Weirdo in a van with no windows

[michael147]

Don't look for the weirdo in a van with no windows, look for the pillars of the community.

"Weirdo in a van with no windows", what does it mean?

Your answers will be appreciated.

[amigos4]

Don't look for the weirdo in a van with no windows, look for the pillars of the community.

"Weirdo in a van with no windows", what does it mean?

Your answers will be appreciated.

We need more context for your statement!

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

Rapist, kidnapper, child molester, serial killer...take your pick. Vans are the vehicles of choice for abductions, so the image of a creepy guy loitering in a windowless van has some rather sinister implications.
Out of curiosity, where did you pull this statement from?

[michael147]

(Not a Teacher)

Rapist, kidnapper, child molester, serial killer...take your pick. Vans are the vehicles of choice for abductions, so the image of a creepy guy loitering in a windowless van has some rather sinister implications.
Out of curiosity, where did you pull this statement from?

It's from American series Criminal Minds, to be exact, season 8 episode 4.

[emsr2d2]

The implication here is that when there is a kidnapper or serial killer etc on the loose, people tend to look around for people who look suspicious or who are behaving suspiciously (ie the creepy guy sitting in the windowless van in a road near a school). However, it is suggesting that it would be more useful to look more carefully at the "pillars of the community" - the seemingly nice, middle-class, well-educated, employed people who are well respected in their community. The suggestion is that they are actually more likely (in some instances) to be the people committing those dreadful crimes.

[BobK]

Maybe michael147 hasn't met the term 'pillar of the community'.

b

[SlickVic9000]

It's from American series Criminal Minds, to be exact, season 8 episode 4.

Now that statement makes a bit more sense. While we often think of the worst sorts of criminals as existing on the fringes of society (i.e. the creep in the windowless van), they are often functional, or even prominent and seemingly upstanding, members of society. This provides them with good cover for committing their crimes.

[SoothingDave]

Now that statement makes a bit more sense. While we often think of the worst sorts of criminals as existing on the fringes of society (i.e. the creep in the windowless van), they are often functional, or even prominent and seemingly upstanding, members of society. This provides them with good cover for committing their crimes.

I'd still give the guy with the van a wide berth.

[michael147]

Can I put it into "the homeless" ?

[emsr2d2]

Can I put it into "the homeless" ?

If you mean can you replace "the weirdo in the van with no windows" with "the homeless", then no, absolutely not! Whilst I'm sure that a small proportion of homeless people might also be weird and for all I know they might also be dangerous, there is definitely not any suggestion that when a serial killer or kidnapper is on the loose, the police should look at homeless people for suspects.