Popped Locks and Profiling

Last weekend my dad came up to Des Moines to spend a long weekend with Eryn and I. For lunch on Saturday, we went to Jimmy Johns close to my apartment. I threw my keys in my purse, locked the car doors and went inside. As we were about to leave, I realized my keys were not in my purse. Shoot.

Turns out they missed my purse and fell into the seat instead. In other words, I was locked out of my car. My dad and I went back to my apartment and found a couple of items to pry open my door and create a makeshift break-in tool.

On our way from my apartment back to my car, my dad said, "I wonder how many guys will try to come up and tell me how to do it. There is always a handful who have their own opinions on it." My dad said he has attempted to get into about 10 cars and has successfully broken into all 10 of them with little help. I had confidence that he'd get into my car no problem.

Not even 2 minutes after we start prying open my door, a guy walks up to us asking if we needed any help. My dad smiled at me and mouthed, "one" as if he was starting a tally of guys offering to help us.

"We just started, so I'm not sure yet," I answered.

"Oh well, I'm a sheriff, so I can call someone to help you guys out pretty quickly," Mr. Sheriff said. "Just let me know and I'll be happy to call someone for you."

"Thanks," I said as he walked into Jimmy Johns for his lunch.

After a couple of minutes, my dad was still struggling, but I knew he was getting closer to getting through the thick insulation into my car. Mr. Sheriff came back out to us and said he would call someone. After he got off the phone, he began talking to me.

"Where in Missouri are you from?"

"Springfield area," I told him, initially shocked he knew I was from Missouri until I realized I have a MO license plate.

"What year are you at Drake? And what are you studying?" He quickly asked after that.

This one really got to me. How in the world would he have any idea I went to Drake? I didn't have my Drake sticker on my car anymore, no parking tag, nothing. I finally settled on that I was wearing a SIFE polo with "Drake University" written very tiny that gave my school away.

He was an observant sheriff. He figured out all this about me within probably 30 seconds. It's crazy what someone can find out about you with just information from a situation and what you are wearing.

We made more small talk until the cop showed up with official equipment. My dad had the hanger at my handle and was probably two more attempts away from opening it, but he gave up, allowing the "professionals" to do what they are best at.

The cop got the door opened within probably 90 seconds. I thanked him for his time and he asked me what I was studying at Drake (I'm hoping Mr. Sheriff told him I was from Drake). He told me people like me make Drake look bad since he went to Drake too. I hope he was kidding.

The moral of the story is that I need to be more aware when putting my keys in my purse. Oh, and that someone can profile a person in no time at all, so be careful with what information you openly display about yourself. You never know who or what is watching you.