Approached by person in drive-thru at 3 am

[BirdMan2009]

Hi y'all,

I'm kind of a lurker - I'm reading the S&T forum from the beginning and I'm currently in mid-2007 - but I wanted to post this story and ask y'all's opinion. It happened an hour ago.


Had a minor situation tonight, nothing bad, but I wonder if I could have handled it differently.

I'm a chronic insomniac and tonight I was awake and looking for lunch at 3 am. I felt like eating some crap, so I drove down to McDonalds. Stupidly, I wasn't carrying because "aw it's just a 10 minute trip and I'm not even getting out of the car." Ugh. I'm an idiot.

I get to McD's and there are two SUVs in line (not unusual), but from my angle, I see someone's standing out front of the second SUV (unusual). I can't see more, and eventually, SUV2 pulls around the front SUV1 and just drives around the building and away. SUV1 orders and pulls to the payment window, around the corner.

I pull up, order and pull around the corner to wait behind SUV1 at the payment window. It's taking a while, so I put the vehicle in park, motor running, doors locked, windows up, close to the curb/building. I habitually scan behind and beside my 4runner when at drive-thrus, and I don't see anything else in the lot.

After a little while of waiting for SUV1 to pull forward, the driver door opens and a man gets out holding a cell. He looks between our cars (possibly seeing my Gadsden Flag plate) and then he walks slowly up to my driver's side front wheel and acts like he wants to talk. Very strange. I click off my radio and crack the window an inch.

He asks, "Are we in McDonough?"
Me:"Huh?"
Him: "Are we in McDonough?"

At this point, my warning level shoots to orange. McDonough, GA is an hour and a half away - you don't get that lost, do you? Instantly, I worry that perhaps he's distracting me while someone (SUV2?) approaches me from behind my truck. I rapidly glance to the left and rear (nothing) and return my gaze to him. I'm prepared to slam the car into reverse and gas it if he makes a strange move.

Me: "No, you're in Athens."
Him: "You know how to get to McDonough?"
Me: "Not a clue."
Him: "Not a clue, huh? Not a clue? (pause) Is this 224?"
Me: "No, it's 316"
Him: "Huh?"
Me (louder): "316. Hwy 316."
Him: (perks up) "Ok man."
Then he walks back to his truck and gets in.

So then he pulls ahead, gets his food, and drives off. End of story.


The way I see it, my mistakes were a) not packing 24/7 and b) putting the truck in park so I didn't have to stand on the brake. I'm not sure how to avoid rolling down the window a crack, or if I should have. I do think that I did well by thinking to scan my other side and rear and mentally preparing to hit reverse and either back up or smear him on the McD wall if he got squirrelly. Anything else I should have done better?

 

[Shadow 7D]

Look up criminal interview, fortunately if that is what happened to you, you failed it.
main question is were there other people with this guy.

Another option would be to refer him to the MC'd people cus your just pass'n through, but at that time of night probably a guy just out of the clubs trying to find his way to a girls house.

 

[BirdMan2009]

He had at least one person with him in the car that I could see, perhaps two.

 

[Nutgun]

Wow..what a wakeup call. My girlfriend is always doing drive-ins by herself and if the 2 SUVS are working together she's deadmeat. Trapped between the 2 SUVs you are at their mercy. :banghead:

If they plan a robbery or a car jacking or kidnapping you're their victim.

Best to be armed.

 

[psyopspec]

I tend to be a results-oriented person, so that's what I'll base my comments on. You and your property are fully intact, and you got the tasty cholesterol-ridden treat you came for. Really not a situation where you need to change up your actions in favor of a different outcome.

One thing I always do while driving that you may wish to adopt is leaving enough space to the front to be able to maneuver to the sides if necessary. Leaves options, which I like having. This can also help protect you in a rear-end crash, allowing your braked tires to take some of the momentum out before hitting the next car.

 

[Manco]

One warning that I always heed and is constantly reinforced by stories I hear is that nothing good can come of being out and about at 2-3am. It's like the "witching hour" for criminal activity or something--most often just people stumbling out of bars and making mistakes (sometimes even uncharacteristic) like driving drunk or getting into fights, but crooks also seem to feel emboldened at this time of night. If there were a time to carry, then this would be it.

