What would you do if ....

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Author Message   charlie Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 11:40 am:    someone try to steal a screw from your brush bar? My car was parked on the quiet street outside of my sister's apartment last night. While coming out from the building at about 9pm, a 4-runner that parked just in front of the building honked. I wasn't aware of it so I turned and walk up to my car about 8 parking space away (perpendicular parking). There a guy was in front of my car, working something on my brushb bar. I through it is puking or something so I ran up there. When I got there, I found that he was working on the screw that screw on the headlight grill (he was tightening it). I confronted him and I am sure that the 4-runner was in his team and warned him someone was coming and that's why he is tightening it back on. He said that he was HELPING me by tightening it and appeared to be half drunk. Then, I was thinking: What should I do? throw him a punch or call the cops? At the end, I didn't do anything except making sure he know this Chinese boy knows the many ways of using the word "FUCK". My question is, what would you do in this situ, over one screw, which at the end, I didn't lose. ---Charlie   Jack (Olered) Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 11:43 am:    Always call the cops. Just think, down the street he may have taken a nice set of Hellas! What if the next person was robbed? Murdered?   mongo Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 11:46 am:    I'd also call the police...way too many freaks and fools out there... Frank   L_Tilly Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 12:09 pm:    Always call the cops. You were probably not an isolated target. Like Jack said, someone down the street may be next. Another time, you may be that "someone down the street." Our Saturn had an attempted break-in when we lived in an appartment back in Nebraska. One of our neighbors saw one kid trying to get into the door and told us. We called the cops and kept an eye on him from the dark appartment. Turned out a second kid was watching from the appartment parking enterence and yelled whenever someone pulled in. The kid at our car tossed his flashlight and slimjim into a mud puddle and they tried walking off. The cops grabed the kids and we identified one of them. They denied everything and did a great job of eliminating fingerprints - too bad they forgot to wipe down the batteries they put in their flashlight. They had other radios which they had pulled earlier in the evening in their own car nearby, but since they were minors all they had to do was write letters of apology to us all. Gotta love our legal system. We did feel proud that we at least stopped them for that night and maybe scared them enough to think twice. Then two weeks later we were hit again. Same method of entry but this time noone saw it happen. Insurance paid for the damage and lost radio, but it still pissed us off. We know the same kids were involved, or at least their little club was. Hmmm...interresting thing: The copy of the police report we got had their b-days and SSN numbers on it. Maybe a few more years for them to have had a chance to establish some sort of life, then an anonymous posting to some credit-theft newsgroups could be in order. Something to the effect of "Here you go guys, have fun... Lawrence lnctilly@metrocast.net 96 Disco - Beowulf - NH, USA   Carter Simcoe (Carter) Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 12:41 pm:    I would have kicked his ass but the smart thing to do would have been to call the cops.   joshua Frances (Joshua) Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 12:52 pm:    I would have called the cops too... I mean, a little cold steel ( and a combo of synthetics in my case) against his temple would have done the trick. Scare tactics, works like a charm for something that small.   muskyman Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 01:01 pm:    in boston the people love you for it in LA they put you on trial....see if you stand in canada it all makes sence because then boston is on the left and LA the right!   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 11:45 pm:    It would be nice to beat the crap out of him, but you could go to jail as a best case scenario. Worst case scenario is you get shot by a party in the 4Runner. The reality is somewhere in between, but that still ain't good. If you call the cops, nothing would come of it because he was doing nothing and you could not prove different. That is - if the guys in the 4 Runner did not come shoot you as you tried to restrain him for the 45 minutes before the cops came. So I think you did the best thing with the options you had. I may have grabbing my cocked and locked buddy from the console before confronting him, but I would have likely kept it under cover and only shown it when things went bad. In the long run, he posed no real threat to your person, and he did not take anything. As far as I know there is no law against turning exposed screws if malice cannot be proven. Curtis   charlie Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 11:58 am:    Curtis, that's what I though. But I park there all the time and this guy seems to be from around. I also though about calling the cops but I have no way to stop him from leaving the area. Anyway, keep an eye on your car and hope nothing fall off in the near future.   