Kathy Martin of Festus, Missouri had a close encounter with Wal-Mart customer service. Here’s her story: “On January 17, 2001, my Daughter, Granddaughter, and I were pulling into a Handicapped parking space right in front of the front doors of the Walmart, in Festus, Missouri where I live.As my Daughter was parking, she noticed a van behind us, because of its loud muffler, but it went on.As my Daughter was unbuckling my Granddaughter from the backseat, I?? exited from the passenger side, turned, looking into the back seat, talking to my Daughter. Suddenly, from nowhere, someone was pulling on my arm and purse. As I turned to look, he knocked me to the ground, and dragged me 15 feet across the Walmart parking lot. By now the van had circled back around. By the time my Daughter realized what was going on and came running after me, he had pulled me almost to the van. When he saw my Daughter was almost to him he let go and jumped into the van and they sped off. Fortunately, we live in a small town, surrounded by small towns, and the police were able to apprehend them about a mile down the road. The Walmart security camera?? caught the entire incident on film, and the Prosecutor used the film at the jury trial to help to convict him.?? He got 5 1/2 years in prison.No one from Walmart came out to see how I was, or if there was anything that they could do until after the police came to seize the security tape. When someone from customer service finally did come out, more out of curiosity, I was told?? that they were very sorry but they did not have anyone working security??that day. As for all of the witnesses in the parking lot, most of them said that they would have helped, but they thought that it may have been a domestic violence situation.”
????????????????????????????????????????????????
Kathy Martin adds: “If in any way my story may help someone else, maybe it will help to eaase the burden of the pain and suffering. I incurred?? several ruptured disks in my neck, a ruptured disk in my spine, severe nerve damage?? in my lower back, and a condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, which I will have for the rest of my life.My only relief is intensive Physical Therapy, twice a week in a?? warm water?? Therapeutic pool, at a Hospital in St. Louis, about 45 miles from where I live. This is something I will probably have to do the rest of my life.For more stories about crime at Wal-Mart, search Newsflash by the word “crime”.Shopping centers are convenient not just for shoppers. They make a good venue for criminals. Lots of people, convenient access to the highway, and other atttractive features.
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
