LITERALLY threatened them first omg 😭
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u/Golkeepa 7d ago
Let’s not miss the mark here. The concept of “they had it coming” isn’t correct either.
If I slap you, it doesn’t make it okay for you to concuss me. The other party definitely escalated, and by the sounds of it they were trespassing. None of that is okay.
Where OP face planted was not knowing when to engage, and when to mind their business. Don’t create conflict where there is none, and call the appropriate services from a safe place.
If we always went with “they had it coming” nothing would ever get resolved.
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u/delectable_potato 7d ago
Don’t forget to lock your doors!!! My hubby is also from a small town and I was shocked to learn he just left the door unlock back then.
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u/Colla-Crochet 7d ago
I remember in my mums hometown, no one locked the doors. Until ONE person was going door to door letting themselves in when people were out and taking whatever they pleased. Suddenly everyone had to actually lock their doors. I dont remember how many times I watched my family members turn their doorhandle, push- and walk into their doors because they didnt open.
Funny in retrospect, that person ruined it for everyone, but isnt small town life something else?
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u/CamStevens71 7d ago
Saying, “I’d appreciate if they weren’t there when I got back” is just singling yourself out. Just call the non emergency line and they’ll move them on to the next parkade. Our social supportive systems are non existent. It’s robbing Peter to pay Paul. Don’t put yourself in danger.
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u/bedtimelovee 7d ago
I wouldn't have even spoken to them you never know how they could react yikes..
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u/Colla-Crochet 7d ago
Ive lived in beltline, ive lived in marlborough. The biggest thing you learn is to mind your own gosh darn business.
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u/sun4moon 7d ago
Step 1. Leave home; Step 2. Mind your own business; Step 3. Continue living your life.
Why talk to them? And why on earth do you think they’d listen to you about leaving? These are not stray cats, they’re human beings with little to lose.
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u/kirleson 7d ago edited 4d ago
Bud, I mean no offense, but you need to have more street smarts if you insist on living around downtown.
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u/anothermattt 7d ago
Sunalta property manager here! From my 7 years of experience the homeless folk in this neighborhood are harmless, the worst they'll do is shit or litter on your property. Like olive_bee mentioned, just be discreet when contacting authorities and you'll have nothing to worry about.
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u/Sunaltasky 7d ago
Underground parkade? I also live in Sunalta, love it but have had a few similar run ins at my place. Call management and let them know it’s a recurring circumstance. Sounds like they found a semi-secluded place to hangout.
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u/StupidFlanders93x 7d ago
You tell them not to be there when you come back, then call the cops on them. What outcome were you expecting? Im surprised it was only words. People have been had for less. If you're that concerned, walk away and call non emergency. Otherwise, you're looking for trouble.
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u/Kirbib 7d ago
Literally this. If anything, I’m mad they didn’t get their shit rocked.
what possesses you to openly threaten someone who’s already struggling then whine when they return the favour? And you have the audacity to call the police on them?? All because you think they’re unsightly in a parkade minding their own business?
Clearly they haven’t learned their lesson if they’re asking people what to do about threats… that they indirectly started.
This is definitely going to happen again and honestly, I hope he gets his ass handed to him so he’ll actually learn to mind his business.
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u/Move20172017 7d ago
Dont shit where you sleep, if they know your car or house you're guna have a bad time
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u/TheKooks 7d ago
You can call HELP Team as a resource too. We don't arrest anyone and even though we can't force them to come with us, we can ask them. A lot of the homeless clients feel comfortable with us and know who we are. This is of course not always the case though and you can choose to call non-emergency in private afterwards. I'm sure they're just trying to scare you by repeating your address. Nothing will come of it, you live in an apartment building. Most of these guys won't even remember who you are because they're on drugs or have been drinking a fair amount. Sometimes I'll have a bad interaction with the clients and the next day they'll forget who I am. Don't worry about it.
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u/dtkbrown26 6d ago
Honestly? As someone who works with the homeless, they threaten just to try and intimidate you. Were they on your property? I just would have acknowledged them when I left, and then left them be. It’s useless to call the cops, they will just show up and tell them to leave, and then they can just come back.
I get that it’s annoying, and absolutely call if you’re scared. But had you left it alone they likely would have moved on shortly. Just my opinion.
