Wife robbed at gunpoint today- HEB in Friendswood

[witchdoctor575]

wow.... that is just up the road from me. glad everything is ok. I am sending my wifes packet up to austin friday for her chl.

[Yankee Girl]

I saw this on the Friendswood PD's e-mail this afternoon! I'm so sorry your wife was robbed, but delighted that she's okay.

This is not the first time a crime has occurred in that parking lot, but the history of BG goes back before any crimes were actually committed - there were young thugs harassing people in the parking lot as far back as three-four years ago. I know the guy who used to be the manager and he was very upset, but there wasn't a lot he was authorized to do other than keep some of his older, bigger male help out in the parking lot.

I guess it's because the lot has multiple exits including two main roads? Whatever the reason, yes, crime is coming to the "nicer" parts of Friendswood. I shop at HEB all the time and am often there late, picking up the last-minute somethings for the next day. Can't wait for my plastic to show up ...

[seamusTX]

The 56-year-old woman managed to grab a pistol from her car. When she pointed it at the attacker, he ran away and jumped into a waiting vehicle.

The woman fired several shots as the driver sped away.

This woman, while she commendably took her safety into her own hands where it belongs, skirted the edge of legality and may have jumped over the edge.

If roscoe makes the bad guy hear his momma call, it's all over. Pack it up and call 911.

I hope this woman gets in touch with El Gato and gets some instruction.

I have been to that Wal-Mart. It is a pit. I didn't lose anything there that I would go back for.

- Jim

[ELB]

Technically I think you are right. Of course first reports are often wrong, and the bang-bang-bang may have been what started BG's retreat, and either way, she became "invested in the moment."

Glad she is ok.

[seamusTX]

It appears she was not investigated for aggravated assault or deadly conduct, and I hope the bad guy and his driver had to throw their formerly tidy whities into the nearest dumpster.

- Jim

[glbedd53]

If you had said HEB in Alvin it would not have suprised me. But Friendswood?

[mrvmax]

The Police told us they think these are the same people from Lamarque. I will write up what happened so everyone can learn, most of it we already know. Thanks for the offer Mr. Cotton, but my wife chooses not to carry and still sticks to that, a fact that I have accepted. I always carry, and this enforces my belief. I will write up what happened and get it posted in the next 30 or so minutes. Like I said, I want everyone to learn from a few mistakes that were made.

[ELB]

Reading about some parking lot stickups in this forum really got my attention a couple years ago, and since then I have made it a point to scan the area when I am about to load my truck after coming out of HEB or Walmart (in particular) and anywhere else for that matter. I always hate having to deal with a cart in the parking lot and used to carry everything if at all possible, but now I tend to use the cart more so I have my hands freer, and something to put between me and whoever. I just try to park close to the cart collection point (people who leave their carts to wander parking lot on their own really aggravate me. )

Will look forward to the details and glad she is OK.

[mrvmax]

I'm going to leave out a lot of details for now. I'm not sure if it is too wise giving all the details on the web just yet. Maybe Mr. Cotton or some of the other attorneys here could tell me whether it makes sense to describe it all here while they are still trying to catch these guys. Here is what I can tell now:
Here are some mistakes:
1. I set up my wife as a target. We bought a new truck, it still had dealer plates. She was driving it today. This may have made her a possible victim since she would appear to possibly have money. The bg's saw her drive up and waited 45 minutes for her to come out.
2. Her instincts told her something was not right, a vehicle with people in it was parked right next to her. She always avoids situations like this.She ignored her instincts.
3. She turned her back to something that didn't seem right. When she turned back around there was a man with a gun closing in on her.
4. She let herself be boxed in with no way to go. The way she was parked and the bg's parked she had no where to go.
5. She did not have a gun. My wife chooses not to carry, and still sticks by that. I do not like it but I respect her choice.
6. It was raining and she was in a hurry and let her guard down.
7. My wife tends to look away from people, I think this makes her appear to be timid and a possible target.
Here are some things that went well:
1. She carries very little cash on her.
2. She does not carry her social security card in her purse.
3. She does not carry a checkbook in her purse.
4. She offered both her purse and the vehicle to try and diffuse the situation. Remember, there was no place to run, she had to face the guy and try to get out of it.
5. She only had one key on her, no garage remotes either.
6. She never got shot.

