an interesting situation that happen to me tonight

[StuperDan]

I had an appointment tonight in the north seattle area with clients . the appointment was originally set up for about 6 but I was running behind at work so I did not get there till about 8.

the neighborhood is not so much rough as it is icky. still I felt better walking around down there with my 442 my pocket.

the estimate took a long time to do it was 930 or 10 before I went back to my van.

when I got there there was a guy breaking in the car parked right next to my van. I suppose it's possible that the guy in the hoodie rifling through wallet and contents of the car was the owner but it looked really suspicious. I got in my van and left , called 911 and gave them the general description of the person in the car.

but now , I'm wondering how I would've reacted if he would've been in my van.
as a contractor my van is my place of business . everything that I need to pay my mortgage feed my kids are in there.

I suppose even so , they're only things and not worth risking my life or even the idiot thiefs.
but still , I wonder how I would've reacted .

what's the right thing to do ? Would it have been legal to confront him armed? what do you guys think ?


by the way I created this post using the talk to text on my phone and I apologize for it's sloppyness. I'll clean it up some when I get home on my pc .

 

[RaceBannon]

Lake City perhaps? Car prowls are just so common around here, I think I would just chase him off and leave it at that.
In the last ten years, I've lived in Wallingford and Wedgewood. My car has been entered four times, my wife's once.
The monthly police report email we receive reveals a surprising number of burglaries. I'm so sick of these methed-out dirtbags preying on everybody to feed their stupid, suicidal habits, I'd have a hell of a time not confronting them. Is it wise to risk your life for possesions? No. Could I stand back and watch some junky drive off with my car? No.

 

[celticfisherman]

If I am alone down there and my wife and kids are not with me... I let him rifle thru there while I walk around the corner and call the cops. IF they are with me. It's his call about how much his life is worth. BUt I won't be leaving because then by his actions he is putting my family in danger. All kinds of things could happen then.

 

[oldman45]

When possible, call the police and let them handle it. This should be common practice. A confrontation can lead to a shooting. Shootings lead to injury or death, and that can be yours. Afterward, there is a price to pay for a shooting. It may be a lawyer fee, jail term, loss of earnings while working things out and many more. Police get paid to handle such things. What bothers me is the issue of retreating is seldom mentioned when it is actually the best method. Are people so trigger happy or macho that they would rather pay a price for the feeling of shooting someone?

I had a situation in my neighborhood a few months back. A neighbor called me about it and I went to look. It was possible it could escalate so I used my cell phone to call the local PD. I could have confronted the individual but if it went south, I would have been tied up for days and possibly weeks with paperwork, legal issues and other things. Let those that have authority for that area deal with it. My sidearm is a last resort and I am not walking into something deliberately.

 

[celticfisherman]

When possible, call the police and let them handle it. This should be common practice. A confrontation can lead to a shooting. Shootings lead to injury or death, and that can be yours. Afterward, there is a price to pay for a shooting. It may be a lawyer fee, jail term, loss of earnings while working things out and many more. Police get paid to handle such things. What bothers me is the issue of retreating is seldom mentioned when it is actually the best method. Are people so trigger happy or macho that they would rather pay a price for the feeling of shooting someone?

I had a situation in my neighborhood a few months back. A neighbor called me about it and I went to look. It was possible it could escalate so I used my cell phone to call the local PD. I could have confronted the individual but if it went south, I would have been tied up for days and possibly weeks with paperwork, legal issues and other things. Let those that have authority for that area deal with it. My sidearm is a last resort and I am not walking into something deliberately.

Man I agree wholeheartedly with that. A while back I had to pull my carry weapon and once that happens you are never the same again. No matter what happens after that weapon comes out. You will never view this stuff the same. I think a lot of people on the net never stop to think about that.

 

[sps282]

I think you did the prudent thing...let the police who are trained to deal with the situation handle it. It could have been the vehicle owner and how would you know? If you are not directly involved and don't know the details it's too easy to make a mistake you might regret. Just be a good witness.

