Past Incident at Car Wash

[The Annoyed Man]

i never go to those self service car wash. i'll pay the extra $3 to stay in my locked car while going thru a carwash and besides the one near me is crappy!

I just keep my truck "Tactically Filthy" The engine is serviced and clean, the tires are new and aired up. The bed has a noticeable presence of empty shotgun shell boxes and there is a NRA Life Member sticker on the back window.

I hope this implies that I am armed and broke, therefore go rob someone else

I think the recurring moral is be alert at all times.

I have an "NRA Life Member" decal in the back window of my SUV, so I'm with you there.... ....but I've also read that cars with NRA decals in the window get broken into at a slightly higher rate than other cars, by thieves who are looking for guns.

So it may not be that good of an idea.

[NTexas_V-Star]

i never go to those self service car wash. i'll pay the extra $3 to stay in my locked car while going thru a carwash and besides the one near me is crappy!

I just keep my truck "Tactically Filthy" The engine is serviced and clean, the tires are new and aired up. The bed has a noticeable presence of empty shotgun shell boxes and there is a NRA Life Member sticker on the back window.

I hope this implies that I am armed and broke, therefore go rob someone else

I think the recurring moral is be alert at all times.

I have an "NRA Life Member" decal in the back window of my SUV, so I'm with you there.... ....but I've also read that cars with NRA decals in the window get broken into at a slightly higher rate than other cars, by thieves who are looking for guns.

So it may not be that good of an idea.

TAM, I believe that your theory holds water. Reason being, my employer, also a CHL'er, has a big nice jacked up 4x4 Superduty Ford. A few decals here and there (all hunting or gun related) and a twisted mass of different calls (varmint/buck/etc) hanging from the rear view mirror. He and a client went to eat in Dallas one evening, and when they came out his truck had been broken into. For whatever reason, he'd left his carry gun in the truck, along with his truck gun, and a rifle under the backseat.

He asked me a few days later,my opinion, why his truck was targeted before any of the other, purportedly nicer rides in the lot. My theory was the stickers and calls; evidence that there is a good chance of there being a gun in the truck somewhere.

[xdfanatic]

Wow, that is terrible! I live close to where this happened and I also agree that these guys were up to no good. I would have done the same thing although I like to think I would have had my weapon with me. Thank goodness nothing came of it other than a good lesson for you. Your reaction and defensive posture may have saved you on this day for sure. I understand using the car wash too, as it is a major pain getting all of the caked on mud off of the truck then having to wash the driveway. When it comes to detailing the truck out I wash it at home though. Stay alert and Stay alive is my motto these days.

[Dreamhopper]

McKnife, I'm in the car wash business in West Texas. You can help your odds by using car washes that have obvious security cameras. Mine has 14 and I've never had an incident or even vandalism...the bad guys look for cameras and move on when they find them.

Btw, car wash ownrs like it when you wash your mud to the drain so it doesn't get tracked all over.

[kP380]

When the driver notices me moving away, he makes a very sudden movement directly towards me… it seemed like a very brisk walk with quick long-strides. He gets about 2 strides from his car and I SCREAMED “GET BACK!!!!” while moving my right hand towards my hip (to prepare to draw) and my left hand pointing the sprayer at him. – The driver jolted back in shock and started yelling profanities at me, pointing his fingers at me in the shape of a sideways-gun. “Yo man, I just need a spray, man!” – At this point I am quickly moving behind my vehicle and towards my driver door. I yell again… “GET AWAY FROM ME! GET OUTTA HERE!”

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing...the fact that the BG made that particular hand gesture, esp. after seeing you assume a drawing posture, to me says he was thinking exactly as you projected - in simulating a draw.

Well done!!

[Shiloh]

McKnife:

WOW.
I just registered into this forum after reading your post (I've been reading posts on it for a while but never actually registered to respond).

