truck was broken in to

[apwillard1986]

God Bless Texas! You mess with someone’s truck here you take your life into your own hands. It's like messing with someone’s girl… I wish I would have walked out of that store sooner to catch the jerk that ripped the handle off of my new truck…

When my parents where first married my mom pulled a gun on a burglar and he ran away. The cops told her she should have shot him anyways… save them tracking him down.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Antiqueshell: I agree with everything you just said! That is exactly right and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way


+1 ... I'm for that.

Maybe time to go open carry.

It is one thing to say this kind of stuff if your life was truly in danger. Absolutely.

But "principle" is fairly worthless when in the end the cons outweigh the pros. To shoot and kill someone with a rifle from your back door because they are in your car on principle is a bit extreme. Why? Not because the principle is wrong or faulty, but because the presence of a fatal shooting on your record, and all the legal stuff that is associated with getting out from the situation (maybe Im wrong but IIRC, if you shoot and kill someone, anyplace, your guns are confiscated and you still are arrested), will cost enough that there is no ROI.

I know this isnt the answer that many want to hear, but for a situation like this, Ill bet the legal fees are higher than the value of the stolen goods. So you are inflicting a lot of time and money to prove principle to someone who isnt worth teaching.

 

[apwillard1986]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Antiqueshell: I agree with everything you just said! That is exactly right and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way


+1 ... I'm for that.

Maybe time to go open carry.

It is one thing to say this kind of stuff if your life was truly in danger. Absolutely.

But "principle" is fairly worthless when in the end the cons outweigh the pros. To shoot and kill someone with a rifle from your back door because they are in your car on principle is a bit extreme. Why? Not because the principle is wrong or faulty, but because the presence of a fatal shooting on your record, and all the legal stuff that is associated with getting out from the situation (maybe Im wrong but IIRC, if you shoot and kill someone, anyplace, your guns are confiscated and you still are arrested), will cost enough that there is no ROI.

I know this isnt the answer that many want to hear, but for a situation like this, Ill bet the legal fees are higher than the value of the stolen goods. So you are inflicting a lot of time and money to prove principle to someone who isnt worth teaching.


I'm with antiqueshell. I understand and I agree with the points in your posts as well. Despite my general distaste for the public at large I do believe people are generally good. That said I would take the risk on principle. In defense of my family and my home; in a heartbeat!

It may seem cold or “backward” but I truly believe all it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. Good people nowadays, on the whole, do nothing. The trash of our society counts on this apathy. Debate can rage as to what is and is not a good deterrent and I certainly don’t wish to start that debate. Few would argue that consequences are not a deterrent they just argue what those consequences should be. No one argues that a lack of consequences is a deterrent yet most crime goes unpunished. I am not advocating vigilantism by any stretch and I don’t walk around looking for justice to dispense. I am just saying that if you attempt to harm my home or my family and I have the legal right and the ability to defend them I will. I pray I am never in that position and grateful that I have never been.

I read further up some said that rights don’t favor the victim. I can surely understand that point as well however, I feel that it is less that the victims don’t have rights and more that victims are less likely to exercise their rights.

I think it is also important to point out that sometimes after we are wronged it feels good to get with other good folks and talk about what we would like to do if we could get a hold of those that wronged us. It doesn’t mean we will/would. It’s just a release.

 

[Dakota1820]

^^ unfortunately that's true. The law is in the wrong side.

 

[dave1251]