 

[shockwave]

The most dangerous thing in all of this is whatever McDonalds sold you in that bag. Keep some healthy snacks about the house so that the next time you're feeling peckish in the wee hours you have some nutritious alternatives.

But if you must go out late-nite, that's when you want to bring your trusty companion along.

 

[mgregg85]

Always carry when you can, otherwise murphy's law will kick in when you aren't carrying.

 

[philpost]

One thing I always do while driving that you may wish to adopt is leaving enough space to the front to be able to maneuver to the sides if necessary. Leaves options, which I like having. This can also help protect you in a rear-end crash, allowing your braked tires to take some of the momentum out before hitting the next car.

+1 on space to manuever. And if you regularly carry, and I do, it needs to be like putting on your pants. Like the poster above correctly states, the one time you don't have it is when Murphys Law comes crashing down. My wife mocks me for throwing one in my backpack when I'm going to the pool on a Sunday afternoon, but you never know. And 2:00 AM is freaking prime time for criminals of all sorts!

 

[loneviking]

Two words 'Tommys GunPak'. When i get home, the EDC goes in the gun pak while I usually keep the holster on. If I go out, like you did, for a quick run for something then I just grab the GunPak and it's with me in the car. No fuss with holstering up, just grab,stow and go.

 

[bigfatdave]

nothing good can come of being out and about at 2-3am

That's really cute, if you work an office 9-5 job.
Some of us work nights, and some even work a rotating shift. Being awake (and even out & about) at "odd hours" is normal for a surprisingly large fraction of the population. I would hope that when I'm seen by curtain-twitching ninnies who are afraid to venture out after midnight that they don't assume I'm some kind of scumbag looking for trouble.

To the OP:
Carry whenever you can do so legally, no more of this "only a 10 minute trip" silliness.
Leave room ahead, keep watching your mirrors and sides.
When approached at night, assume the person approaching you is a citizen up late, the same as you ... until proven otherwise or at least until you get a gut feeling

Chances were that you were approached by someone not 100% "with it", there is a lesser chance that you were being checked out for some kind of crime of opportunity.
Either way, acting like you own the place and are not someone to be messed with is the smart move. The lost and clueless will bother you for less time and the criminal element will look for an easier victim if you project confidence, if you're busy kicking yourself for not grabbing a firearm on the way out the front door, you might be lacking in the confidence projection department.

 

[wishin]

I can't help but think how hilarious it would have been had you one of those voice alarms that you could have actvated saying:

"Step away from the car, the police are on the way..........."

On a serious note, if you're going to be out and about in the wee hours, always carry without fail.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Always have immediate access to a loaded weapon. I don't give a rats a** about "OMG, it's so irresponsible to leave a gun in a car unattended crap." You just proved them wrong 10 times over. Have a reliable POS that you're willing to part with in the glovebox.

Leave enough space between you and the car in front of you to pull out quick and leave the car in gear and on during those kind of hours.

Oh, stop eating crap - it can kill you!

BirdMan2009
Approached by person in drive-thru at 3 am

 

[bigfatdave]

The glove-box is hardly "immediate access" ... carry on-body!
I don't worry about my car being stolen with a bonus of arming a scumbag or his scummy fence buddy.

 

[Gritacular]

sometimes people are just looking for directions.

Ive been approached by many people all over the world and there's one thing thats never failed to repel someone. It even works through a driverside window.

Just smile an ingenuine smile and say "Sorry, bro" as loudly as needed while shaking your head. Repeat if necessary. People just get it.

 

[Onward Allusion]

No - glove box is not immediate access. Best method is to have it on you. Having one in the glove box and/or briefcase will ensure that you greatly reduce the odds of not having something available. Sometimes folks forget, are lazy, or aren't dressed properly to carry their everyday weapon.

