You are out of town and pull into a gas station at night.After filling up you walk to the store to pay.?You are approached by two slightly drunk guys holding bottles.(you weren't aware until they were close) One asks you for change while the other nervously looks around.You don't know what their intentions are,but several things are running through your mind.What would you say or do?
This happened to me,I'll tell you the rest later.

Is it day or night? Busy store or not (and isolated)? All of these details factor in.

First of all, I would use my debit card and pay at the pump, eliminating the need to go into the store. If approached, I'd tell them I don't have any spare change.

Otherwise either leave if you can or barring that for whatever reason, go into the store and tell the proprietor whats going on. He can call the police. That would be the right thing for the proprietor to do anyway because if not, these guys would likely continue to harass customers. They don't need to be loitering around a store giving patrons a hard time.


-John

1st sentence(it's night). The store was not totally isolated,but not on a busy road either.

I tell them i will give them some change from my payment for the gas (you are on your way to pay). Ask them to wait and manouver round them at a reasonable distance. Be friendly, but make it aware you are deeply suspicious and on guard. Go into the store, ask the attendant if he knows them, If he does, get an opinion on their motives- he may well say the always beg/hassle customers and regularely get told to get lost with no come back, if so, you have quantified the threat. If he doesnt know them, make a point of getting the attendant to pick up and talk into a phone looking at them and in plain sight, the idea being to make them uncomfortable and leave. If the attendant wont do it, ask to use the phone yourself, or use your mobile (in the store should be ok). If they dont leave, dont leave the store and contact the cops for real, or wait for another person to be on the forecourt and walk briskly to your car and escape with witnesses around.

Whenever I am approached by people like that, I always play dumb. I either pretend that I am looking for something, or even drunk myself,"man.... I wish I had some change, then i could pay for my gas and maybe get another beer!" or something along those lines. I would also try and stay as close as possible to other people. I would pay very close attention to the guy who is not looking around nervously, usually the guy who does the talking is the one who hits first.

First thing that comes to my mind would be to make sure they were both in front of me so they couldn't blind side from the side or my back.....that would be the first.

the bottles worry me.... in the couple of times that unarmed people have approached me like this, I have found that a direct confrontation, in a not too agressive manner, seems to work. they expect you to be scared, and they aren't really muggers, or they would have real arms. so they are looking for an easy mark. I would politly say that I can't help them, and ask the store manager to call the cops, if I think that they are threatening enough. I would do what I could to make them feel that I am not at all intimidated by them.

Break the wrists and walk away, break the wrists and walk away

You all gave some pretty good advice.IMO Cord's was the best.
Here's what I did.I took a couple of steps backward and said loudly that "I have no change.!" I walked quickly around the outside of them and went in the store.I didn't say anything to the clerk,but went to the back and looked through the store for 5minutes.I went and paid and looked to see where they were.They were back up against the store so I walked briskly out to my car.They were mouthing,but were too far to do anything.I didn't feel like standing that close to them so that was my best reaction off the top of my head.Worked I guess.

For something like that situation, When I was younger, I was crazy enough to use a mix of humor,confusion and surprize. (off-balencing with words).
I keep walking and would say something like "sorry mon, I need what I got fa some rock!"

nowadays, I probably would make sure I have my keys in hand with the largest key sticking thru my fist...keep walking even around them if I need to, just be emotionless and say "No, I'm broke."

If they continue to harrass when I walk back out, I turn around walk back in the store and do what Cord said.

don't show fear is the key ..fear has an unmistakable scent.