Jack (Olered) Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 05:17 pm:    Uh, tag number from 4runner? No need to restrain. If we continue to do nothing then they win in the end. Let's just use common sense.   Jack (Olered) Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 05:17 pm:    We're better than that.   Matt (Doc175) Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 05:31 pm:    I caught a guy in college trying a similar stunt. I'm not saying it was the right thing to do but I beat the shit out of him. He did not know who was so I was not worried about the cops. I took his drivers lic. so if he tried to relatiate (to my truck) I had his address and could hunt the bastard down. Worked for me but.....   Ron Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 07:44 pm:    Kick the shit out of them. People worthy of getting the shit kicked out of them do not call the cops. Ron   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Friday, December 20, 2002 - 07:58 pm:    Matt & Ron are right on. Good goin Matt, taking his license. Goddamn thieves are really shocked when you knock them down and take their wallets. It's good to know where you can find the bastards if you ever want to "talk" again.   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 03:01 am:    Blue, Have you taken down a lot of thieves and can claim this as fact? I have not so my witness may be weak. I can say that the scenario you propose is very noble, however, how workable it is in real-life depends on how many bullets you prefer placed in your carcass. The best he could have done is got the guys out of there, taken down the facts, and maybe called the cops for documentation. The primary element is that one needs to assume in a confrontation that the worst can happen and defend themselves against it. Attempting to beat the crap out of guy A while guy B is unknown and presumably waiting is precarious at best. At worst is is deadly. The secondary element comes down to what he had to do afterwards. If he had a girl in waiting, was tired, or had something else to do - blow off the cops and go home. Cops are a reactive solution and if a proactive solution was required, he would have had gun in hand. Curtis   Prescottj (Prescottj) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 03:41 am:    Flip him over, put teeth on curb, jump on back of head   Carter Simcoe (Carter) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 10:57 am:    Curtis has obviously not seen that pic of the gun wedged inbetween Blue's seat and console.   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 12:09 pm:    Actually I have. Blue and I have the same taste in HK USP's except mine is a .40 S&W and I think his is something else (9mm?). Mine is a permanent and legal fixture within my rig and on my person on occasion. What Blue says is true in an idealistic sort of way. However I think it is hilarious that people claim to be billy bad-ass and so many people say they would kick the guys ass. They say this on-line without fully appreciating the circumstances. From a self-defense standpoint charlie did pretty much what he should have. The goal is not to protect your brushguard, but to keep from getting killed.   mongo Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 12:18 pm:    I agree with you Curtis, I also carry a weapon in my rig, a Sig 226, but would I pull it in this situation? NO, but while I was waiting for the police arrive I probably would have made him cry by stepping on his head... Frank   Bruce Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 02:23 pm:    I would have given him such a pinch!!!!!   Rob Davison (Pokerob) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 02:37 pm:    does beating someone up who stole from you usually make you guys feel better? i know it would do shit for me. first thing is i want my stuff back. second i'd burn his house down. nothing says 'fuck you' like destroying everything they own. rd   Kyle Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 06:48 pm:    All I can say is that drunk people are prone to a little "falling down" from time to time... No harm in helping the guy up (Repeatedly) Kyle   Matt doc175 Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 06:53 pm:    Good ideas, especially from Curtis. I prefer the USP .45, better stopping power. Remeber, while we may be in the right, and the defence of our property just, the laws are often against us. Sometimes subtle revenge (without a slug with rifling grooves or shell casings) maybe the best road to follow.   Officer Smiley Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 06:54 pm:    It is like the guy that shot at some cops friends of mine. The suspect proceded to fall off a parking garage. Twice!   Carter Simcoe (Carter) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 06:59 pm:    Well I can't speak for the rest of the board but I have kicked someones ass for over a similar incident and would probablly not hesitate to do it again. I hope this doesn't make me Billy-Bad-Ass. I suspect that there are some here who would not resort to this tactic in real life but I also imagine there are others that would.   