 

[oldman45]

I think you did the prudent thing...let the police who are trained to deal with the situation handle it. It could have been the vehicle owner and how would you know? If you are not directly involved and don't know the details it's too easy to make a mistake you might regret. Just be a good witness.

It is way too easy for things not to be the way they appear.

In 1982, my then pastor and I went on church visitation. As we returned to the church (rural area, state highway), we watched in shock as a bunch of young thugs forced a car into a ditch and began beating the car windows in as they attempted to get to the driver. The pastor and I immediately assumed the gig was a gang issue. He asked if I had my gun and cuffs. I did and we started out to the site, gun drawn and ordering the guys to stop and get on the ground. We got to within about 20 feet and two state troopers pulled up. Seems as if we were after the wrong ones. The man in the car had molested a child in a trailer park, hit a man with the vehicle as he was getting away and the guys busting up his car were park residents that chased him down while keeping the police informed. Fortunately no shots were fired and the only injury was to the guilty party.

 

[APS]

If the car being broken in to was right-next to mine, I wouldn't even risk going to my car. If the burglar is only 15 feet away it could go south quickly should he decide to turn his attention to you.

 

[old bear]

What bothers me is the issue of retreating is seldom mentioned when it is actually the best method. Are people so trigger happy or macho that they would rather pay a price for the feeling of shooting someone?

Retreating should always be the first course of action, if it can be safely done. As to your question, IMHO sadly yes. Until you've had to use deadly force you can never understand the cost of doing so, and this cost is often much more than just dollars.

 

[oldman45]

Retreating should always be the first course of action, if it can be safely done. As to your question, IMHO sadly yes. Until you've had to use deadly force you can never understand the cost of doing so, and this cost is often much more than just dollars.

Been there. Done that. Wore the hat and bought the t-shirt. Had a lot of sleepless nights. Hope it never happens again. I am a lot quicker to call for assistance in my old age.

Got called in on a criminal trial a few weeks ago. A lady was charged with hiring a hit man to axe her husband. Her lawyer fee retainer was $50,000, in cash, up front and with the understanding that would not cover the entire trial.

Many people have lost all they had over shooting someone. Many LEO have mistakenly shot someone and ended up doing time behind it.

 

[jtpur]

being that the guy was in the car next to yours I would have done the same thing...had he been in mine I would have made sure I took my gun out and told him to get out of my car and leave what he found in the car. i would only have the gun out in case he decided he wanted to attack me...i would have had it by my side where I could bring it up quickly to fire if needed....I would not have tried to detain him and I would have called 911.....it aint worth shootin someone over a car break in no matter since you probably will take a trip downtown for no good cause.

 

[The Big D]

How, pray tell, could anyone consider the use of deadly force in a simple car clouting?

Yes, I would have done "something" but absolutely guarantee it would not have involved presentation of a gun.

No, I cannot definitively tell you exactly what would have been my course of action as I wasn't on the scene, but use of a gun would NOT have been a consideration.

Be safe.

PS:

Yes, I have intervened in car clouting incidents...professionally and as a private citizen.

 

[Fir Fer]

Did you do the right thing? I don't know I was not there, only you know your skill level and what your capable of. It was not your car, I would of done the same thing, I'm not paid to protect a stranger's stuff, I would have called the police and moved on. If it was a friends or a family member which you would of known the guy was a thief, would have been a different matter.

I have to say though that the whole idea that things can be replaced, that possessions are not worth a life is a crock. I have worked hard for what I have, if I did not want it, I would give it away. If someone comes into my house uninvited they are being carried out.

Outside the house is a different matter, If I caught an underage teen, trying to steal from me, I would hold him/her till the cops got there. Hey everyone deserves a second chance, but an adult is a whole different ball game, or if the teen is armed all bets are off. 12 year old kids have killed.

I truly hope I never have to make that kind of choice, but it will be, what it will be.

 

[StuperDan]

How, pray tell, could anyone consider the use of deadly force in a simple car clouting?