I think I know which car wash you're talking about. I live in Cinco Ranch in Katy. Your story proves to the anti-self defense person that there is no "Crime Free Zones".

I carry as much as I possibly can. (Unfortunately, my place of work has the criminal friendly 30.06 signs posted everywhere so I have to be a sheep like everyone else while at work). However, as soon as I leave the building for lunch, or to run errands, a gun is in my possession I carry at all other times.

My opinion of your incident - You were getting ready to be jacked, plain and simple. That guy was sizing you up, reading your body language to see if you would cave like all of the others that he's likely done the same thing to in the past. He was getting ready to approach you and demand your wallet at minimum. Anything else could have happened too, you just never know when you're facing the mind of a criminal. "Wanting a spray?" - That's bull. You simply rocked his ego and surprised him with your action - something he was not expecting, but was indeed prepared for, which is why he gave you the bull line that he did. This guy has jacked people before. You were he next victim.

You did the right thing.

[Target1911]

You did great......other than not having your gun on you.

Did you call 911
What did the cops say?
Did you get the LP# of the Buick?
Any identifiable damage or markings/decals/graphics on the car?
What clothing was he wearing?

These are all things to think about when in a situation as you were in. Most people don't think about identifying info. It is something you have to train yourself to do and you can do it while driving down the road....walking through the store.....or any other every day activity. Just look at the car passing or the people walking around you and observe things about them.

I am glad you are ok and the bg decided to go the other way

[McKnife]

You did great......other than not having your gun on you.

Did you call 911
What did the cops say?
Did you get the LP# of the Buick?
Any identifiable damage or markings/decals/graphics on the car?
What clothing was he wearing?

These are all things to think about when in a situation as you were in. Most people don't think about identifying info. It is something you have to train yourself to do and you can do it while driving down the road....walking through the store.....or any other every day activity. Just look at the car passing or the people walking around you and observe things about them.

I am glad you are ok and the bg decided to go the other way

I did not call 911. No crime was committed, just a tense situation.

I did not see the license plate either... but I did take a glance during my exit. I only saw the driver's side of the vehicle while it was stopped in front of my truck.

As I was entering my truck during the altercation, the driver got back in his Buick and floored it in reverse which made it easier for me to 'escape' instead of me going in reverse. I looked for the vehicle as I pulled out of the stall towards the carwash exit but it was gone...perhaps went behind an adjacent building...I didn't care to find out. I just wanted to get out of dodge.

I think I know which car wash you're talking about. I live in Cinco Ranch in Katy. Your story proves to the anti-self defense person that there is no "Crime Free Zones".

I'm very much surprised at their boldness. It's not just pretty ladies and grandma's getting mugged anymore. I'm a good ole' boy in a nice part of town...and I ain't small neither. But, I was still possibly targeted as a victim.

[Shiloh]

They are bold - especially when there is more than one of them.
They're not scared of size, what we drive, or what we wear. They're not even afraid of getting caught. They ARE however, afraid of dying like we all are. That's the only thing they really have in common with decent people - they're scared of dying just like us.
Cell phones don't scare them, whistles, mace, even A well built person doesn't scare the criminal mind.
Getting shot does.
That's the fundamental problem with crime and innocent victims. We are preached, "Just give them what they want - don't ever resist an aggressor."
The graveyards are full of people 6 feet under that listened to that advice.
Countless women have been raped, and murdered by listening to that advice.

The dying of innocent victims continues, because As the door opened further, I spot two black males in the vehicle. (Driver and Passenger) The driver steps-out of his recently cleaned & dried vehicle, and stares me down for what was probably about 3 seconds, but seemed like an eternity. I began to slowly move towards the rear of my vehicle using my car-windows to see if I am being ambushed from behind. Now, I can feel my heart beat in my ears and the slow-motion vision kicks in. they continue to listen to that advice instead of doing something different in order to achieve a different outcome?!?!

[Shiloh]

Oops, somehow my last post got meshed with another post in the last paragraph.