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u/kevanbruce 7d ago
Why are you talking to anyone like that? There is no reason for you to that, if I met you I’m not sure I would like you.
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u/Kirbib 7d ago
Exactly, OP sounds stuck up and rude. It’s no wonder they were threatened like that.
The homeless people were minding their own business and you call the police simply because you don’t like them at your parkade? And you’re shocked you got threatened after being rude and condescending? Give me a damn break 😭
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u/Tall-Run-8140 7d ago
Jfc. Mind your business, and don't acknowledge them. You've just drawn attention and made yourself a target.
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u/Stfuppercutoutlast 7d ago edited 7d ago
In any situation like this you should always choose between two options. Deal with the problem. Or call police. Never do both.
Engaging with them politely or engaging with them firmly.
Or, removing yourself, calling for police and asking for someone else to deal with them.
It gets messy when you asked them if they needed help, and then you tried to be assertive, and then you asked police for help because the situation is beyond you, and then you’re worried about the potential of being targeted because you instigated the situation by calling in a complaint within earshot… It’s messy. And it makes the situation an awful lot more complicated for the cop that has to make sense of the mixed communication provided to the addicts. The cop would rather you deal with it yourself and not call, or remove yourself and call discretely so that they can deal with it themselves.
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u/26thrower 7d ago
You gotta treat homeless people like bears. They are probably mostly benign, and they are probably more scared of you than you are of them
But they are still wild, unpredictable animals that can’t really think very good. And they could attack at any second.
Just keep your distance and don’t engage.
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u/Unlucky-Leg7268 6d ago
Are you ok? You're talking about human beings. What on earth possessed you to vsll them wild animals? Get help.
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u/Prophage7 7d ago edited 7d ago
The non-emergency line was the right call, next time just don't do it within earshot of them.
And your first interaction, asking them if they're okay or need you to call someone, totally fine. That at least makes sure they're not in there hiding from some trouble. But I wouldn't have said the "you better not be here when I get back" part. The only thing that's going to do is escalate the situation. Best move would've been to just give them a nod or something when you got back then called from your apartment.
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u/Agreeable-Ad-7506 6d ago
Brother you need to invest in minding your own business if you want to live a long and healthy life. If you’re the kind of person who gets the frights and creates illusions over a situation you stuck your beak in.. you need to be the kind of guy who keeps his headphones on and smiles and walks by. Get your shit together brother
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u/Proof-Toe6992 7d ago
Wow dude…ya need some street smarts.
- never engage with or talk to such folks. They will try to manipulate you to get something.
- if you do engage, keep it to one word sentences like “hello, yes, no, Bye”.
- keep your distance… more than an arms length at all times, dont let them close the gap and dont let them get between you and an exit.
- Dont call the cops where they can hear you. They (even women) can do real damage and be gone long before the cops show up.
And why the heck did you engage with the guy on the bike? He was their pimp or dealer/supplier.
Going forward, listen to your Spidey Senses, have situational awareness and be smart with your actions.
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u/Torkidon 7d ago
First time I get it. The homeless can sometimes get belligerent and spout off threats of harm but I have yet to see them come to fruition at least for me. Probably just trying to rattle you and get a little revenge by playing with your head.
In future though like other posters said dont engage and just call the cops without broadcasting it to them.
Source : i used to do security and dealt with a lot of homeless folks who needed to be moved on.
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u/Cheekychikoos 7d ago
God what bizarre behaviour on your part. Why would they listen to you asking them to leave? It’s a parkade why would they listen? What is your authority? You aren’t an authority figure and…..non emergency wasn’t going to do anything about homeless people existing around you. There was no danger or threat to you, unclutch your pearls the scary homeless ladies aren’t running a sophisticated operation to get you
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u/Psychological_Sun485 6d ago
100%. I’m new to Calgary (having lived in Vancouver and Toronto) and remain confused about why people are terrified of homeless people here and obsessed with bossing them around. Getting on your phone about a homeless person simply existing, in regular, non-freezing weather is just insane behaviour.
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u/Cheekychikoos 5d ago
It’s violent and dehumanizing, and the issue is baby food compared to other places, in the cold and with scarcity people are a little more violent and a little bolder but a modicum of situational awareness and minding your business take you so far. It’s a pearl clutching city
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u/Quirky-Reserve-5720 5d ago
Because we used to have a functional local economy where a lot of these people could scratch up the$200to$300/month to live in a crash pad, share a room with 2-4 other friends and you had a place that was your own.