Kyle Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:01 pm:    For once I have to agree with Ron here. Ofcourse only you know your ability in such matters and like anything else in life shouldnt get in over your head. After all , you might think that light guard thumb screw is little payment to avoid an ass whipping. Doing nothing is kinda just asking for the guy to return and finish the job though. May as well take it off and hand it to him. Doing nothing is also perpetuating this kinda thing happening in the US. WHile I think shooting the guy is a little over the top , I think that him "Tripping" and "Falling" a few times is completely acceptable.. Kyle   Tyrone Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:01 pm:    I would just screw his girlfriend/wife/sister and make him watch!   Carter Simcoe (Carter) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:06 pm:    "I swear officer he just starting saying how sorry he was for messing with my stuff and kept slamming his head into my bumper over and over again, I don't know what came over him"   Matt doc175 Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:21 pm:    Twisted! All of you...I mean us... I mean...shame on you...me...Aw hell, bamboo under his toe nails and a hot poker in his ass! Just thinking out loud again, Sorry.   Kyle Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:25 pm:    Just had a thought , you coulda walked back in the house and got you a nice thick Bible and become a "Bible beater" like the boys down around Greg Davis. Then just plead religious freedom in court... Kyle   Matt doc175 Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:46 pm:    Yah but when you busted his lip and knocked his teeth in the back of his throat with your bible he could say you denied him his freedom of speech   Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:50 pm:    I keep an axe handle readily availible behind the seat of the truck. As for the guys packing heat I had much rather prefer a 12 gauge Mossberg pump with a 24" barrel and a improved cylinder choke, 000 buck shot.   Kyle Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 07:51 pm:    Hmmm , true. I wonder if a "Freedom of speach" wins out over "Religious freedom" ?? Gotta be religion since people are paying so damn much to be "Saved" , we all know money wins out over all... Kyle   Kim S (Roverine) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 08:32 pm:    Somthing like this also happened to me when I was in college (a loooong time ago). It was night, and I was leaving some friends place (a crappy apartment in run down area next to railroad tracks - we were not exactly rich). Luckily for me, one of the guys there walked me down to my car. So as we get closer to my car, my friend, saw it first and stopped me: We see three guys, two of them messing with the louvers(sp?) on the hatch back window. We ducked back around the corner, and he grabbed something like a crowbar. So we shouted out to the guys what did they think they were doing? They got nervous and started mouthing off, and my friend mouthed back and finally told them get the hell out of there. I don't recall everything exactly now, except for he managed to scare them off and we did call the police. We even had the guys' license plate and make of POS car they were using, etc. The police told me later that yes, they were reasonably sure it was the guy(s) whose car plates we got, that this was his basic MO, he was on probation, etc. However, apparently he had an alibi ... SO NOTHING HAPPENED. The cops, DA, etc. just didn't want to waste time with it (BTW, these guys broke my little louver things that were on the hatchback window). That's when I got my first cup of reality about "petty theft" and prosecution in So Cal. If you get the chance, beat the jerk. However, I also agree with Curtis regarding the guy(s) in the 4 Runner ... you never know what you got there. This guy could have also got up and came around with a knife punch, so I guess it's what you think you can reasonably handle. Kim P.S. I wish we could "legally" beat people with bibles around here (or dictionarys, whatever)   Carter Simcoe (Carter) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 09:18 pm:    "Just had a thought , you coulda walked back in the house and got you a nice thick Bible and become a "Bible beater" like the boys down around Greg Davis. Then just plead religious freedom in court..." -Ohhh my god, that is F-ing funny as hell   Dean Chrismon (Chrismonda) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 10:06 pm:    An armed society is a polite society.   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Saturday, December 21, 2002 - 10:26 pm:    Carter, "Well I can't speak for the rest of the board but I have kicked someones ass for over a similar incident and would probablly not hesitate to do it again." You missed my point entirely. Charlie was wondering whether he did the right thing in his situation. I think he did considering that there was an unknown threat in the 4Runner. If you would have gone out and started kicking some guys ass while not making a tactical analysis of your situation then you certainly would not be Billy Bad Ass. You would stand a good chance of getting the name Ass Kicked Dumb Ass, or Full of Holes Dead Ass...something along those lines. In that scenario I would gave grabbed my weapon first, confronted him while placing him between me and the 4Runner, and gave him the option to leave while letting him know what is waiting if he comes back. Call the cops? Maybe - depends. Kick his ass? Nope - it would distract me from the 4Runner. Now - situation changes and when I bust the guy, the 4Runner leaves. Well, that might be a little different Curtis   Matt doc175 Posted