Encounter at a gas station

Last week, I was filling up at a nearby gas station after Bible study. There was a man at the station who was walking around asking if anyone could help him out with a few bucks. He said that his car had run out of gas a few blocks away on First, and he needed some help to get on his way. He was holding an empty one-gallon gas can, so his story was plausible, but I declined.

As I was wrapping up, I saw him still waiting and looking frustrated, so I walked over and gave him $5, which was more than enough for a gallon of gas. He was so thankful that he hugged me (ugh!) and shook my hand. Just then, as he was turning around, a police car came down the street with its sirens and beacons on. My new friend jumped several feet in the air and began to run a few yards until he realised that the cop car was travelling down the street and not coming for him. He said with a smile, "I thought you were trying to set me up!"

It left me wondering whether his line of work was in drugs or prostitution.