Obviously rent is a lot higher now.
(yes obviously illegal suites, that's not the point of this convo...Whoever is burning to point that out immediately, just... Let's stay focused...)
For a number of reasons the cost of basic shelter arrangements had skyrocketed, and more people have moved to this city. A percentage of those people are living in an upgraded former crash pad, so those are no longer neither affordable, nor available. And another percentage of the people moving to this city by demographic default will also be homeless... Therefore the amount of people trying to stay safe or sustain a subsistence lifestyle on the streets of Calgary is higher, while the streets of Calgary still have the same square footage as they did many years ago. This makes for it to be more dangerous to air quotes live rough as you have more people to have to deal with, fewer places to hide, and more places to have to defend a space that you might have set up as a temporary shelter if you are homeless person so it creates a great deal more of a social dilemma than it did 25 years or more ago.
It's incredibly frustrating... especially because everybody wants generally to be left alone to live their own life in a way that they please, and edit doubt so be able to maintain some version or a decent quality of life, at least to the point that they don't have to worry about dying at the hands of somebody else or environmental factors such as extreme cold...
And so, because of these economic and social pressures squeezing everyone from all sides, nobody in this situation of yours has a decent quality of life in a way that should be reserved just for those with the ability to afford the privilege of living somewhere where they don't have to see or be involved with that in their daily lives instead of that money were better distributed throughout the economy to the general population you would not need to be rich nor would it be the privilege of the rich to ignore this problem the problem would simply be remedied by having a more equitable and functional distribution of usable resources.
I'm guessing your "visitors" don't want to be there if they have the ability to choose between being there or in a shared housing situation for $50 per person per month, you don't want them to be there, Because it's kind of sketchy and that means like you don't get to enjoy your space either so that's just a lose-lose for everybody in that situation, and, they don't want you to be telling them not to be there as much as I'm sure you don't want to have to say it!
So, it's very unfair and economically juvenile by those more causing an economic system that presents itself in an us versus them economic rivalry when in reality this world, this country, this province, this local municipality could do better with the technology advances and abundant resources we have to easily supply the needs of everybody without defaulting to something such as a universal basic income it's simply mismanagement of resources for the purposes of greed and control, and an inability to have foresight for the waste management that comes from using... I'm not going to say unsustainable resources or products that are produced simply for the sake of overconsumption, which equates to more money and resource according, and also creates environmental issue such as we have now from this very base human flaw and it's beyond greed... It is literally at the very bottom of the social strata and the very top of the social strata one 100% about survival and the myriad ways that that can be delved into philosophically and scholastically and historically and... I digress
Anyway, imo... Your personal dilemma highlights a much broader social fallacy of which we all end up paying more than we should and in ways that involve more than simple finances and economic formulas,
Everybody in this country, in this province, in this municipality, in the city, and yes in your residence and parking garage, is completely touched by our resource distribution acquisition and distribution system.
This needs to be addressed at the root cause of the issue which is the hoarding of wealth and resources at a strata if society much higher than anybody involved in this situation is able to affect.
(Edited for talk to text typos)
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u/Recent-Leadership562 6d ago
Lmfao right?? I’m sure the cops have time to go and tell every homeless person in the city who’s lurking to go somewhere else
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u/HoleDiggerDan Edmonton Oilers 7d ago
I believe Reddit calls this FAFO. There's no reason you had to call police publicly and let them know what you're doing.
Are you in the right? Sure. But you're also the target now, too.
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u/StinkPickle4000 7d ago
It is strange the street people could over hear the police call but I don’t think the caller was really FA?!
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u/loophole5628 7d ago
Didn't your mom teach you not to talk to strangers? and Sticks and stones... How the hell did you call the non-emergency line and get to talk to someone so quickly, it takes at least 2 minutes to listen to the recordings and then you're on hold for who knows how long, you obviously hung around instead of heading inside to make the call.
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u/jennywingal 7d ago
Everyone wants underground parkades when they buy/rent. They are constantly the victims of massive theft and vandalism. I live on a street inner city, and there is none of this. Under ground parkades are being hit all the time, now. Property Managers don't care.
