The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Personal Defence And Concealed Carry A Cautionary TaleGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| A Cautionary Tale | Login/Join |
| One of Us |
I walked out to my truck to go to work at 5:50 AM and I had just opened the door to get in when a voice behind me said to please turn around. I was greeted with a rather large, completely black clad figure wearing a ski mask holding a stainless steel pistol with black grips, .40 or .45 caliber looked like. He said, "I want your money right now." I was frankly stunned, couldn't believe it was happening. He repeated, "Give me your wallet." I said "You've got to be kidding, get out of here." We went back and forth a couple of times that way and then he stuck the gun in my face. At that moment I hit the alarm on my keys and it started going off. He started saying "Shut it off, shut it off" and pulled out a knife with his other hand and slashed it in my direction. So I shut it off and got out my wallet. Told him I'd give him the money but needed everything else. Gave him $40.00 and told him that was it. He said, "Get your ATM card we're going to the bank." I said, "I never carry it, it's in the house." He gestured with the gun and said let's go get it. So I walked to the back of the house and unlocked the door, already determined that I wasn't going anywhere. He followed me into the house and I went toward the bedroom, as I passed the sun room entrance I yelled, "Tess, bad guy, get him" and the dog went into her Hound of the Baskervilles act while I ran to the bedroom slammed the door grabbed the shot gun and yelled, "I'm armed and I'll kill you if you come through the door." Told the wife to call 911 and slowly opened the door, no thief, dog was silent, watching me. Cleared the house with the dog and waited. The police showed up in about ten minutes with two cars, five more patrolling the neighborhood trying to catch the guy. No luck. Figured I was pretty lucky, the thief was evidently not too bright and reluctant to shoot me. I lost @40.00 and learned a whole lot of lessons. I live in a very nice subdivision where this kind of thing never happens. Police figured he was a burglar and I was just a target of opportunity but I'm not so sure. Maybe the guy had patterned my and knew I came out of the house every day at that time and it was a good opportunity to pick up a red F250 four wheel drive diesel truck and some cash. My company doesn't want a weapon in our vehicles on their property but I think I may have to start violating the rules because this is not happening again. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | ||
|
| one of us |
Truly scary! Not sure a gun in the truck would have helped you though! He had the drop on you. Peter Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
| new member |
I walk to my truck for work EVERY morning with a Para 6/45 LDA in my right hand, once in the truck it goes in the console by my right hand. Neighbors are familiar with my habits and have made no complaints. In fact several have asked for my cell number so they can call me if needed. If people or companies ban firearms in vehicles in their parking lot they dont get my business. The local Graybar rep asked my a few years ago what they could do to get more of my business and I told him to get rid of the sign in the parking lot that stated firearms were not allowed on premise, it disapeared a few days later. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Today I walked to the truck with a Dan Wesson .357 in my right hand. No reoccurrence of yesterday's events. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
|
| One of Us |
You did SO MANY things wrong it's unbelievable!!!! What was in your wallet, the cure to cancer. Toss the wallet to him and run the other way. You definitely get the Darwin award this week. Perry | |||
|
One of Us |
This is what blows me away! Alan  | |||
|
| One of Us |
You might try running away while you're pinned between the body of a vehicle and an open door with a gun in your face held by a guy that's 40 years younger than you are. See how that works for you sometime and you'll find that you're in the real shallow end of Darwin's gene pool. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
|
Moderator |
Great post! "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
|
| one of us |
Agreed! Good post. You could also have used the car alarm using the key fob. Lot's of things that could be done, if, as stated above, it was thought through ahead of time. I own a copy of Bittenbinder's "Tough Target". Not specifically about use of firearms, but, as I stated above, that was not an option once he had the drop on you. "What could I have done differently?" is a good way to get something positive from an obviously traumatic experience. Peter. Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
| One of Us |
For the record I am glad you and the Mrs. are alright. So you can dodge a slashing knife attack but there's not enough room to throw your wallet and run. You argue with the guy who has a gun in your face as to agitate him. Then you take him in the house where the wife is. I'm glad you are ok but dude re-think your actions and make MAJOR changes. Perry | |||
|
one of us |
Sorry to hear that the threat was not neutralized, now someone else will encounter him. 10 minutes, what is surprising about that, unfortunately without some pure blind luck, the law enforcement folks will always be several minutes away and that is usually a bragging point in annual reports. Not bad or good, just the reality of it. Don't limit your challenges . . . Challenge your limits | |||
|
| One of Us |
I'm surprised it was ONLY 10 minutes, and they brought backup with them. Around here, I don't think you would get that fast a response for much of anything. I agree you were lucky, and I can't offer any good suggestions as to how to avoid it in the future. I also understand that thinking clearly when something happens is pretty much impossible- that's why one trains and tries to make a plan in advance. The LEO's always say you will react like you train, and its quite true in any high stress situation. | |||
|
| One of Us |
