Something to think about (Not Duck Related)

LI-Jack

LI-Jack

Active member
This past sunday, I was coming home from church with my two boys in the truck. My oldest son was in the passenger seat and my youngest was in the back seat behind me. I was stopped at a red light with a van in front of me waiting for the green. I'm looking out the driver side window when my front passenger side door opens up. I turn to see why my son opened the door and I see a young man standing there with half his body in my truck. He was asking me for some direction, but I can see he's looking for something else. I wait for the green light but had to wait for the van to move along, then gunned the gas, which closed the door.

Now I'm 6' 2" 240 plus pounds, and this all happened within 30 seconds. I think this guy (and his friend) were looking to snatch and grab what ever was loose in my truck. They probably didn't see my son in the passenger side and was shocked when they opened his door. Nothing happened, thank god, but the hair on the back of my neck was peaked.

My truck doesn't have the auto locks when you start to drive so I'll have to get into the habit to drive with locked doors.

I'm sharing my incident with you so that in case you or your family members drive with unlocked doors, that maybe you think differently from this event. It's the holiday season, and the a-holes are in need for some quick cash. I know that times are tough, but it just pisses me off when someone takes (or in this case tries) to take advantage of me.

Thank god, it all worked out for my boys and me. It just left me feeling like I left my pants down for a moment.

-Regards,
Jack
 
They were looking for a GPS or power tools laying out and easy to grab and easy to get cash or drugs for...things are getting bad but the unemployment level isn't helping any....glad to hear you and your boys weren't injured could have been a lot worse...chalk it up as an unfortunate learning experience....Dave
 
Ditto what Dutch said.
I always tell my wife to leave enough room behind the car in front to go around.
 
CCI and other shell manufacturers make rat shot in pistol rounds...Depending on how fast they are you may have to lead them a step or two as you shoot for the legs...

My granddad, God Bless his Soul, had granular salt loaded in a few rounds on his shotgun...

It is a sad day to say you have to resort to that type of action, but we live in that type of society no matter how much we would like to believe that doesn't happen to "ME" or "MY NEIGHBORHOOD"...Please be prepared next time, just don't end up in the head lines...Make the court date to speak with the judge...It is wonderful to be nice and polite to people but sometimes people aren't wired for nice and polite...

Sorry to hear that ever happened to you...

Regards,

Kristan
 
They were looking for a GPS or power tools laying out and easy to grab and easy to get cash or drugs for...things are getting bad but the unemployment level isn't helping any....glad to hear you and your boys weren't injured could have been a lot worse...chalk it up as an unfortunate learning experience....Dave
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That's what I was thinking too. I count my blessings, but my weak link was my kids. Caught unprepared for a "what if" scenario, but if I didn't have my kids in the truck, I'm 95% positive that I'd have cut the wheel to the left and backed up, put it in foward and felt the new speed bump.

Sam's suggestion of leaving a few feet is good practice also. Sucks the good guys need to be on alert all the time.

Salt, snake shot, -- no reaction time for that, even drawing a handgun ( well maybe ). Now for home protection-- a loud dog, and 00 buck hands down.
 
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That would work.

The only thing that sucks in my area, is I'd have to be going too or coming from a shooting range.
 
I have been teaching this to my daughter ever since she was big enough to sit in the front seat. I point out situations that are not "right" while driving around town. She has seen hookers, and winos, and beggers all the time. She locks her own door on my old Toyota. The only issue is that it has to be pulled up to unlock since it won't open while locked.

We do not have car jackings up here, but we do have thefts from parked cars and "walk-about" robberies at office buildings. There are a few pervs that try to grab kids off the streets, but are not successful.

As for shooting someone. If you are in danger or a third part is in danger then go ahead, but know your laws first. Being in NY you may not be allowed to do much but call 911. However, shooting while sitting in a vehicle is very hard to do. Also consider that if the target is across the vehicle your muzzle blast will blind or deafen your sons. It is best to just drive away, and if you injure the perp make sure to call 911 and report the hit and run and tell dispatch where the cops can find you so that you don't become a felon.

What Kristan recommended will make you a felon in most states. Alaska has pretty liberal self defense laws, but if they are running away and are no longer a threat to my life and I shoot them I am now a criminal and they are the victim.
 
If anybody asks, you were! I bet the rule doesn't say how far away range has t be or how many days it takes for you to be in and around in transit. Whatever works! Again, glad you guys are OK.
 
Jack,
Very good points. For years now, when I get in the truck, the doors get locked. I haven't had a problem but then again...........I'm prepared for it also.

Another thought, along the same lines, relates to being at home. When the doorbell rings and you open the door, what's happened around our area is that the crook opens the screen/storm door before you can stop him and he's in the house and you've no defense. We keep our storm/screen door locked. Now, it won't stop a crook but it gives you that couple seconds to slam the door and protect yourself.

