And I didn't even see it.
I live in a nice neighborhood that has very low crime. The maintenance guy in my apartment complex drives a gold-colored Impala, that's about 2 generations old. He was parked right under my window today. Normally, the maintenance guys are gone by 5pm, but today they must have had a long day.
Around 7pm, I was riding my through the parking lot, coming back from the library. It's dark and drizzling slightly. I rode by his car, and went to park under an awning, about 30 feet from where he's parked, and 90 degrees adjacent to his car.
I parked the bike and got off, and then I hear commotion. I hear screams and there's a car that's peeling off hard and there are two males running away on foot.
Turns out, that next to his gold-colored Impala, there was an identical Impala parked - same color, same gen. The guys breaking into the maintenance guy's car were already in the vehicle messing with the steering column.
The commotion started when the maintenance guys saw that something was amiss and spooked the perps, who then fled. Another resident pulled up and said that the car getting away picked up the guys that ran on foot and took off.
I'm concerned about this because my situational awareness failed me. I didn't even see that there were two identical cars right next to one another. My mind saw the perp car and assumed that it was the maintenance guy's car. I'm pissed at myself for not seeing what was right in front of me. I passed within 5 feet of the perps that were already in the vehicle trying to jack it.
As some of you know, I carry concealed and I always make a conscious attempt at being aware of my surroundings. This time, I wasn't. At all. I need to re-evaluate my mindset, because being situationally aware can prevent any deadly escalation to begin with.
Pulled up on a car theft today
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Pulled up on a car theft today
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Re: Pulled up on a car theft today
To be clear - I have no delusions of being some sort of vigilante mofo just because I carry. I would never try to get engaged or even confront the perps. I'm just concerned that my situational awareness failed me where it shouldn't have.
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Re: Pulled up on a car theft today
Doan pheal bat, but you didn't see the monkey driving the car either, right?
Our eyes really don't take in the whole scene, just a bunch of snapshots directed in areas that may interest us. It's humid nature.
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Re: Pulled up on a car theft today
I thought this was going to be a cool Tonebone story. It was not. I am disappointed.
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Re: Pulled up on a car theft today
I haven't done one of those stories in a while. I think I have a perfect one I can share, actually.
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Re: Pulled up on a car theft today
You are human. You make human errors. Do learn from it but don't beat yourself up or worry too much.AHTOXA wrote:I'm just concerned that my situational awareness failed me where it shouldn't have.
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watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
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Re: Pulled up on a car theft today
Ficksettheholycow wrote:AHTOXA wrote:I'm just concerned that my situational awareness failed me where it shouldn't have.
You are half human. Your bad side makes human errors. Do learn from it but don't beat yourself up or worry too much. Let a Klingon beat you up instead. Then, you both get what you want - Win-Win!
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Re: Pulled up on a car theft today
Rope-Pusher wrote:Ficksettheholycow wrote:AHTOXA wrote:I'm just concerned that my situational awareness failed me where it shouldn't have.
You are half human. Your bad side makes human errors. Do learn from it but don't beat yourself up or worry too much. Let a Klingon beat you up instead. Then, you both get what you want - Win-Win!
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For Pony!
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
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'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!