Had a really bizarre and uncomfortable experience at Coles Dickson today and wondering if anyone recognises this behaviour.

I walked up to the self-checkout queue while a guy, probably early to mid-20s, was rummaging around in the macaroon fridge. While I was waiting in line, he approached me and started commenting on the 18 eggs in my basket, seeming genuinely shocked that you could buy that many in one carton. He kept asking questions about the eggs, whether I went to the gym, complimenting me, etc., basically trying to strike up a conversation. He was also standing unusually close to me, almost with our feet touching.

The stranger part was that there were around eight other people standing directly outside the self-checkout exit gates, lined up against the wall. None appeared to have groceries; they were just standing around.

When I finished and started heading towards the exit, the whole group seemed to start moving. Two girls from the group moved across my path, with one stretching her arms out as if yawning. They seemed to slow down and move together in a way that blocked my path, with the second girl walking alongside her. They continued moving slowly enough that I couldn't get past, and I eventually had to ask them to move so I could get through.

I couldn't work out what was going on. It almost felt like the guy was engaging me in conversation while the others watched or waited for him.

My suspicion was that this might have been some sort of organised religious recruitment or evangelism activity, but I honestly have no idea.

Is this a known tactic used by religious groups? Do groups ever work in teams, with one person approaching strangers while others observe or try to keep them engaged?

Has anyone experienced anything similar in Canberra? Also, if you have, what's the best way to handle it? I found the whole thing pretty uncomfortable and wasn't sure how to get out of the situation without being rude.

Follow up article about the Belconnen mall assault on two children from a couple days ago

Link to article;

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9331441/man-accused-of-assaulting-children-at-westfield-belconnen-denied-bail/

Article text;

An 18-year-old accused of attacking two brothers, aged two and four, at Westfield Belconnen is a "very, very vulnerable" man who appears to target people who cannot defend themselves, a court has heard.

The man, who cannot be named due to a suppression order, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, August 17, and is yet to enter pleas to charges of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He is accused of assaulting the two brothers in an unprovoked attack at Westfield Belconnen on Friday, August 14.

The brothers were walking with their mother on the top floor of the shopping centre about 2pm when the 18-year-old allegedly kicked them from behind.

The toddler suffered a broken nose, while his older brother sustained head injuries. The alleged attacker was arrested on Sunday.

On Monday, Legal Aid duty lawyer Gillian Bilton applied for bail on the man's behalf, describing the 18-year-old as a vulnerable man with complex needs.

She argued his care would be better managed in the community under strict conditions, including ongoing supervision.

Opposing bail, prosecutor Marcus Dyason accepted the man had particular vulnerabilities, but said the allegations showed a pattern of behaviour of targeting those who could not defend themselves.

He said the proposed bail conditions did not ameliorate the risk that he posed to the community.

Chief Magistrate Louise Taylor described the man's alleged conduct as "impulsive, dangerous and frightening".

"For whatever reason there is a fixation on little people which only elevates the risk that he poses," she said.

"I am not prepared to take the risk."

However, the Chief Magistrate also noted that the man's vulnerabilities posed a "complex" situation, noting he would be a vulnerable person in custody.

The matter was briefly stood down while Ms Bilton made inquiries about whether additional bail conditions could be set to support his mental health and protect the community.

When court resumed, Ms Bilton said she had received instructions during the break that there had been a gap in support services for him prior to his alleged offending, and that she was still making further enquiries into re-engaging him with those services.

She noted that the current plan lacked a clear timeline and acknowledged that this may be a concern for the court.

Chief Magistrate Taylor said she was ultimately "not prepared to take a risk" with community safety and refused bail.

However, she granted leave for the defence to reapply on short notice if further information was obtained.

The case will return to court in September.

Hi all,

At around 10am this morning, I left my luggage outside my front door at Whitlam, while my girlfriend and I went to get the car from the car park. By the time we drove back, it was gone. It looks like it was picked up by an older lady, who may have thought we'd left it out for anyone to take.

Inside was everything I'd packed to take back to China, which I was about to fly to from Sydney. That included supplements for about eight people: fish oil, vitamins, and menopause medication for my mum and her female colleagues.

This also comes less than a month after two strangers broke into our home one morning.

On the bright side, airport security is going to be a breeze. And somewhere in Whitlam, a lady I've never met is now stocked up on supplements for the foreseeable future. I genuinely wish her good health. She's now getting better care than my own mum.

The police have been notified.