'Be safe, not sorry'

This letter is to inform and remind people to take precautions at all times.

I was shopping in Redding and went to use the women's bathroom at a store. Due to an injury, I had been using the large "disabled" bathroom stall, so I tried the door and it was locked. I went into the other stall, shut the door, put my purse on the hanging hook and decided to check the ad and see which items I would be buying. I heard a scraping noise in the other stall, but nothing else. I put the paper liner on the toilet, preparing to use the toilet, then wondered why I heard no noises from the other stall - someone sick, no one in there, or someone had purposely just locked the door and left? What was going on?

I got down on my knees and looked under the wall, did not see any feet at the toilet, turned to look the other way and there was a man on his knees with his head on the floor looking up under my stall.

I immediately left and just outside the door yelled, "Hello, hello, hello, hello" (under stress you forget to call HELP). Employees appeared. A police officer was called to take a report - this is just a misdemeanor, so I had to make a citizen's arrest.

The point is, people send their children alone into the bathrooms, women never check the other stalls, etc. This letter may help to remind everyone to be aware of their surroundings and be safe, not sorry.