on Sunday, December 22, 2002 - 03:02 pm:    Kyle, I know a lot of rich dentists out there as well, so????? Maybe if you beat him black and blue he could claim it as a racial thing??? Dean, well said my man!!!!!! Charlie, what ever you did was the best thing for you. None of us was there to deal with that particular situation. We are all just venting and giving out $00.02   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 12:58 am:    Curtis, in answer to your first question: yes. But if you think I'd blindly walk up to someone and assume I can be billy bad ass you're mistaken. If you think I'd hide somewhere safe and watch him fuck with my property, you're also mistaken. If you think I'd bother the police with something as trivial as stolen screws, you're mistaken. If you think I'd rely on the police to ride to my rescue, you're mistaken. If you think I'd even dream of pulling a gun on someone vandalizing my truck you're very mistaken. All these hypotheticals are just bullshit anyway. But thanks for watching out for me, I feel a real hallmark moment coming on. by the way, it's 40 S&W.   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 02:20 am:    Blue, If the answer to my first question is yes then you must live a very dangerous life. I admire the claim that you have taken down a bunch of thieves, and gather that you can vouch for the validity of specific actions in tactical situations. That is cool. As I said before, I am not an expert tactical advisor so it is good to know we have a few on board Do not assume I have spent any time thinking about what you would do in this situation. My comments were not directed just at you , but instead at the general attitude that resorting to a violent solution in this matter is a good thing. Your comments seem to support this, and I was simply refuting them. Don't take it personally. Good to see you have good tase in machinery. Curtis   ken knebusch (Charlotterover) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 07:00 am:    Charlie, I would have taken a few of my zip ties out of my driver's side door pocket and fastened him to that brush bar he was so interested in. Called the cops and let the guys in the 4Runner know I was calling.   Gregg Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 09:09 am:    I would give him a John Lee flaming on why stealing is wrong and exactly what screws are best and how they are so much better because they cost $400.00 per screw and are made by the same special elves that make HK hand guns and Rolex watches.   Charlie Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:45 am:    Thanks for your responses. The thing about it was that at the time, my back was facing to the 4 runner, which was about 8 cars away, still running. With 6 years of Judo training, I knew I could take this guy down, maybe plus one more. But I couldn't see behind me and didn't know if I can deal with any weapon. About calling the police, Even I could retain that guy, I was sure the cops couldn't do anything because of the fact that I only saw the guy turning the screw clockwise and I did not lose anything. The reason I posted it is that I regret I didn't do anything, although I still don't know what I could have done realistically. ---Charlie   Ron Ward (Ronward) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 01:37 pm:    Charlie, I stumbled onto a dude stealing the radio out of my girlfriend's Honda back in college while the car was parked at the university library. Kicked his ass pretty badly, took his student ID and drivers license and left him on the curb. Pretty shitty thing to do but it was 12 years ago when I was 21. But just this Saturday I spent the whole day driving across the state of Georgia to deliver Christmas gifts, a tree, a couch, TV, dishes, bunkbeds and mattresses for a poor family with 6 kids who's house burned down about 4 weeks ago. You think my Karma account is near even now? Ron Ward   charlie Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 05:42 pm:    Ron, your karma account should run in surplus now. Happy holiday! ---Charlie   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 07:58 pm:    Curtis, nothing dangerous at all. ALso nothing expert. Just an ordinary guy trying to make ends meet. Now my old man, he's the tactical expert... Have you seen those new holiday hallmark commercials? One actually brought a tear to my eye - that's how much of a billy bad ass I am. I just stand firm on my beliefs and don't back down unless I have to. Letting some punk mess with you or others and not teaching them a lesson is just an invitation to have them repeat.   Foxy Cleopatra Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 08:23 pm:    Bluegill you so sexy!!!   KJ Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 08:50 pm:    Blue, come clean. Which commercial was it? Karen   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:41 pm:    sexy? thanks roberto   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 02:35 am:    Blue - I think we are talking the same language in slightly different contexts. I must now focus on getting Santas gifts in order. Curtis   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 02:33 pm:    I think I know right where you're comin from Curtis, and it's probably the same angle I'm comin from as well. Merry Christmas   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Wednesday, December 25, 2002 - 12:55 am:    Thanks Blue and Merry Christmas to you as well.