I was just going to sit back at let this "discussion" play it self out. But against better judgement I will throw my pennies into here. Although it seems Macho and Cool to kill someone even in a "justified" sense, and if you have ever read my posts if someone is stealing your belongings, I am for you doing everything that is possible to not allow that to happen. But to go around firing off rounds like the scum stealing your stereo is a horse thief and dispensing "street justice" in a parking lot is not the way to go. Even with the best training, discipline, some of the best weapons, and body armor if I am confronting armed individual the best odds that I can come out of the situation is a 50/50 chance of not coming out of the situation not maimed or killed. All it takes is one lucky shot or circumstance and thief has the upper hand at you are at their Mercy. Not to mention with the adrenaline pumping and factor in that you are in a public place one misplaced shot or ricochet and someone totally innocent in the whole matter could be maimed or killed. Is this worth a car stereo? Now if this your home, you are witnessing a serious crime in progress, or if you about to get into your pickup and go to the store to buy a gallon of milk and this whole thing is playing out. Do whatever you need to do at the moment to defend yourself and others, that is a right and responsibility the I believe all of us were born with. Just do not go around looking for trouble if that is not your job because if you do and no matter how well meaning you intentions are chances are you are not going to come out of the situation in any better circumstances than you are currently in and it is probable that you will end up worse. In the end although you worked hard for your belongings they are not work your or an innocent bystanders life. I would just make my pickup a little harder of a target and move on. Thieves are going to pick the opportunity that allows them to steal something with the most value with the least amount of effort and are not going to go "Oceans Eleven" for a car stereo.

BTW I feel sorry for loss and sense of security but stealing is not new.

 

[JHZR2]

Well said, Dave. I agree 100%.

 

[dave1251]

Thank you.

 

[Dakota1820]

I would never go looking for trouble all I'm saying is if someone is stealing my stuff and I see them I would shoot them. The trouble is my apt faces the woods and the parking lot isn't lit or easily seen either.honestly though I'm sure the thief was a teen chances are if you cornered them with a gun they would be so scared and I could just detain them till the cops came. My worry is if its someone needing drug money or something are they eventually going to break in my house ? You never know. I grew up in the sticks and never locked anything and never needed to and out here a small town you have to sink it in concrete and nail it to the ground to keep it from walking off. A while back my oreillys had there delivery van stolen the guy left the van running while he delivered the parts .came out and it was gone. Never was found either not that our cops try real hard.

 

[dave1251]

If you are in fear on what will happen next. Spend a little extra but do not go overboard to make your pickup a little harder to break into. Talk to the property manager on what you are allowed to do to your apartment to add more security to have more deterrence's so you and your neighbors are not soft targets, keep your windows and doors locked keep your apartment well lit. Finally the best thing you can do and I am speaking from experience talk and get to know your "winners" neighbors you will find out who are the ones that are like you and work hard for their modest living and are fed up just like you on the [censored] that is happening in your apartments, you will also find out the majority of your neighbors are like you and do not want scum stealing their stuff either come to an understanding if you see a crime in progress against their propriety you are calling 911 and if they are witness a crime against your property they will call 911. If you and a silent minority are proactive in setting up passive defenses it will lead to less and less problems. As for the police that you feel are not being proactive in your case or in your community pick up the phone and call the Sergent on duty and calmly as you can explain the situation with him/her and ask what can be done. After that it is up to you what you can do or what you do to help the situation. But if someone is entering or in your house, your life or someone Else's life is in danger the best thing you can do is act, if that means that you have to use deadly force it is your right and I do not blame you or anyone using it.

 

[JHZR2]

The winning posts just keep coming - another great one!

IMO also if the apartment is unsafe, the area is unsafe, and everyone doesnt really care, then Id start looking for a new place to go live. One thing if it is a truck stereo, another thing if it is wife and child getting held up. Not good.

Id absolutely at minimum take it up with the management of the apartment complex and explain how the lack of lighting is causing a publiuc safety nuissance. Just make the case based upon standard, well understood suggestions for how to deter theft... Stuff like lighting, visibility, etc. being against the woods is what it is, but if it is poorly lit, that is another issue.

Do you ever have police just roll through? You might ask the chief about this for your area if you are not the only victim.

 

[Dakota1820]

I asked my landlord if we could out some security lights up on the building to keep the driveway lit and I told him I'd pay half and he wouldn't even go for that. He is basically a slum lord. He also doesn't want us putting up any security systems. he is crazy lol. That's why I can't wait to move out. My next door neighbor is cool the guy upstairs smokes pot all day and blares back street boys. And the neighbor on the other side is middle eastern and doesn't speak English. . Yea its an interesting place to say the least lol.

