It really just made me mad

[Longhorn-breeder]

It has finally happened my time of working in Houston has been pretty uneventful, with the exception of tire blow outs etc until Friday. I work at a north Houston hospital night shift. I was at work on Thursday night, finished my 12 hour shift and was on the way to my truck with 2 of my coworkers when I realized I didnt see my truck. I was pretty sure I knew where I had parked and should have been able to see it from the angle we were walking. I continued to scan the parking lot and finally spotted it, not where I had parked it, the first thing I noticed was the lights were on., I commented on this to my coworkers, as I got closer I realized it was running. Still confused I went to the passenger side to put my stuff in and found a broken window in the back door and a rolled down front pasenger window. The truck was unlocked, ransacked, the dash destroyed and the ignition trashed. We got security out there (not real useful) and I called 911. I then noticed a drill in the floor I did look to see what they took, the console contense, flashlight and phone chargers and a few tools were gone, pistol lock box in the floor visable (turns out they managed to pry it open...Empty) I usually lock the pistol up but I had left it home that night. In place of my stuff was a black and decker power drill...I checked with my husband only to discover that it was not his. Seems while I was inside taking care of patients some scumbag had decided my old beat up 4x4 needed to go mudding.They managed to run over something and damage the 4X4 and it sure does shift much harder now. Seems said hospital is posted and an notice in the HR manuel prohibits carry. I have in the past locked my pistol in the lock box and appropriatly hidden it. We have two employee lots, one open and one fenced, the fenced one being much farther out. I'm now not really sure which is better, walking in the Cypress area farther to a "secure" lot unarmed or being closer to the building in an unsecured lot. Im also not so sure about the lock box idea. The Harris county deputy who responded did give me a "lock box is a bad idea lecture" but otherwise was very appropriate. His suggestion was just take it inside anyway, concealed is concealed. I guess I am looking for suggestion as to Parking lot storage and opinions on a better "mouse Trap" for storage. I also just need to vent some frustration over idiots who cant keep thier hands to themselves. I dive an hour to work and dont like going to Houston un armed.... not really sure what the best solution is besides retirement. LOL, thanks for listening to this rant.

[jmra]

Is your hospital posted with 30.06 signs?

[TomV]

She says the hospital is posted and she has received notice in her employee manual.

Do you have a locker inside that you can secure your things in? Can you talk to your supervisor about being allowed to secure your weapon there?

[jmra]

She says the hospital is posted and she has received notice in her employee manual.

I missed that. I'm surprised the officer suggested she commit a crime that would cause her to lose her CHL and could result in jail time.

[Carzan]

That same officer would look at her very differently and have her in cuffs were she to carry inside and be reported. Not very thoughtful advice from the LEO.

[Jumping Frog]

She says the hospital is posted and she has received notice in her employee manual.

I missed that. I'm surprised the officer suggested she commit a crime that would cause her to lose her CHL and could result in jail time.

I am not surprised. Kind of a variation on the racist roots of gun control. Back in the day, if you were the "right type", you didn't need to worry about too much about a UCW arrest. I interpreted the deputy as implying he wouldn't want to arrest a law-abiding female hospital nurse working bad shift hours, and he probably would be one who turns a blind eye because she is the "right type".

But just because one LEO is not inclined to arrest, that certainly cannot be taken as a guarantee regarding hospital administration or other LEO's.

To the OP, I feel bad for your experience. Do you keep anything visible in the truck?

[Wodathunkit]

Park in patient parking. My wife does at her hospital. Your a target in an employee parking lot. BG's know they have 12 hours to shop. My wife's hospital told CHL'ers to leave guns in car, she threatened that it would make them liable and they got scared. They "overlook" her parking in the patient lot.

[Abraham]

Longhorn-breeder,

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss and not of just your valuables...

I am wondering why they would return your vehicle, rather than simply steal it and abandon it elsewhere?

[WildBill]

Longhorn-breeder,

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss and not of just your valuables...

I am wondering why they would return your vehicle, rather than simply steal it and abandon it elsewhere?

[Jim Beaux]

Longhorn-breeder,

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss and not of just your valuables...

I am wondering why they would return your vehicle, rather than simply steal it and abandon it elsewhere?

Maybe the BG had left his ride at the scene of the crime and came back to retrieve it.

[CHLLady]

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Hope they got fingerprints?

[Longhorn-breeder]

She says the hospital is posted and she has received notice in her employee manual.

I missed that. I'm surprised the officer suggested she commit a crime that would cause her to lose her CHL and could result in jail time.

I am not surprised. Kind of a variation on the racist roots of gun control. Back in the day, if you were the "right type", you didn't need to worry about too much about a UCW arrest. I interpreted the deputy as implying he wouldn't want to arrest a law-abiding female hospital nurse working bad shift hours, and he probably would be one who turns a blind eye because she is the "right type".

But just because one LEO is not inclined to arrest, that certainly cannot be taken as a guarantee regarding hospital administration or other LEO's.

To the OP, I feel bad for your experience. Do you keep anything visible in the truck?

Nothing was visable except a tow strap in the floor

[Longhorn-breeder]

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Hope they got fingerprints?

No fingerprints were taken, I guess it is a "low priority crime" or not enough "valuable stuff was taken" to bother in Harris county

[jmra]

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Hope they got fingerprints?

No fingerprints were taken, I guess it is a "low priority crime" or not enough "valuable stuff was taken" to bother in Harris county

Or just poor police work. That's my guess given the fact the officer suggested you commit a crime that could cause you to lose your CHL and spend up to a year in jail.

[RJGold]

My pickup was broken into at the Houston airport a couple of years ago. When I asked the HPD LEO about fingerpirnts, he told me I had been watching too many detective shows on TV.

I guess HPD doesn't take fingerprints for auto break ins as a general rule???

It does seem weired to me that the perp would bring the vehicle back.

As far as firearm storage options, I don't have anything to offer. I use a nano vault lock box in my pickup. I know it's not perfect but the idea is anything that takes too much time, a thief may not bother with. In your case, they took the vehicle away so I presume they had plenty of time.

My two cents...