robberies / strategy: FAKE WALLET

[steve_decker]

A little over a year ago, I started a new job that has me frequenting some of the worst areas in Atlanta. Thankfully I seriously considered getting a CCW and carrying. I say it that way because, had I given it casual consideration, I would likely be carrying. After giving it serious thought, I came to the realization that it would likely do me very little good. In areas where gunplay is a daily occurence (and where, for many reasons, I stick out like a sore thumb) my joining in the activity when provoked would not play out well for me. I still frequent those areas as part of my employment but simply use common sense. I am friendly with and speak to everyone inside and outside of the buildings that I visit. I always make sure I have multiple exit strategies. If I happen to be sitting in my car doing a bit of work, the car remains running and in gear so I can have a quick escape. And, I also recognize that my car can serve as a very effective 4,000lb weapon.

Fast forward to just a few months ago and my wife started a new job as a home hospice nurse. She is in and out of the homes of strangers. Mostly in decent areas but, occasionally, not so decent areas. She is on call from 5pm Fri 'til 8am Mon. If the phone rings at 2am on a Saturday nite, she may need to go out. When she started, I once again considered her obtaining a CCW and carrying. Again, I came back to taking a heads-up approach as being the best defense possible. When she gets a call that makes either of us nervous, I go along and, if needed, will even go in the home with her.

In my opinion, common sense (aka "street smarts") will get you a hell of a lot further than any firearm, concealed or otherwise.

[tbn.al]

I am an insurance agent. My company requires me to physically inspect every home I write. I received a call from a very "high crime" area a few years ago inquiring about home insurance. I explained that I could not help them because I did not wish to personally inspect the house. They called the insurance commissioner’s office and turned me in for "red lining". That is the practice of discriminating on the basis of location, which is illegal in the insurance business. My company told me to go anyway and instead I suggested they hire an inspection company if they wanted it looked at. They did and the dwelling was refused on the basis of its condition. There was a period of time that week that found me in the pawn shop looking to get back into a handgun. I too had come to the same conclusion that many of you have. There are far less serious consequences to my psyche with avoidance rather than confrontation. I have no doubt that I would pull the trigger if absolutely necessary, but by the time I was sufficiently provoked, I might be shot instead. He who shoots first and hits his intended target lives. He who has to first decide in his own mind whether he really wants to take a life never gets off the first shot.

[lgb&dtuba]

Now.... if you strap a pistol on the OUTSIDE of your clothing.... THAT's somewhat of a deterrent.

True Story.

Some years back there was a 7-Eleven near where I live. I used to stop in from time to time. It was robbed several times. The manager started wearing a .45 ACP in a holster under his store smock. The problem was that when he started doing that he also started mouthing off in front of his customers about how the next robber was in for a nasty surprise. I heard him myself.

I guess he did that often enough that the next robber heard him running his big mouth while he "cased" the place because that robber walked in just before closing and shot the guy dead before he could reach his weapon and emptied the register. Keep in mind that the pistol was concealed at the time. Just knowing it was there was enough info for the robber to kill the manager out of hand.

I doubt anyone would be able to convince his widow or 2 children that a pistol is any kind of deterrent.

Like I said before, don't play macho man with a firearm.

[rocksanddirt]

Why not carry an old (expired) credit card along with an expired driver's license, a bank card from an old closed account and a few (real) dollars in the wallet. If the robber is even a little bit smart they'll probably check the wallet or empty it and toss it. If you're held-up at gun point and you hand over a phony wallet full of fake money and cardboard credit cards you'll have bigger problems than losing $3. I like the fake wallet idea but trying to fool a criminal is not as good of an idea.

My experience of getting mugged is that they take the wallet or whatever you give them and run off quickly.

they look at it later and toss what is not useful to them.