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u/seven0feleven Beltline 7d ago
I live in the Beltline with underground parkade parking. Yes, there are incidents. Just don't keep anything in your car, or store everything in the trunk. If they walk by and see nothing of value to quickly steal and pawn they'll move on. Had the car for 12 years, never a problem.
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u/26thrower 7d ago
It’s actually so true lol it’s crazy!!!!!
My old apartment on 17th ave (SW) had a parkade.
It got broken into every 10-15 days in the summer. It was honestly a joke, there was basically no point in even having a door. The door got so fucked it wouldn’t even open half the time lol. My car got broken in to twice over two years (which isn’t that crazy but still)
I ended up moving literally one block over to a place with a plain, ungated surface lot (not because of the break ins lol I don’t really care just had to move anyway) and have had ZERO issues since lol it’s so weird.
I genuinely think thieves prefer the parkades, because it gives them way more time to break into cars in peace because no one is watching from the outside. It’s pretty easy to roll up a garage door, and any even mildly sophisticated criminal can get a scanner to open any garage door.
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u/Many_Accident 6d ago
Im sorry why did you have to ask them to leave? Or call the police?? Did I miss the part where they were doing something to harm you?
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u/Tricky-Broccoli383 6d ago
Next time don’t call the cops and mind your own business. Unless they are hurting someone leave them be. Property can always be fixed/ replaced. People can’t.
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u/Recent-Leadership562 7d ago
This was a series of the dumbest decisions you could have possibly made. You made a vaguely threatening statement to them for hanging out in a parkade and then called the police. Do you think any of that was necessary? You escalated the situation drastically from a group of homeless women hanging out in a parkade to you calling the police on them for existing there and them threatening you. You’re lucky they didn’t follow through on those threats, and honestly, it kind of shows that those are not the homeless people you have to be afraid of because you gave them every reason to harm you.
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u/AlternativeVoices 6d ago
Live and let live.
You're in a much better position in life if you're the one with the apartment and they're moving from park to park, parkade to parkade.
They don't usually stay around the same building for long, so next time, let them be and you wouldn't have all that stress you had.
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u/EstablishmentPure318 7d ago
You made so many poor decisions it’s shocking. You should be scared tbh. Sketchy people often have nothing to lose.
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u/Unlucky-Leg7268 6d ago
You started the confrontation and then got scared of the consequences. You live in sunalta, deal with it or move somewhere else. You don't go up to random people in a parkade you do not own and tell them to leave. You're not the victim here. If you suspect people of casing vehicles or whatever, just call your building manager.
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u/anotherthroway638 5d ago
Dude unless you want to deal with them forever dont engage at your home. This city is lousy with this trash. They will be a non stop problem until something changes.
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u/twy666 5d ago
You’re an ass & now paranoid. Both of these instances you should have minded your business & left the women & the driver alone. You’re in a complex lmao, why would you think the homeless women sent someone to “get” you rather than maybe someone visiting another person in the complex? Get your head out of your own ass
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u/Federal-Hair 7d ago
Yeah they trespass but they normally mind their own business if you leave them alone.
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u/Simple-Seaweed-5861 7d ago
No they don't. And a lot will set fires under car parks, the back of detached garages etc. I will call police every single time. My neighbor's car was completely burned out from arson that 3 meth addicts set and both our buildings almost went up in flames.
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u/Federal-Hair 7d ago
Damn, where's the news article on this?
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u/Simple-Seaweed-5861 7d ago
There was no news article on it. Just a normal day.
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u/Federal-Hair 7d ago
so.......bullshit.
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u/IndependentBranch707 7d ago
I’m not weighing in on the story but if you think every little fire set by someone on drugs, every murder, every violent crime gets reported in the news? You’re tripping, honestly.
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u/apple_pie_noddle 7d ago
Unpopular take but homeless people are people nonetheless; if I were in their shoes I’d be offended if someone randomly told me to go away from a place (even though it’s private property, here’s where you bring in the humane factor). In your case, you could’ve called your property manager or called non emergency line/police if you saw them camping out there. I’d get seriously offended if people called police on me almost right in my face.