 

[Dakota1820]

I've asked the police to roll through and keep an eye out . They said it would cost to much money to have an officer patrol this area since its county and no one is out here from county I guess. My landlord is useless. Last winter we had ice sickles on the inside of the windows a lot of them and we asked if he could fix it. He gave us a rigged up dehumidifier. So i fixed the windows. The worst part of it all is Washington is the best town around. I'd like to move but i couldn't go to far since my job and school and everything is here.

 

[dave1251]

If this is the case, and I rarely make this suggestion talk to a lawyer in your area, send a notarized letter to the "slum" lord and have CC copy sent to you and your lawyer explaining your situation and that his complex is not reasonably safe and despite your suggestions on improving security nothing that you suggested has been done. If nothing is done after you sent him your notarized letter contact your lawyer and proceed to the next step to take your "slum" lord to civil court. It is the responsibility for the land lord to make the living complex reasonably safe by putting up security gates, having ample security lighting in the parking lots and the apartment complex. and if there is a lot of crime in the area he has not lived up to his responsibilities. As while this is happening it may be a good idea to move.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Antiqueshell: I agree with everything you just said! That is exactly right and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way


+1 ... I'm for that.

Maybe time to go open carry.

It is one thing to say this kind of stuff if your life was truly in danger. Absolutely.


Living in a country and society that allows me to defend myself and my property by law, I'm therefore always prepared to take appropriate actions if required. This is part of the freedoms we have in this country. If someone wants to sit back and watch people steal their property or come into their home and do whatever to them ... well, I guess that's their freedom to chose so. There have been many instances of home evasions lately (almost hear it daily on the news these days), and in most cases the invaders are shot with no charges pressed against the homeowner. There are also cases of home evasions were the homeowner was killed because they didn't defend themselves. I'll take the freedom of making the decision to defend at whatever level is appropriate if that's what needs to be done.

 

[bigmike]

To the OP,
That's nothing. I was CHASING the perp that broke into my truck and the police told me to stop chasing him and they'll do the report over the phone. I guess catching the guy was just too difficult or too menial of a task when given turn by turn directions as to where the guy was going.

 

[Dakota1820]

That's crazy. Our country and are freedoms are changing . All these anti gun people . What you said was spot on we have a right in America to defend our selves. Its sad that some people don't see it that way . I'm going to the pawn shops today maybe I'll find my stereo lol. Darn punk kids!!

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
That's crazy. Our country and are freedoms are changing . All these anti gun people . What you said was spot on we have a right in America to defend our selves. Its sad that some people don't see it that way . I'm going to the pawn shops today maybe I'll find my stereo lol. Darn punk kids!!


Glad to see you are noticing the bigger picture.

 

[Dakota1820]

I just hope it doesn't happen again and I hope I can move out in the next few months

 

[expat]

I just want to applaud Dave for his last few posts. Right on!

In 20 years, Cb what will that Stereo mean to you?

This has been one of those episodes where you can 'put it down to experience' or stand a good chance of 'messing up' your life.

We might advise others to Stand up for What's right, and not be a 'Sheeple' (to use a popular term here)
But if you take a moment to weigh the Pro's and Con's, principals aside, it's often better to Move on, or in your case Move out.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Antiqueshell: I agree with everything you just said! That is exactly right and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way


+1 ... I'm for that.

Maybe time to go open carry.

It is one thing to say this kind of stuff if your life was truly in danger. Absolutely.


Living in a country and society that allows me to defend myself and my property by law, I'm therefore always prepared to take appropriate actions if required. This is part of the freedoms we have in this country. If someone wants to sit back and watch people steal their property or come into their home and do whatever to them ... well, I guess that's their freedom to chose so. There have been many instances of home evasions lately (almost hear it daily on the news these days), and in most cases the invaders are shot with no charges pressed against the homeowner. There are also cases of home evasions were the homeowner was killed because they didn't defend themselves. I'll take the freedom of making the decision to defend at whatever level is appropriate if that's what needs to be done.


Let's remember that we are talking about shooting someone across a parking lot for stealing a stereo. Big difference, IMO. Does it suck to loose something you worked for? Absolutely.

But do you have a strong case because you were trying to teach a lesson by protecting your nearly-worthless (used stereo isnt your wife's engagement ring) stuff? A little different, IMO.