When I'm out of the house, my wife locks the door to prevent somebody entering unannounced/unwanted.
When we have only one of us in the shop..........the door is locked....at least when it's dark out....evenings or winter.
When I'm leaving the shop, I'm also very aware of anything/everything around me as that's a vulnerable time.
Just some precautions.
Lou
 
Jack, Sorry to hear about your brush with those "dirtbags' Just curious,What area of NY were you in when it happened?
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I live in Brookhaven township. I was just getting back from Church. But I never thought to lock my doors while driving out here in Suffolk. I lock them when I'm not in the truck. Now, my wife who was born and raised in the Bronx, has got the right to say "I told you so". She locks the car doors constantly, even when I get out to pump gas.
 
Jack,
Very good points. For years now, when I get in the truck, the doors get locked. I haven't had a problem but then again...........I'm prepared for it also.

Another thought, along the same lines, relates to being at home. When the doorbell rings and you open the door, what's happened around our area is that the crook opens the screen/storm door before you can stop him and he's in the house and you've no defense. We keep our storm/screen door locked. Now, it won't stop a crook but it gives you that couple seconds to slam the door and protect yourself.

When I'm out of the house, my wife locks the door to prevent somebody entering unannounced/unwanted.
When we have only one of us in the shop..........the door is locked....at least when it's dark out....evenings or winter.
When I'm leaving the shop, I'm also very aware of anything/everything around me as that's a vulnerable time.
Just some precautions.
Lou
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Leason was learned. I lock the screen doors also. I'm not the paranoid type, that'll keep a loaded shotgun ready-- but somedays it makes me think I should. I've never had any problems in over 35 yrs of living in this area, but times have changed. I brought home my dog for the reason of the break ins that a gang of punks were causing. The uneasy feeling of a loud dog barking seems to alert me and the person at or near the house.

I'll heed precautions, thanks.

-Jack
 
I have been teaching this to my daughter ever since she was big enough to sit in the front seat. I point out situations that are not "right" while driving around town. She has seen hookers, and winos, and beggers all the time. She locks her own door on my old Toyota. The only issue is that it has to be pulled up to unlock since it won't open while locked.

We do not have car jackings up here, but we do have thefts from parked cars and "walk-about" robberies at office buildings. There are a few pervs that try to grab kids off the streets, but are not successful.

As for shooting someone. If you are in danger or a third part is in danger then go ahead, but know your laws first. Being in NY you may not be allowed to do much but call 911. However, shooting while sitting in a vehicle is very hard to do. Also consider that if the target is across the vehicle your muzzle blast will blind or deafen your sons. It is best to just drive away, and if you injure the perp make sure to call 911 and report the hit and run and tell dispatch where the cops can find you so that you don't become a felon.

What Kristan recommended will make you a felon in most states. Alaska has pretty liberal self defense laws, but if they are running away and are no longer a threat to my life and I shoot them I am now a criminal and they are the victim.
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Not planning to shoot someone, but the thought does cross my mind when someone puts me in a rock and a hard place. My kids were what I was thinking of when I gunned the gas. I reported the incident to the police as a non-emergency after I got home, this way if someone has the same thing happend to them I could Identify the punk if they catch them. I did ask the officer if I had run him over would I've been charged, and he wasn't sure if I would be charged under the circumstances that I was in fear of my kids saftey or my own.
 
Jack,
I told you a 4 "D" cell maglite under each front seat work great. Just small enough to swing in the truck and heavy enough to leave a nice egg if not knock out the guy.
Just glad nobody was hurt.

Joe
 
Had a similar situation getting gas here one day. A drunk guy wanted in the truck with me after I was full and he got the door unlatched. I leaned into the door right away as hard as I could and knocked him down. I got on my feet first and all the fight was out of him so I helped him up. I don't think he had thought his cunning plan all the way through. It freaked the heck out of Meg. I would have pummeled him if he wanted to go that route. When I was in university I worked part time as a bylaw guy, and a bouncer at two different bars. I'm not a tough guy by any means, but at least it gave some confidence having been in a scrap or four. Just be sure the dude never played junior hockey and you'll be fine. If you think he did, cheat.

We've got the old "knock on the door and pretend to be drunk" routine going on it town this fall. Me and Jenny have been practicing - she barks like crazy at EVERYONE who knocks on the door, and I keep my baseball bat handy.

She's a crazy world I tell ya.

Mike
 
From LI also. Not far from Jack. Last weekend the dirtbags broke into my truck and stole my son's 20ga 870 and my hunting bag. Some of the calls I had for 15yrs. The gun was on loan from his godfather, the man who got me into duckin. Many other cars were hit that night. Lock your stuff up. Good Thanksgiving to all, Kevin
 
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