Armed robbery at 2:00 AM after Mall shopping

[cltyus1]

I need to move to Texas

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[Kinetic]

Instead, put more effort into avoiding being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I personally avoid dark parking lots at 2am in any city. Just because you're armed and have a permit, doesn't make these sketchy areas any less sketchy. Also, having a gun in a situation like this might actually get you killed.

[OldLincoln]

Nah, don't shoot. Just push the remote button that sets off the car bomb and claim Al Quida did it!

[Carcw9]

If the victim had a concealed permit and his gun on him, then he had ample time to used it before they drove away in his car. He could have shot the perp with the gun (with his own gun) before they drove off and claimed fear of his life, and would have justified. IMO.

How many out there would feel confident about pulling your weapon. While you have already seen that the perp has his out.

[Bawanna]

Instead, put more effort into avoiding being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I personally avoid dark parking lots at 2am in any city. Just because you're armed and have a permit, doesn't make these sketchy areas any less sketchy. Also, having a gun in a situation like this might actually get you killed.

I got this fine until the last line, then I was lost.

[getsome]

There's been a a couple things already mentioned that will lower your chances of getting held up like don't go shopping at 2:00 am and park a long way from the store....Another is situational awareness, look around when you leave the door and keep your head on a swivel the whole time....Don't have your hands full and use a shopping cart if possible....If you are with your wife or someone else have them stay in the store with the packages while the armed person goes for the car and pick them up at the curb where there is more light and people present...

Think like a criminal and about what you would do if you were going to rob somebody... I see people all the time come out of a store playing with their phones with no clue where they are going and who might be waiting for them....Don't hit your auto unlock key fob until you get to your car because if you do it from far away it automatically tells the bad guys where you are going and gives them time to set up and surprise you....

I pocket carry my pistol and keep my hand on my gun until I get my truck unlocked then walk around and look under it and all around the immediate area before loading packages and if I see anyone walking towards me even if they are dressed nice I will wait until they are a distance away before taking my eyes off them....

If someone does walk up on you think like a cop and watch their hands... They will likely keep their weapon hidden until the last minute and if things start looking funny I have pulled my pistol and kept it next to my leg until they went away and the danger passed and I once had a bum come up to me asking for money and when he saw me put my pistol back in my pocket he decided he didn't need my money so bad after all...

These are crazy dangerous times.....If the BG does get the drop on you then give it up, it aint worth dying for no matter what it is and if they do manage to get away let the cops handle it, they're better at it and there's more of them....Pay attention and stay safe to shop again another day and NO present is worth risking your life or literally to die for!!!

[Longitude Zero]

Thanks Allen for bringing this up so I can pontificate. What to do so we can all learn by this--esp at this time of year. I seldom will allow both my hands full if I am walking to the car with my wife. Alone is different. Situational awareness. I always have my strong side free in case I have to go for my protection. If there is so much stuff that I we have to carry, then I leave my wife with the stuff at the front of the store and I pull the car up.

Precisely. Once the threat presented itself you may fire until the threat is eliminated or flees. I live in the city where this occurred so I have a unique and unqualified understanding.


This mall has known for years they have a severe crime problem. At last count several brutal rapes have occurred in the parking garage and untold numbers of violent crimes. The mall GM was told 5 years ago to put in a camera system, and hire security or better yet off-duty uniformed officers. She and the mall were and still are too cheap to provide proper security. Wherever you go ALWAYS have a plan and an E&E. In generally if no weapon is presented just go along to survive. With my training and experience once a weapon is presented, especially a firearm it will get very loud very quickly. It would not be my first rodeo.

[JERRY]

closing the barn door after horse ran out doesn't make sense. neither does shooting at your own car when all the criminal has is it and Christmas presents.

pay attention to your surroundings, that is the first clue.

of all the people coming and going at that time, in that location, why do you think the criminals targeted this particular couple?

[sas PM9]

There's been a a couple things already mentioned that will lower your chances of getting held up like don't go shopping at 2:00 am and park a long way from the store....Another is situational awareness, look around when you leave the door and keep your head on a swivel the whole time....Don't have your hands full and use a shopping cart if possible....If you are with your wife or someone else have them stay in the store with the packages while the armed person goes for the car and pick them up at the curb where there is more light and people present...

Think like a criminal and about what you would do if you were going to rob somebody... I see people all the time come out of a store playing with their phones with no clue where they are going and who might be waiting for them....Don't hit your auto unlock key fob until you get to your car because if you do it from far away it automatically tells the bad guys where you are going and gives them time to set up and surprise you....

I pocket carry my pistol and keep my hand on my gun until I get my truck unlocked then walk around and look under it and all around the immediate area before loading packages and if I see anyone walking towards me even if they are dressed nice I will wait until they are a distance away before taking my eyes off them....

If someone does walk up on you think like a cop and watch their hands... They will likely keep their weapon hidden until the last minute and if things start looking funny I have pulled my pistol and kept it next to my leg until they went away and the danger passed and I once had a bum come up to me asking for money and when he saw me put my pistol back in my pocket he decided he didn't need my money so bad after all...

These are crazy dangerous times.....If the BG does get the drop on you then give it up, it aint worth dying for no matter what it is and if they do manage to get away let the cops handle it, they're better at it and there's more of them....Pay attention and stay safe to shop again another day and NO present is worth risking your life or literally to die for!!!

GS:

Thank you for your enlightening post.
I agree with your talking points but I have a questioning thought.

In the parking lot scenario, someone is approaching and your antenna are screaming, you pull your pistol and have it down alongside your leg. . . where does the line between having your pistol at the "low ready" position and "branishing" get crossed?

I.E. at what point are you now in the position of being in trouble with the law?

-steve

[knkali]

The line is fine........

[Bawanna]

Agreed, the line is fine, with the gun down by your leg your not threatening, not pointing it etc.

Brandishing is a really crappy law, so open to interpretation.

Some consider printing thru your shirt brandishing. BH Bull Hockey!

If the bad guys mind changes and they reverse course, mission accomplished. If it turns out it's not a bad guy and they call, you express your fears and advise of potential danger signals and if your lucky and get a good officer you'll be on your way in no time.

[Bawanna]

I think far too many people, police officers included, and maybe especially police officers are too slow to take appropriate action for fear of not being PC.

Good guy versus bad guy, the good guy is already behind the curve. He doesn't know the game plan. Gun in hand is the fastest route to the face shot every time.

If it's a false alarm, great, my bad, lets move on.

[RRP]

Good guy versus bad guy, the good guy is already behind the curve. He doesn't know the game plan. Gun in hand is the fastest route to the face shot every time.

Pocket carry can be advantageous in this scenario. You can have a grip on your pistol/revolver and be ready to draw, if needed. No one sees the gun, so you avoid any chances of criminal threatening or brandishing charges, if the situation is a false alarm.

[getsome]

It is a fine line and I've only pulled my pistol once to hold it out of sight behind my leg which ended up with a bum walking rapidly away....If I had felt strongly enough to point it at him then he would have already been shot....

It's a fine line but it's also a dangerous world out there and I'm going to err on the side of caution and explain it later if need be....

[JERRY]

make a distinct movement, see if the "suspect" does the same. take action at that point, lets presume you're paying attention in the first place.