I live in Westchester county just north of NYC. I work in the city everyday and both of my parents are retired NYPD. I like to consider myself very independent and street smart woman… most of the time…

One night, while my husband was away for a weekend trip, I went to the local grocery store with my 4 year old son and 3 year old daughter. It wasn’t the supermarket I normally went to, but since an errand brought me to the other side of town (both literally and figuratively), I figured I’d just run in for a few items that I needed on my way home. It was approaching 9 pm and I wanted to just get the essential items I needed and get the kids home.

When I came out of the store with my packages and children in tow, there was a big, broad, heavily bearded, burly-looking man lingering at the front, driver side of my car. The parking lot wasn’t very well lit, but there were people still around in front of the store and as I approached my vehicle, I figured perhaps he belonged to the car parked next to mine and he was simply waiting for someone to return… Or so I rationalized it to myself and continued to my car.

I immediately loaded my children into the vehicle so I knew they were secure in the car. I separated myself from the man by the car door and didn’t look in his direction as I put the kids in. (As bizarre as this may sound, I didn’t want to act like I was being prejudiced or afraid by this scary man that was growing increasingly intimidating). I then loaded the packages into the trunk and kept an eye on him the entire while. Before I closed the trunk, I removed a golf club to make sure that I had some form of protection, if needed.

I politely, formally, yet firmly asked the man to move away from my vehicleso that I could enter my driver’s seat. “Excuse me. Can you please move so that I can get into my vehicle?” In response, he lunged in my immediate direction and started spewing hate-filled and vulgar profanities at me and continued moving towards me in an extremely threatening manner. I was terrified! Not only did I think this man was going to attack me, but my children were now trapped inside the vehicle and were witnessing this!

I immediately pressed the automatic lock button on my car remote, to ensure that my children were safe. I proceeded to run towards the front of the store screaming for help… to anyone… loudly and stating over and over again that the man in the parking lot would not allow me to enter my car and that he was threatening me.

At first people looked at me shocked… and did nothing to help me. Then after a moment or 2 of my continued pleading (which seemed like forever), a few of the men in front of the store gathered together, conferred and all collectively came to my rescue. They created a physical barrier between me and the crazy man. I was able to get in my car and drive away safely. I thanked them all as I sped away…

I called the cops on the way home and they intercepted and questioned the crazy man. Apparently, I’m not the only woman that he’s done this to… It was the most terrifying encounter of my life. I don’t know what I would have done without the help and action of those men. I don’t know who they are. But I consider them heroes and my angels. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if they had not come to my rescue. I’m SO very thankful.