Cased At The Bank, Car Robbed While Getting Haircut!!

I wish we had CCW permits here in So. California GoThunder but our Liberal friends who drove California off the cliff, would never go for it.

TenSense, I think the cop is right, I believe it was a crime of opportunity but, I would buy yourself a gun, go to the range often, learn gun safety, and mentally prepare yourself if you ever have to use it. If you have any second thoughts about that, a gun is not for you. Then at the very least, a big canister of pepper spray.

Here's an ironic thing for you guys to chew on: I am part of a prison ministry program. I think I will share this with them there.

That really stinks, I feel your pain. You can't be too careful entering/exiting a bank. I almost never roll hunt, when I do, it's just a few rolls that can fit into a non-descript backpack. I do, however, have a safe deposit box in a strip mall bank, and I bring a battered shopping bag on wheels to deposit/retrieve items, and without fail I always go into the adjacent supermarket to cool my heels and to shop for a few items afterwards, which then go over the items at the bottom of the bag, and I only look as if I've grocery shopping only by the time I return to the car. You almost have to practice an unobtrusive casual demeanor while out on the streets to avoid being targeted by criminals.

TenSense,

I'm really sorry to hear about you being robbed and having your damaged.

Don't let the thief stop you from roll hunting and visiting the banks. If you do then the thief has won because now he has instilled fear in you. He now controls you with that fear. You may have to change your patterns (i.e. get a haircut first and then get rolls from the bank) but that's OK. It could be a freak incident in that you could repeat the same routine next week and nobody will take anything from your car.

Along those same lines, I remember my Dad yelling and screaming at me when I crashed off my bicycle as a teenager. He called me all sorts of nasty names as if I crashed on purpose to humiliate him or something. It's not like I lost my good judgment and made a mistake on purpose. Then, the next day, he would tell me that I should be afraid of the bike and be more careful because I couldn't control the machine. It completely discouraged me and I stopped riding for a number of years. In the end I was not afraid of the bike as much as I was afraid of his anger and censure. It took me many years to rediscover the joy of riding.

The whole point I am (repeatedly) making is that you shouldn't feel discouraged to roll hunt. Keep at it, and find those gems!

That said, I have to ask this. Did the thief look through your glove compartment? Do you keep your auto registration there? He may have gotten your home address. From a tactical perspective, if I were you, I would double check the locks on the windows and doors at night. Tell your story to your neighbors so that they can be on the look out for strangers wandering the neighborhood. You reported the robbery to the police so they can help watch out for you being targeted. Don't be quiet about this. The more people around you know then the more they will be vigilant and watchful.

-- Boris

It was actually my car; they were after what was in the trunk. I was actually already prepared for any encounter at home - I'm armed, have a home security system, and have logged some range time already.

That sucks, but as others have said, don't let it discourage you.
Another point, Dave suggested pepper-spray at home which is a good idea, but an alternative is Wasp/Hornet spray. It shoots like 20 -25 feet so you don't have to be as close and it will certainly stop someone if it's aimed at their face.

My Dad used to keep a can of CRC 2+2 (all purpose automotive parts cleaner) under the counter with the red straw (for laser beam close range targeting) inserted to kill persistent bee's with. One day some punk came to the counter and tried to hold him up with a knife (across a 3 ft counter, he was a dumb punk)... he was still rolling around on the floor when the police got there.

I don't think he ever even knew he was also about to get cracked across the back with an old 74 Dart front torsion bar by one of the techs.