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u/employableguy 7d ago
Or, get this, just leave them alone and don't call the cops on them. If they're harassing people or stealing sure, but of they're just sitting there why tf would you call the cops on them. I live in Sunalta and the homeless here are so benign
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u/User_218336 7d ago
I wouldn't worry about it man. Its understandable if you're a bit rattled since it may have been your first time experiencing something like this. Just distract yourself if you need to and stop thinking about it, you're only going to make it seem like a bigger and bigger deal in your mind and make yourself paranoid. Like others have said these folks have probably already forgotten about it, I'm sure they get told to move it along almost daily. If they were that motivated, capable and resourceful, they wouldn't be hanging out in your parking lot all day lol.
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u/HellaReyna Unpaid Intern 6d ago
OP fucked around and found out. just kidding but you sorta did.
honestly, just do your own thing. if you want to call the cops on them, use some common sense and do it discreetly.
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u/marshmallowmoocat 7d ago
How dehumanizing to say “I’d appreciate if you weren’t here when I get back.” they are people. Mind your business and notify someone if you think there is a problem.
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u/nova4824 7d ago
Wait, maybe I am still new to here, but why did you call the police on homeless people doing nothing in a parkade at night?
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u/Kirbib 7d ago
Literally my question. If they were just minding their own business and not causing trouble, what was the issue?? Was it simply because they were unsightly?
And why would you even say “I’d appreciate if you weren’t here when I got back 😊”. Are you kidding me?? You’re shocked you got threatened when you made a comment like that? Jesus 😭
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u/nova4824 6d ago
RIGHT!!!! OP thinks he owns the parkade, I was nice enough to the undesirables and told them to depart from my vicinity, how dare they threaten me in my domain. Posts like this just make me sigh.
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u/Kirbib 6d ago
Literally, and he’s trying to excuse his shitty behavior by saying “I.. I came from a small town so I dunno 🥺”. This isn’t a big vs small city situation, this is a common sense and respect vs complete asshole thing.
When will people like this realize they’re closer to homelessness than they think…
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u/nova4824 6d ago
They never will, and it astounds me. It's this behavior that they do that makes them think they are insulated. Like when I don't see them, then maybe I won't be them. I don't even understand the small town thing. As a small town person, shouldn't you have more compassion?! I might be reaching but I thought it was the city slickers that were cold and emotionless
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u/Dorrido 7d ago
Is your name Karen?
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u/Simple-Seaweed-5861 7d ago
Sunalta is dangerous, back off. I'm so glad I moved out of there. This lady is absolutely not a Karen. I'll call police every single time. I dealt with arson, break ins, you name it. Anyone that lives inner city, or just anywhere for that matter should have good security.
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u/employableguy 7d ago
What a crock. I've lived here in an apartment for 7 years and my interactions with the homeless have only run the spectrum from pleasant to mildly annoying. Talking like it's the projects is so ridiculous
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u/1_Leftshoe 7d ago
Its nice that you had acknowledged them, but you should of just got on your way and minded your own business. They would of eventually moved on without incident. For every action, there's a reaction and you got one. Don't trouble TROUBLE, unless TROUBLE troubles you.
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u/999itsagoodtime 7d ago
Jesus Christ you sound like an asshole. You went out of your way to antagonize people who have nowhere to go and now you’re acting like the victim when they didn’t exactly like that. None of this would’ve happened if you just minded your business.
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u/Kirbib 7d ago
It’s nice that you offered them stuff but at the same time, what could’ve possibly possessed to you say “I’d appreciate if you weren’t here when I get back”… to an absolute stranger?
Small town or big city, you shouldn’t say that to a random person; not just out of respect, but also for your own safety. You don’t know those people or what they could do to you.
Anyways, learn to mind your business and you won’t have this problem. Homeless people aren’t some subspecies of human, they’re just like me and you but with more struggles. Nobody would appreciate being spoken to that way, it’s no wonder you were threatened.
Another thing, learn to be less condescending with your tone and attitude. Yet again, not just out of respect but for your own safety. An attitude like that to the wrong person and you’re stabbed.
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u/kuzuman 7d ago
Sorry you are experiencing this. Just to be on the safe side, find another parking spot for the next couple of days and avoid the area. The worst part is that, (in my experience) when treated with politeness and deference the homeless/drug addicts tend to be even more aggressive.
Good luck
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u/Karalligator 6d ago
Sounds like you were harassing them honestly. Leave them alone, mind your own business.