My wife had something similar happen about 9 years ago, I may have posted details here before, I cannot remember. Since that assault it made my family more aware, we act different and try to stay alert. I thought the changes we made would help avoid this. I tried to instill situational awareness in my wife and daughter (as well as in me). It reminds me to always be aware and never let your guard down. Although I am a Christian, I have no problem defending my family with my firearm to ensure their safety. Remember people, just when you think it will not happen, it does. Warn your wives, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers etc. Also, watch out for others, these guys were cruising the parking lot waiting for a victim. It could be your family next time. Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement and prayers, we appreciate it.

[ChattyKat]

Wow, that's horrifying. My heart goes out to you both for having endured such trauma. Your post is a word to the wise for us, including my grown son and daughter-in-law live not far from there. I will warn them. Thank you for sharing this information.

-Kat

[rdcrags]

Folk, when you or your wife (we) are loading groceries into our cars, we are virtually defenseless, regardless of how many guns we have around our waists, ankles and/or necks. Think about it...

Not me, Oldgringo. I do most of the grocery shopping these days, and I am always ready to drop whatever is in my hands if threatened. I run it through my mind while walkng to the car. Actually, I really also look for cars that can run me down. On foot or driving, a parking lot is a dangerous place to be, in my view.

TX CHL 1997
CO CHP 2005

[Oldgringo]

Folk, when you or your wife (we) are loading groceries into our cars, we are virtually defenseless, regardless of how many guns we have around our waists, ankles and/or necks. Think about it...

Not me, Oldgringo. I do most of the grocery shopping these days, and I am always ready to drop whatever is in my hands if threatened. I run it through my mind while walkng to the car. Actually, I really also look for cars that can run me down. On foot or driving, a parking lot is a dangerous place to be, in my view.

TX CHL 1997
CO CHP 2005

Good! You have thought about it.

Everybody take a minute, close your eyes and think about your last shopping trip: especially, the part about loading your goodies into your vehicle. Who was around and/or next to you...?

[baldeagle]

The Police told us they think these are the same people from Lamarque. I will write up what happened so everyone can learn, most of it we already know. Thanks for the offer Mr. Cotton, but my wife chooses not to carry and still sticks to that, a fact that I have accepted. I always carry, and this enforces my belief. I will write up what happened and get it posted in the next 30 or so minutes. Like I said, I want everyone to learn from a few mistakes that were made.

Making the decision to carry is one of the most life-altering decisions one can make. It involves making a conscious decision that you can, and will, shoot, and perhaps even kill, another human being if your life is in jeopardy. I'm not surprised that your wife chooses not to carry. Only a small subset of the population has the kind of courage that it takes to take on such an awful responsibility.

I would highly recommend that you obtain a copy of The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker and encourage your wife to read it. She doesn't need to carry a weapon to learn to listen to her inner voice and increase her awareness. The book will ring very true with such a recent experience to call upon.

[seamusTX]

Everybody take a minute, close your eyes and think about your last shopping trip: especially, the part about loading your goodies into your vehicle. Who was around and/or next to you...?

I posted this when it happened, but it vanished into the vast storehouse of forgotten knowledge: I was loading groceries into the trunk of my car at Kroger in Galveston in daylight, when I heard someone about a foot behind me ask some variation of "buddy do have a dime?" He had ridden up on a bicycle. He could easily have stuck a knife into my left ventricle and taken whatever he wanted.

- Jim

[ghostrider]

Folk, when you or your wife (we) are loading groceries into our cars, we are virtually defenseless,

It doesn't have to be that way.

Everybody take a minute, close your eyes and think about your last shopping trip: especially, the part about loading your goodies into your vehicle. Who was around and/or next to you...?

On my last trip there were no vehicles closer than 2 parking spots away from mine. I scanned the area as I approached my vehicle. There was a man sitting in the driver seat of a silver Labcorp HRT. I watched him get out as I put on my motorcycle helmet (after scanning again to see if anyone else had appeared). I check before loading the 'goodies' as I have to reach down to the saddle bags.

oh, and I also face the door when sitting in restaurants :-)