Incident at Car Wash

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BetaShooter

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This happened to me yesterday:

During my lunch hour, I was at the car wash washing my truck. There were two other people at the place washing their vehicles a couple of bays down from me. I see a guy carrying something white approach each individual on his way to me. The guy starts heading my way and I make eye contact with him and see that the object he is carrying is a disposable baby diaper. This sounds stupid, but I found myself sizing him up as he approached - something didn't seem "right" about him. He smiles and waits until the timer expires. Then he asks for a ride to some apartments several miles away. He says he left his baby asleep in the crib and walked to his sister's house to borrow diapers. I tell him sorry, have to get back to work. The guy persists and I firmly say no. The guy walks off. I try to keep my eye on him but It's somewhat difficult given the number of bays at the car wash. During this time, the other people at the wash have left. I go to the change machine and return to washing the truck. While hosing it off I see the guy sitting in the passenger seat of my truck! I yank open the door and tell him to "Get the f*** out of my truck!" I take a step back. The guy gives me the "come on man, help me out" line and we lock eyes for about 30 seconds (seemed like a long time). I am totally preparing myself for a fight. I did not have my P3AT in my front pocket, it was locked in the car safe behind the passenger seat (no carry allowed in my workplace). The guy gets out of the truck tells me f*** you and walks away.

Now, I don't always take the keys out of my truck whenever I wash it because of the alarm system. The alarm beeps and occasionally goes off during the washing so I usually leave the keys in the ignition in the ACC position to prevent it from happening. Luckily, today I put the keys in my pocket; otherwise, I probably would have watched my truck drive off without me! I had never thought about anything happening like this before, and since I am always near my vehicle, I thought the keys would be fine in the ignition - not anymore!

Also, I was glad I had the gun in the safe, but I wished I had it on me.

I'm 6' and weigh 187lbs. The guy was larger than me, but less fit. I guess he thought tangling with me wouldn't be worth the effort. In the end, nothing was missing from my truck, and I wasn't hurt, so I guess the situation turned out okay.

I am letting my family and friends know about this incident so that they can avoid situations like this.

Besides the keys and the gun, what should I have done differently? What would you have done?

I would think something like this would not happen in the middle of the day. It just goes to show you never know when or where....
 
I can not carry my gun in where I work either. I carry it on me on my way to work when I get outa my truck in the parking lot I slide it under my seat where I can get to it fast when I open my door.

When I leave work I open my door grab my gun and put it back on my belt.

So I always have my gun on me except when I am walking into work and walkin outa work and when I am in the building at work.

At the car wash I never leave the keys in the truck always in my pocket and when I walk away to get more change I always lock my truck.

Thats about all you can do.

J
 
I just recently started carrying pepperspray, so that I can have an option when I cannot carry a firearm. I have the ASP key defender. It is a long tube that does not look like your typical oc cannister. It was a present so I do not know how much they cost. I think it would work well in a situation such as this where lethal force is not needed, but going hand to hand is not the most comforting of options either. It is also rather difficult keeping situational awareness when you are hunched over vacuuming out your car at the car wash, so you could suggest the buddy system.
 
Contact the police - type out a report with description and turn it in to the local station - you never know this guy may have used the "modus operondi" before and they may have a file on him.
 
1. I don't EVER leave the keys in the car. Maybe in my own driveway if I happen to be working on it, but that's it. NEVER when out and about.

2. Have enough change first, so you don't leave it unattended.

Otherwise, good job keeping your wits about you. The only other thing you could have done is spray him with the hose.
 
Yep I would have gone back to work ask to speak to my boss and then explianed to him/her what happened and that I needed time to call the Police and tell them all about it .

If you had been a small women all alone you could have been kidnapped and raped by the guy .
 
During the winter I can't count the number of vehicles left running, keys in the ignition, unlocked, sitting outside of Dunkin Donuts and such. It is amazing.
 
Wow. I've never heard of such a thing happening. Doesn't surprise me, though. I hear about robberies and shootings that occur at the self-wash places in Houston. I've even been approached by vagrants looking for handouts in those places.

Like I say, it wouldn't surprise me.

I always keep my doors locked and my keys on me. Because of the potential for bad things happening to me at a car wash, I carry at all times. I try and wait for the bay closest to a change machine, too. I can keep my eye on the truck that way.

You kept your head on a swivel and recognized a potential problem early and addressed it. Reading this guy's actions in your post, I have to assume that his intentions were sincere and he just needed a ride. I've no problem with being charitable, but when someone plops his butt in my passenger seat uninvited, all bets are off.

Be careful out there.
 
My car alarm can be disabled temporarily with a few button presses from the remote. Check to see if your alarm system has that option or something similar.

Bring your valet key and leave that in the ignition on "ACC." Take your master key and lock your doors from the outside. Now you can wash your car without setting off the alarm.

Just to expand on the subject of keys; separate your house keys and your car keys. It's a PITA, but if disposable baby diaper guy had stolen your truck, he would have your house keys. And if you're one to leave your registration in the car, he would have your house keys and your home address. :eek:
 
Dunno, I wasn't there so I could not pick up on the guy's vibe, but I might have given the boy and his diaper a ride home to his baby.
Maybe not...
Of course, once he got into my rig without permission, he's in the hurt locker and might end up needing that diaper for himself, if ya know whudda mean.

Biker;)
 
He managed to leave his kid unattended and walk for a diaper, I would imagine he can walk his ass home the same distance.

How you left your vehicle unlocked and unwatched long enough for this guy to come back and get in the rig is something you should think about.
 
