Attempted abduction: Armed criminal confronts mall employee at ''No-CCW'' mall

July 2, 2004
Toledo Blade

BOWLING GREEN - Police here are looking for a man driving a pickup truck who brandished a gun and ordered a woman into his vehicle after he asked for directions outside the Woodland Towne Centre.
The woman, 19, was first approached about 5:30 p.m. outside the mall when the man drove next to her and asked for directions. She answered, and he drove a short distance - only to turn around and return. He showed the woman a black handgun told her to get in. She went into the mall.

Police said the man was white and in his 30s, medium height to tall, and unshaven. He wore an off-white, tan, or gray T-shirt and blue jeans. He was driving a late 1980s to 1990s full-size light blue pickup.

Commentary:
Supporters in Bowling Green report that the Woodland Towne Centre mall has posted discriminatory signs banning concealed carry, thus advertising to would-be criminals that employees and customers are defenseless.

This criminal was unsuccessful, not because of any efforts at "security" by the mall, but by the quick reaction of the employee to flee.

But he is still out there, and is almost certain to try again. Sad, isn't it, that some businesses have chosen to tell him just where to find defenseless victims?

Woodland Towne Centre
1234 North Main Street
State Route 25
Bowling Green, Ohio
419-354-4447
Fax 419-353-6368
www.woodlandtc.com