one of the members byline says something like "when seconds count, the police are only minutes away!" That is so true. Even when they are good officers who wish to do the best, they can't be everywhere. I think in your circumstances, having not faced something like that before, you did ok. Only suggestion i would make is next time dont warn of the shotgun, just shoot. He's already in your house. Kill the f-er. It's definately a differant world we live in lately. Getting worse. we must all think of safety more and more. I was in the park with my kids in a strange city in a differant state recently and a bunch of young adults dressed as gangsters were hangin about. I felt completely naked without my gun. From now on I might just say Screw the law and do whats right. I'd rather be in prison for protecting my children than alive in my own home mouring the rape and murder of my daughter. For what its worth... Curtis | |||
|
| One of Us |
You know what, I've had constructive comments from many people which I accept completely but you're obviously a moron as well as unable to read simple declarative text so you go on my ignore list. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
|
| One of Us |
10 minutes is pretty damn good in Harris Co. considering how short all agencies are these days. Besides, that's 10 minutes until you saw them, I'd say they were probably looking around your area before they came to your door. Let the dog out in the backyard while getting ready, crooks don't like barking dogs! If carrying in the company truck is just not a viable option, why not wake Momma just before you leave? In this case, maybe she would have heard the commotion could have been armed and ready!? Robert If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson, 1802 | |||
|
| one of us |
RVL, that's a hell of a good idea! I don't think that guy was out there by chance. Peter. Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
One of Us |
Pardon the humour, but I really like the "waking the wife" idea. My wife would be so pissed if I did that, she'd probably kill anyone she saw out there, even the milkman! Not really, but her hostility at being awakened would definitely make her alert. Personally, I think you did a good job, Wanderer. You are alive, your dog obviously had been taught what to do and did it, and you're only out the price of popcorn for the family at the movies. Sure, there probably are things you could have perhaps done better, but I don't know that. Only you can decide. You saw all the circumstances and the environment, read the assailant reactions and your opportunities, etc. I didn't. I do think you have already made a point of going over the whole thing 700 times in your head, asking "What could I have done better?" as well as "Why me?" Just as a tip, you might write down the various things you would ask a neighbor if he or she told you the same story. Then ask yourself those questions and WRITE DOWN the answers. The writing will make you more thorough in thinking the answers through. Then, if you don't already have one, sit down with your wife and together write out a security plan for common "could-be's" specific to your home. Not only for going to work, but for answering the door, coming home in the afternoon, coming home after dark, waking up to a noise in the middle of the night, bringing in the groceries, etc. And make a copy or two for each of you. If your wife will agree, use the written plan to test each other frequently enough to each develop habitual correct responses. It might pay you both back in prolonged life expectancy some day. Best wishes. Ya done okay, guy. | |||
|
| One of Us |
The courts have ruled repeatedly that the interior of you your vehicle is YOUR property regardless where it's parked. You have the right to lawfully stow in it anything you want so long as it's reasonably secured. (And that doesn't mean "unloaded in a lock box.") | |||
|
| one of us |
JD in this example it is not "your" vehicle it is the company's vehicle. Additionally, your statement is not true. In Florida, it required a separate law forbidding employers from banning employees storing firearms in personally owned vehicles on company property. In return the law expressly gave employers immunity from prosecution or liability due to actions of employees. Peter. Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
| One of Us |
Thank God for your dawg.... Good Tess!! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Bingo! I'd actually arrived at this idea as a solution before reading your post. My wife is now providing armed overwatch until I'm in the vehicle. Phone in one hand and .357 in the other. The reality is that nearly the whole neighborhood is now locked and loaded; and responding to car alarms. Something like this happens again I don't think the perp will survive. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Sorry, screwed up the posting. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Ditto Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
|
| one of us |
Hind sight is always 20/20......would of, should of, could of. About 5 years ago our house burnt down and we were home at the time. We never thought it would happen to use and when it was happening we were in shock. Our minds were trying to tell us that this wasn't happening, because we didn't want it too......it took a little bit (probably seconds) to acknowledge that this was "real" and start taking action. By the way, it took 30 minutes for the 1st fire truck to show up and there was a fire station 1 mile from our house. It is important to have a plan, so you don't have to stop and think. This man's post should make us aware that bad shit can happen to good people......even at their own homes when least expected. I keep a gun in my truck and have several in the house loaded and ready to go (but neither would do me any good in a situation like this), but now I am going to change my behavior (because of this post). When I come home from work I am going to carry my gun (in hand) into the house with me and when I leave for work in the morning I will carry my "truck gun" out with me. So, Thanks again for your post...........and God help the poor bastard if he picks the wrong house next time!!!!! | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia
| View $GS_USERNAME's Public Profile |
| Add $GS_USERNAME to my Buddies |
| Add $GS_USERNAME to my Ignore List |
| Invite $GS_USERNAME to a Private Topic |
| View Recent Posts by $GS_USERNAME |
| Notify me of New Posts by $GS_USERNAME |