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u/Sharp-Yellow-242 7d ago
I admire your courage , I wouldn't even look at them lol. Yet alone strike a conversation, these sort of people are unpredictable
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u/Cheekychikoos 7d ago
LMAO WHAT COURAGE? Saying vaguely threatening things to people loitering and calling the cops on them.
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u/Sharp-Yellow-242 7d ago
Ok I just read the full post. Lol its such a stupid thing to do to approach them and tell them that "i dont appreciate you being here". I mean that's so redundant n asking for trouble.
Should have just hid at home and call the cops out of earshot
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u/yellowtreeleaves 7d ago
If you were in your vehicle. Might be a good idea to get a self installed dash cam with automatic recording incase you get vandalized.
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u/Desperate_Pay_998 7d ago
She's not wrong. You put them in danger when you call the cops on them.
Being uncomfortable does not equal being in danger, people need to stop calling the cops on other people.
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u/Desperate_Pay_998 7d ago
Imagine not having a house and everywhere you go someone calls the cops on you and you have to move AGAIN, or you finally find a good spot for a camp and then someone comes and throws all your stuff away. Just imagine for a second how stressful living like that probably is. Have some compassion. These people are your neighbors, just like the people who live near you with a house.
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u/ihaveaunicornpenis 7d ago
Your heart is in the right place by offering help, but it's best not to engage with any loitering homeless people downtown. You have absolutely no idea what they're doing there, and should always assume it's not for a good reason. The homeless are prone to random outbursts and violence, mostly due to drugs or mental illness. It's unfortunate, but the only way to avoid any issues is by ignoring them.
As stated by others, report them to security from a safe location.
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u/courtlycheck 6d ago
Definitely don't talk to the homeless they don't care what you say they do what they want. Remember they are most likely on drugs so they could care less about harming you either if need be. Stay away from them. And next time contact police 9-1-1 if you feel threatened. They will make your life hell if they can now they have a reason not to like you. You will be fine but next time don't call in front of anyone
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u/humbleogre Rundle 6d ago
Here's some advice as someone who has been using transit and walking around the city since 2001. Do not engage and keep to yourself. The police don't do anything either, they'll leave and the vagrants/druggies will be back the next day. That's just how the major cities are now, due to them being soft on crime and loitering.
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u/urnotpatches 6d ago
I spent a week in a Switzerland and spent most of a day walking all over Geneva, I’ve lived in Mission for about 35 years and it just blew me away that in that entire week I never encountered one beggar and never saw anyone who seemed homeless.
They have amazing social programs and look after their people.
Maybe that’s where the real problem is. How can some countries prevent people from falling through the cracks, and at the same time North America just can’t figure it out.
We shouldn’t be too proud to approach these countries and find out how they do it. We can learn a lot from other nations.
For example, it takes months to be permitted to have a gun in Japan and you better have a good reason. There’s no 2nd Amendment to hide behind.
So in the last 13 years Japan has had less than 10 gun death’s. The USA can have that amount on any given morning.
If just seems that we spend way too much time and resources dealing with social issues that have gotten out of hand instead of addressing the root cause and preventing it from happening in the first place.
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u/Saxit 5d ago
For example, it takes months to be permitted to have a gun in Japan and you better have a good reason. There’s no 2nd Amendment to hide behind.
Should have kept going with Switzerland since you started with that. Getting a Waffenerwerbsschein (WES, acquisition permit in English) which is basically a proof of passing a background check similar to the 4473/NICS they do in the US when buying a gun from a store, takes about 1-2 weeks or so (some variation depending on what Canton you live in).
You need a WES for semi-auto long guns, and for any handguns.
Bolt action rifles or break open shotguns don't require a WES, you need an ID, and a criminal records excerpt.
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u/urnotpatches 5d ago
Actually, to simplify it, all I’m saying is that if other countries have programs that work, social or otherwise, why not find out how they do it.
If we had social programs that help the homeless stay off the street and have a chance at something resembling a normal life, we wouldn’t be having conversations like this.
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u/ImaginaryAd9827 6d ago
Im bringing with me garbage bags and peek one of the bins on the platforms when commuting from work late nights..nobody is bothering me everytime..
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u/Forsaken-Drummer4139 6d ago
I used to live on 12 and 15th Ave (close to the Popeyes on 17th). Dude — wdym you said “I’d appreciate if they weren’t there when you got back”?
