THEFT WARNING...

[speedsix]

This is from the Houston Gun collector's Assn.

Public service announcement:

While I was in a Denver gun store today, my car was tagged on the wheel in the parking lot. The gangs do this on wheels or bumpers at gun stores, shooting ranges, gun shows etc. Later when you are parked at a restaurant, hotel, or other location that’s less well guarded or under video surveillance, other gang members spot the marker and break into the car for a quick gun grab. This is so RAMPANT in San Antonio where we were for a National shoot this summer, the police chief of that county came out to brief the 400 participants of our competition. Too bad three teams had already been victimized the first day. This is the first I’ve heard of this in Denver. Please pass this info along to your 2nd amendment list.

This next comment from a Gunsite instructor:
I don’t know how widespread this is becoming, but the info regarding the NSCA Nationals in San Antonio is correct, as all of us who compete in sporting clays know. Competitors there were having their vehicles marked with a small adhesive dot on the rear license plate or rear bumper, then followed for miles and having their vehicles quickly and efficiently broken in to when parked for lunch etc.
Some crews were working the parking lot at the Nationals itself. 27 high end shotguns were taken there recently. They know when 1400 shooters with high $$ competition guns are in town.
I shot with a young man who was trying out a new gun at the Nationals. He and his father lost all their guns and equipment while making a quick stop for lunch at a BBQ place in Corpus Christi the month before.

[Jumping Frog]

Let's hope that some of these thugs messin' with the bull get well and thoroughly GORED.

[speedsix]

...they'll be into the wrong truck and Bubba'll step out to get another pack of Luckies and end up lighin' 'em all up!!!

[pbwalker]

I'm sorry, but this just reeks of urban legend.



What are these Yellow and Red Dots on my tires? http://www.tireteam.com/blog/what-are-t ... -my-tires/

ETA: I'll call the NSC tomorrow and find out...good group of people down there, and a beautiful facility for skeet shooters.

[Seabear]

Well PB, it may smack of legend, however there were some young guys from Corpus at a San Antonio shoot last year or year before that had their truck tagged and when they left the range for lunch at "X" restaurant for 30 minutes, their truck was broken into and all their competition guns were taken. Legend? Maybe in some areas, but I talked to these guys in person. These gangs are smarter than you think.

About 10 years ago here in Corpus I was with my BIL at a VFW Hall to listen to a band for a while. While there his truck, a King Ranch Ford was broken into and one tire slashed. Cops told us that was the current mark of a particular gang. They hit 11 trucks that night before his. All the same year , make and model, with the same tire slashed.

Let me guess, IT WAS THE CHUPACABRA!!

We have to be smarter than these thugs or we will be victims. The best defense is a good offense. I'm wearing mine, while I check my property and my vehicles.

[pbwalker]

We shall wait and see then...Even Gunsite took the story down. I'll ping my PD buddy and call NSC. But until I can confirm, this is just like the "don't flash your brights as an oncoming car with its lights out, because it's a gang initiation".

[G.A. Heath]

Go to where you buy new tires for your car and take a peak at the new unmounted tires, some will have that dot some won't. I guess the gang bangers are psychic and know which tires will go on gun owners cars. In all honesty I believe that the dot is used to indicate balancing issues. here's a quick link I found with a google search: http://www.tirebusiness.com/subscriber/ ... 1187032744" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[speedsix]

...may be bogus...strange that it's been posted word-for-word on 6 gun/hunting related sites in 2 days...one poster quoted Gunsite...but it's not at Gunsite or I can't pull it from the search function...calguns.net quoted http://www.gunsite.com/main/warning-...n-owners/2631/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but it's gone...

[alvins]

um the red dot on that car tire isnt from gang tagging. that dot is for balacing purposes not all tires have this dot. most high end and motorcycle tires will have a mark like that. how about showing a real gang tagging?

[Jumping Frog]

...may be bogus...strange that it's been posted word-for-word on 6 gun/hunting related sites in 2 days...one poster quoted Gunsite...but it's not at Gunsite or I can't pull it from the search function...calguns.net quoted http://www.gunsite.com/main/warning-...n-owners/2631/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but it's gone...

I looked all over the Houston Gun Collectors Association website and could not find this mentioned anywhere.

[Seabear]

The young guys from Corpus that got hit had a sticker on their tail light. SA cops pointed it out to them.

I know the stickers on tires have nothing to do with it, I think someone confused that with the tail light issue.

I also know 3 people that have gotten their vehicles popped in parking lots in San Antonio retaurants, specifically along the freeway. Think about it, they know when you stop and get out , and go inside, you won't be back for at least 30-45 minutes. No tag needed, all they have to do is sit in the parking lot and wait for the next victim. I no longer go to restaurants along freeways , I get off the highway and go find some place decent looking , with lots of windows and ask to sit on the side facing my truck. I also scan the parking lot for any hudlums sitting in vehicles.

[gigag04]

Tin foil hat type stuff. Those are tire balancing marks.

[Purplehood]

A tail-light I can understand...you drive behind the cars looking for them.

A tire mark? No, you would have to get out and walk between each car individually to see if there is a mark. Too time-intensive and increases the likelihood of detection. Simpler to drive past vehicles from behind and eyeball them.

[pbwalker]

both NSC and my LEO friend say this is bogus. NSC had heard about the story while the LEO said this is the first he's heard of it.

[speedsix]

...I just called the office of the Houston Gun Collector's Assn.....the secretary there was very friendly and helpful...she told me that she had gotten the information from a member and she, in fact, DID send it out to the membership as a warning without taking the time to verify all the info...she felt that it would benefit them...
...it's on 8 or more gun-related sites, one of them has a post from a member saying he personally knows two members it happened to and it cost them over $20,000 worth of shotguns...

where the picture of the car and tire came from off someone's facebook...who knows...