He says he left his infant sleeping (alone?!) and walked miles to his sister's house to borrow a single diaper?

You say "no" firmly, and he still gets in your truck?

Yeah, a real winner there.

Helpin' folks in need out is great, but then there's also creepy/stupid to think about.
 
Car Wash Incidents

Yeah, I keep my radar on at any self-service car wash.

From the Reno Gazette Journal, 26 Oct 2005:
Nevada: Man shoots would-be robber : "A 38-year-old man with a permit to carry a concealed firearm shot one of two men accused of trying to rob him at a car wash late Monday, Reno police said. Luis Alfredo Aguirre, 18, of Reno was booked into the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of attempted armed robbery. His cousin, Jorge Aguilar, 21, of Reno, was treated Tuesday at Washoe Medical Center for a bullet wound in his liver .... Police said the the cousins are known gang members."
Click to expand...
(Story archived at http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_gunwatch_archive.html)
 
Why do these mopes think that their "problem" is your problem?

I would have loaded the wash up with quarters and proceeded to spray out the passenger compartment of my truck:D
 
No metrosexual here- I was washing deer blood and mud off my truck.:neener:

The pepper-spray is a very good idea. I'm going to get some tomorrow. I will also separate my home and car keys. That sounds like a good idea too.

I only left my truck for less than thirty seconds the guy must have seen me walk to the change machine which was two bays down. Believe me though, I will be more aware of this in the future.

Also, the diaper didn't look new, it looked like it had been in his pocket for a week or more. The guy was dirty and he smelled bad. Also, he was black and he spoke with a Loozie-ana accent. There have been a number of Katrina evacuee related crimes in San Antonio lately and this may have affected my decision regarding his intentions. (Hopefully that last sentence or two wasn't enough to set off the censors). His body language and attitude were "off". I just got a bad vibe from him.

Is this incident really worth reporting to the police? No actual crime was committed. It honestly never occurred to me that something like this could occur at a car wash.
 
No metrosexual here- I was washing deer blood and mud off my truck.

The pepper-spray is a very good idea. I'm going to get some tomorrow. I will also separate my home and car keys. That sounds like a good idea too.

I only left my truck for less than thirty seconds the guy must have seen me walk to the change machine which was two bays down. Believe me though, I will be more aware of this in the future.

Also, the diaper didn't look new, it looked like it had been in his pocket for a week or more. The guy was dirty and he smelled bad. Also, he was black and he spoke with a Loozie-ana accent. There have been a number of Katrina evacuee related crimes in San Antonio lately and this may have affected my decision regarding his intentions. (Hopefully that last sentence or two wasn't enough to set off the censors). His body language and attitude were "off". I just got a bad vibe from him.

Is this incident really worth reporting to the police? No actual crime was committed. It honestly never occurred to me that something like this could occur at a car wash.
Click to expand...

Can't hurt for the police to have something on record in case this bozo really does do something in the future. The very worst they can do is throw your report in the waste basket.
 
Any way I look at it look at it, I would have grabbed my cell phone and dialed 911 as soon as the guy left my wash bay. He could have been telling the truth about the baby or lying. If he was telling the truth, he is neglecting his child and the police can take appropriate measure (at the very least, rush him home). If he is lying, he is up to no good and the police should know that as well.

My thoughts.
 
hmmm...

...I keep 2 sets of keys, one for everything, and one for vehicle...
Leave it runnin', lock it, do my business, get back into warm vehicle, and leave...:scrutiny:
 
Sheesh. Glad you're okay, first of all.

That's quite a reminder that the gun you don't have on you doesn't do you much good if you need it. NOT saying you should have drawn on this guy; I'm just saying that HAD you needed it, it was not where it needed to be.

Some years ago, there was a serial rapist/killer in the Austin area that used car washes as his target area. At that point, I decided I could either wash my car in my driveway or use one of the drive-through washes at the gas station. If I need a super hand wash, off we go to Bubbles and I go into the waiting room.

Glad you're here to write about it!

Springmom
 
I was in a similar situation the other day, on my lunch break, washing my car, when I see a car approaching with "bumping" music. I am usually real careful when in a situation like this where I am somewhat of a sitting duck, busy but in easy view of a bg. The man got out of his car by the vacuum cleaner and held up some CD's, "You want to buy some CD's?" I told him I was alright. Then took off my glove and unbuttoned my coat. (Yes, I can draw and shoot with the glove, but without would be better) The guy stayed in his car while I finished washing the car. Never attempting to wash or vacuumed his car. I am guessing he notice me as I continued to glace at him every so often. I am not sure if he had any other intentions, but I was aware and had he tried anything I would have had time to react. Some may say that we are a paranoid bunch but I disagree, Prepared and realistic is a little more how I view it. To add to the suspicion, I went to a shopping center a few miles down the road and there he was again, this time he saw me and drove away.
I feel that awareness is the key to staying out of a bad situation.
Just a side note, I would suggest to everyone who has not read Principles of Self Defense by Jeff Cooper to read it and study it, It is short and to the point, a must read.
 
gyp_c2 said:
...I keep 2 sets of keys, one for everything, and one for vehicle...Leave it runnin', lock it, do my business, get back into warm vehicle, and leave...
Click to expand...

Only problem is, if a BG really really wanted your vehicle, they just smash the window and take off in it. Granted you are in CO so that may not happen in the dead of winter, but how about in cooler times like summer?
 
Did you have a large folding knife with you? A 'tool' for opening boxes and cutting string probably wouldn't be frowned-upon at work and may be useful in any future incidents where a pistol may not be handy.
 
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