Shakedown

I don't know if it's the same anywhere else, but panhandling is a huge problem in Gainesville. You almost can't go anywhere without being asked for money. We've even had people ring the doorbell and ask us to give them cash. But one guy in particular keeps cropping up.

• First encounter: several months ago, he approached us in the Best Buy parking lot. It was right at the beginning of the school year, the weekend that all the students move back to town. He claimed to be helping his daughter move, all the way from Ohio, and said that he lost his wallet. He just needed some cash for a night in a hotel, and would we mind helping him out?
• Second encounter: sitting at a stoplight (across the street from Best Buy, actually) about two months ago, he approached the vehicle in front of us and asked the driver for cash. Rebuffed, he started to approach us and John waved him on.
• Third encounter: A week and a half ago, John went to pick up a pizza we'd ordered. On his way out of the pizza shop, the same guy approached him and asked for a few slices. John acted like the guy was joking, and laughed it off. As he walked away, the guy shouted, "I'm not kidding!"
• Fourth encounter: Today, at the grocery store, the very same guy walked up to the deli, picked up a cooked rotisserie chicken, and walked out without paying.

Lest there's any confusion, allow me to state what may be obvious: this guy isn't homeless. From the looks of it, he's not hurting at all. He's just gaming the system and making a living of it. And it makes my skin crawl.