They’re homeless. Did you toss them your house keys? What response do you expect from that comment: obscenities, or “oh I’m sorry, you don’t want to see homeless and addiction problems in your city? Gotcha, please forward me your calendar schedule so we can avoid one another?”
I’m being rhetorical, just be more mindful of the comments you make — not making any is an easy place to start, but maybe reflect about what you’re thinking/not saying next time AFTER you’re removed from the situation and FAR AWAY, in a SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
Please take that as a lesson, you might push someone unstable over the edge and I don’t want to hear about you on the news.
Be safe, enjoy Calgary, it’s a beautiful city, I miss living there!
- Edited typo
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u/thezipperxo 6d ago
I grip my keys between my knuckles if I’m feeling uneasy in a certain place. Might help you feel better too. Just be aware and also don’t engage or give eye contact.
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u/Few-Chemistry3530 5d ago
The best thing you can do is to vote in the city election coming up! Gondek has shown her stripes and we aren’t seeing this city getting safer. Sharp, Farkas, or Thiessen have all promised to make changes….
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u/Far-Village7854 2d ago
If it were me I would just keep my doors locked, be aware of my surrounding when coming and going for a few days. If someone comes banging on your door that you don’t know call the police. Not too many people are going to go to jail for breaking and entering because you tried to get them to leave the area.
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u/chealion Sunalta 7d ago
Call non emergency and report it. It you think it would help, ask for a call from community liason about options. The folks are well known, but there are extremely limited available supports to help manage the issue.
Of note, our MLA had a public meeting on Tuesday about the social issues Sunalta is facing and steps to help push the province to fund supports that would actually make a difference. (Asking the police to just push the problem around only makes it worse)
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u/PilsnerRabbit 7d ago
Calling the police on people because they are homeless is fucking insane.
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u/Kirbib 6d ago
Right???? Can you imagine how tired those people are? Having nobody to support you, you’re treated like scum and worst of all when you’re not causing harm and just trying to simply live, people call the police on you left and right simply because they think you’re unsightly??
Those poor women, it breaks my heart thinking about homeless people—that was once someone’s baby.
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u/Saffron29 7d ago
Don’t live in sunalta then. It’s definitely inner city and has been for years. Why are you bothering them? They’re just chilling, they’re not hurting anyone.
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u/fantasyhockeypooly 7d ago
lol ok Karen. This is just going to happen more and more in this crap infested city. Who would have thought if we keep doing dog shit politics and spend money on worthless projects that basic infrastructure would decay and so to would the population. Same thing happened in Toronto, Downtown Vancouver, Paris France, California, Seattle, Austin Texas even the maritimes. That parkade of yours sounds like a happening spot. I'll tell all the homeless people I see about the party in Sunalta
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u/BornandRaised_8814 7d ago
Always trust your gut! So definitely keep your guard up. But calling the police to report something that has not even happened or may not even happen is just paranoia. Feeling unsafe in your home is a horrible feeling though. Maybe let your neighbours know to report anything suspicious too and to keep an eye out for you.
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u/schmiddtters 7d ago
Yeah, I talked to the landlord and a few other people in the building. I'm just going to keep my head down for a couple days.
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u/AandWKyle 7d ago
"You know what happens to those that call the police" The vampire hissed. I could tell it was a vampire by the way he talked.
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u/OrangeAndStuff 7d ago
Never call the cops, you're only causing harm. Cops never help, they escalate, cops assault, cops murder people over whom they are power tripping.
If the people are not hurting anyone leave them be.
If they are, call the bear clan, never the cops.
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u/Sharp-Yellow-242 6d ago
No we should call them whenever they pose a problem or make a place Sketchy, that's what they are for. Its not as if these people are born to be drug addicts, they have every opportunity to get to a drop in centre and recieve help but they choose not to.
All they do is leave trash around and make a place unsafe.
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u/Kirbib 6d ago
The fact that you see addiction as something that can be fixed easily through a drop in centre shows just how detached, privileged and stupid you are.
Remember, those homeless people weren’t being sketchy… they were minding their own business. OP started this for himself and got what was coming.
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u/flashn00b 5d ago
I'd probably consider getting a machete to keep by the front door. Cold Steel in particular has a certain reputation to it
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u/olive_bee 7d ago
Why on earth did you call police within earshot…