North Ft.Worth Female Suspect Shot During Smoke Shop Robbery

[knotquiteawake]

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/082911 ... op-robbery" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good work on the part of the employee for pushing his coworker down to the ground before opening fire. Very smart, they said he was in the military previously.

[seamusTX]

Can someone explain what's with the "smoke shop" robberies? Do they have a lot of cash or something else worth stealing? Is it the "bath salts"?

These crimes seem rampant.

These places used to be called head shops. I haven't been in one for decades. I was under the impression they sell rolling papers, bongs, posters, incense, and maybe minor-league porn.

- Jim

[Wfahey]

Good on the clerk. I just hope the bad guys don't come back for revenge.

[Oldgringo]

Smoking is bad for your health.

[speedsix]

...so would be going back for revenge there...

[seamusTX]

Criminals rarely take revenge in these cases, partly because they would be obvious suspects. The exception that I'm aware of is when a gang is trying to control turf. Then the victim can be subject to firebombing, vandalism, and that sort of thing, which is difficult to defend against.

That happened to a business owner in Galveston who tried to drive drug dealers away from his business. He did eventually get them cleared out, but someone tried to set his business on fire while it was closed. Only their incompetence as arsonists stopped the situation from being worse.

- Jim

[Running Arrow Bill]

With the inflation driven, "sin taxes" on cigarettes, overpriced cigarettes, couple of hoods could easily carry out in their arms $1000 + in tobacco to sell on the street... Plus, there's always the cash register to tap...

[surprise_i'm_armed]

The clerk seemed like he had taken some self-defense training.

Even though he is facing a drawn gun pointed on him, he has the fighting spirit to draw his revolver from a drawer
and prepares quickly to engage the threat.

Then he pushes his co-worker down to get the man out of the line of fire.

The clerk starts running backwards to put some distance between himself and the BG.

Then he extends his revolver without appearing to have any kind of real sight picture, and hits her with a round
to her shoulder.

Good on 'ya friend. If he was ex-military, he may have gotten into firefights in Iraq or Afghanistan. A street punk
here in the states appears to be just a variation on enemies.

SIA

[RoyGBiv]

Good on 'ya friend.

[n5wd]

Can someone explain what's with the "smoke shop" robberies? Do they have a lot of cash or something else worth stealing? Is it the "bath salts"?

These crimes seem rampant.

They do a lot of cash business.

[seamusTX]

With the inflation driven, "sin taxes" on cigarettes, overpriced cigarettes, couple of hoods could easily carry out in their arms $1000 + in tobacco to sell on the street...

This is true, and when they rob convenience stores they often grab as many as they can carry.

However they probably are not that easy to fence. People on the street aren't going to pay $8 a pack or whatever they cost in a legitimate store now.

I saw a robbery recently where they stole an entire truckload of tobacco products and abandoned the empty truck. That's a lot more profitable and probably safer than knocking off stores one at a time.

(I was in line behind a guy who bought a carton of cigarettes. He paid with $100 bill, and his change was less than $20. I remember when a carton was about $2.50, and probably there are people in this forum who can remember when it was $1.)

- Jim

[speedsix]

...training or experience, maybe...maybe he's just a nice guy who's decided he's not gonna take it anymore...more and more of them out here!!!