If you never do any of the above, then that's great. You'll always have your EDC with you and you won't risk having a scumbag running off with your weapon if your car gets broken into. For me, I know I will once in a blue moon run into the situation of not having mine on me, so I'd rather lose a weapon than lose my life.

bigfatdave
The glove-box is hardly "immediate access" ... carry on-body!
I don't worry about my car being stolen with a bonus of arming a scumbag or his scummy fence buddy.

 

[SalchaketJoe]

For runs to drive throughs in the wee hours, I place my carry on the little table thing between the front seats. Having it on me is harder to get at.

 

[Doggy Daddy]

One thing I always do while driving that you may wish to adopt is leaving enough space to the front to be able to maneuver to the sides if necessary.

This!

Besides the already mentioned room to escape and buffer in case of being rear-ended reasons, there is also the added benefit of not sucking the hot and nasty exhaust from the other vehicle into your vehicle's radiator and air circulation system. Keeps your cooling system cooler and the air in your face fresher. Plus, if that vehicle in front of you overheats and stalls while you're sitting there (I'm in Vegas - it happens), you have room to get around it.

DD

 

[bigfatdave]

I know I will once in a blue moon run into the situation of not having mine on me

Can't be avoided, but you assume that you will be in your vehicle no matter where you go?
Bummer if you're on foot or in a friend's car when you need that gun ... just carry on-body and these situations don't happen.

 

[Onward Allusion]

We're in agreement.

I carry even going to the mailbox.

bigfatdave

Can't be avoided, but you assume that you will be in your vehicle no matter where you go?
Bummer if you're on foot or in a friend's car when you need that gun ... just carry on-body and these situations don't happen.

 

[chrisb507]

Look up criminal interview, fortunately if that is what happened to you, you failed it.

I'm curious: What identified this interaction as a criminal interview? And how should the OP have handled the "interview" part differently?

Of course, carrying would have helped had the situation escalated. But any tips/tricks on how to handle and/or shut-down such an interview?

 

[leadcounsel]

1) Always carry where you legally can.
2) Always keep your car in gear and enough space to maneuver.
3) Fight or flight mode, Always. Prepare to react always.

You absolutely were being targeted.

You did alright based on the outcome. But you could have been a victim if things turned badly quickly. The other SUV could have boxed you in, or the perp could have approached and seeing you were alone could have drawn on you while his buddies in the truck got out and attacked you/robbed you/kidnapped you. It would have only taken a few seconds to be completely up a creek.

In that situation, I would have not gone to McDonalds. I agree that going out that late is a poor choice. But if I was out, I would have been heavy (carrying). I NEVER put my car in park in drivethrus and ATMs. ALWAYS leave it in drive, and leave enough distance between you and the lead vehicle to maneuver. If I were sitting there and the man got out of the vehicle to approach me, I would have at minimum drawn and kept my handgun at low ready, and prepared to drive. OR I would have simply drove away. I would NOT have sat there waiting to be a victim. YOU MUST listen to your gut. If it feels bad, LEAVE or PREPARE for a fight. Not in a moment; NOW.

Glad you are okay. Lesson learned.

 

[rondog]

The reason there's so much criminal activity at those hours is because it's a target-rich enviroment with all the loaded people pouring out of the bars at closing time. Many of which will be heading to the nearest drive-thru for a snack. Just because you're sober doesn't make you safe, the thugs don't know that. All they know is that you've just entered their hunting grounds.

 

[W.E.G.]

Quit eating at McDonalds - especially at 3 AM.

The possibility of getting robbed is just one of the perils.

Next time you feel like stuffing your pie-hole at 3 AM, go to the basement and do pushups and crunches until your ears ring.

You won't be in the mood for McDonalds when you're done.

 

[Gouranga]

After working 4 years at McD's through High school and college, I can see the situation you described and we were only open till 10 pm at the time. I have seem some messed up folks come in. Had one person sleeping on the bathroom floor, she thought she was in bed in a Psych ward about 80 miles from where she really was.

In DT, we had all types. Drunks, delusional folks, druggies, unbelievable these folks could manage to drive. I think you did right with what you had. You lived, and you learned. Carry whenever possible, be mind full of escape routes and avoid situations that unnecessarily make you more vulnerable than you need to be.