I did not mean to imply that I would intervene with deadly force . I guess my thoughts were more about how concealed carry changes is the equation .

also I was wondering how I would react if someone were in my van . that would not be simple car clouting. it would be more like if you showed up for work tomorrow and someone had taken all the equipment is used to do your job . a large company might be able to absorb a lost like that but a small independent contractor like myself would have a hard time recovering from that .

 

[The Big D]

For certain, Dan, I was NOT questioning your actions. What you did is sometimes the best course of action; time and place are definite factors.

I don't abide thieves by any measure but won't shoot them...and never did.

Be safe.

I did not mean to imply that I would intervene with deadly force . I guess my thoughts were more about how concealed carry changes is the equation .

also I was wondering how I would react if someone were in my van . that would not be simple car clouting. it would be more like if you showed up for work tomorrow and someone had taken all the equipment is used to do your job . a large company might be able to absorb a lost like that but a small independent contractor like myself would have a hard time recovering from that .

 

[Kanewpadle]

I had an appointment tonight in the north seattle area with clients . the appointment was originally set up for about 6 but I was running behind at work so I did not get there till about 8.

the neighborhood is not so much rough as it is icky. still I felt better walking around down there with my 442 my pocket.

the estimate took a long time to do it was 930 or 10 before I went back to my van.

when I got there there was a guy breaking in the car parked right next to my van. I suppose it's possible that the guy in the hoodie rifling through wallet and contents of the car was the owner but it looked really suspicious. I got in my van and left , called 911 and gave them the general description of the person in the car.

but now , I'm wondering how I would've reacted if he would've been in my van.
as a contractor my van is my place of business . everything that I need to pay my mortgage feed my kids are in there.

I suppose even so , they're only things and not worth risking my life or even the idiot thiefs.
but still , I wonder how I would've reacted .

what's the right thing to do ? Would it have been legal to confront him armed? what do you guys think ?


by the way I created this post using the talk to text on my phone and I apologize for it's sloppyness. I'll clean it up some when I get home on my pc .

The key here is that it LOOKED suspicious. You weren't 100% positive. Based on that, you did the right thing.

Jumping in blindly while armed has gotten many good people in trouble.

We carry to protect ourselves and loved ones. I'm not saying to turn a blind eye, but insurance will take care of the car owner. You take care of yourself.

 

[OLDFED]

I guess you didn't see his buddy hiding behind you. You did the RIGHT thing!

 

[Kanewpadle]

I guess you didn't see his buddy hiding behind you. You did the RIGHT thing!

Never forget the tailgunner.

 

[Lost Lake]

being that the guy was in the car next to yours I would have done the same thing...had he been in mine I would have made sure I took my gun out and told him to get out of my car and leave what he found in the car. i would only have the gun out in case he decided he wanted to attack me...i would have had it by my side where I could bring it up quickly to fire if needed....I would not have tried to detain him and I would have called 911.....it aint worth shootin someone over a car break in no matter since you probably will take a trip downtown for no good cause.

I gotta stick up for jtpur here... I understand what he's saying.
If the crook were in your car, you know his intentions. You also know you will call the cops then try to protect your livelihood.
JT only had his weapon where he could use it if required. He isn't displaying it, just has it by his side or back and at the ready should this guy attack.
I believe this is exactly what any officer would do in this situation. The difference is jtpur will let the guy run away and not try to detain him.
I think this is a reasonable action and any of us would do it.

 

[The Big D]

Are you kidding? There is not a competent/professional LEO in all the land who would consider "use" of a gun in the instant situation, as described.

Be safe.

I gotta stick up for jtpur here... I understand what he's saying.
If the crook were in your car, you know his intentions. You also know you will call the cops then try to protect your livelihood.
JT only had his weapon where he could use it if required. He isn't displaying it, just has it by his side or back and at the ready should this guy attack.
I believe this is exactly what any officer would do in this situation. (emphasis added)The difference is jtpur will let the guy run away and not try to detain him.
I think this is a reasonable action and any of us would do it.