Armed Robbery Caught on Camera

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When it's least expected, you're elected. You're the star today. Smile, you're on Candid Camera. - http://www.televisiontunes.com/Candid_Camera.html

There I go showing my age again - that's the theme song from an old timey TV comedy show (1948-2004) called Candid Camera. Of course, this was long before the widespread use of the security camera, or even the idea that such a thing as a security camera might actually be ... a good idea.

There's not a thing comedic about the video at the link, of course, but it happens that defensive shooting trainer John Farnam long ago adopted the first line of the theme song as a watchword for his students, and a warning about how violent crime often happens. And that video offers a good illustration of the truth of that statement.

The only one who cares about you is you. Be always prepared. When it's least expected, you're elected! -- John Farnam
 
Drop straight to the ground behind the counter and light him up. Alternatively several times he turns away for a bit, if you have practiced drawing and shooting there semed plenty of time.
 
Giving him the money was by far the best choice, even when armed! If he's stupid for killing over a few hundred bucks you are really dumb for putting yourself in danger for a few hundred bucks.
It was very clear what he wanted. He had a mask on so he wan't worried about leaving them alive to ID him later.
 
Wow! That did happen fast. I agree with Coolluke01. He had a mask and gloves on. Let him have the money and look for a way to get your gun out should he start shooting. Just don't provoke him into shooting.

To prevent that theft, the employees would have had to recognized the threat before he got in and been prepared. Seems to me to be a great example of the need to anticipate, keep your head on a swivel and be alert for anything unusual as people get closer.
 
Giving him the money was by far the best choice, even when armed! If he's stupid for killing over a few hundred bucks you are really dumb for putting yourself in danger for a few hundred bucks.
It was very clear what he wanted. He had a mask on so he wan't worried about leaving them alive to ID him later.
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Or he assumed there were security cameras... There's no way to know if he's going to shoot or not. Yes, give him the money as long as you can't draw, but as soon as you think you can, go for it.

There have been too many times, even here in quiet Iowa, when what seemed to have been a 'simple' armed robbery turned into murder with completely compliant clerks. I would not be willing to take that chance if I had other options.

But each situation is different and must be decided on the fly. Glad no one was hurt!
 
Cool Luke,

I have never understood the argument you offer. Giving the money doesn't take the clerk out of danger. I'm thinking that when a gun is pointed at me, I'm in grave danger. Do you suggest trying to guess whether or not the violent criminal will shoot you after the robbery?
 
Two things:

First. The video opened with the woman already down. Apparently she saw the robber while he was still outside. Perhaps there would have been time to draw and fire after all had the clerk been prepared.

Second. Good trigger discipline. The robber never put his finger inside the trigger guard!

Correction. On watching the video a couple more times I now see that the woman was busy with a box on the floor near the door when the robber came in. She did not see him until after he was at the counter.
 
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The robber had been in that place before, before he held it up. Notice he always used his right arm to shield his face from the camera, and always faced away. He knew exactly where that camera was, and also how to avoid being ID. +1 on the trigger discipline!
 
It looked to me like an inside job or at least a guy that had lots of familiarity with the place and where the money was kept.

The thief was composed, cool and professional, plus he had the drop on the man behind the counter, so in this case, imho, the best course of action was to hand over the money.
 
I counted one time that he turned away. ONE time when he pointed the gun at the woman at the door. And this was only for a second. Every other time he had his eyes on the man. I think that drawing in that one second may have been a bad idea. Yes we all train to draw quickly but in that ONE second you would have to decide to draw, commit to a draw, and complete a flawless draw. I am glad it turned out ok for the individuals involved.

Go ahead and disagree, my flame suit is on.

As soon as hoodie boy turns away, you draw and fire.
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I hope that you don't mean after the "hoodie boy" is preparing to exit the building. This is NEVER a good idea.
 
What about pushing the money bag to the edge of the counter as if the clerk accidently pushed it over. Once the robber bends over to pick it up, light him up like a christmas tree.
 
It is always eiser to say what you would have done after you have seen what happened. It would be very hard to say what you would do if it happened to you.
Know if the woman would of had a gun, in open carry, she would have been target #1. Bad guy comes in. Sees gun on hip. He does one of two things. #1 hits women and dis arms her. #2 Shoots her first.
If she would have been carrying concealed, she had plenty of time to take the bad guy out, but, she would had to have been commited and willing to take another human life.
 
It must be fake. The "robber" never even checked to see if the other person was open carrying. All the forum experts say that's what robbers do.
 
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It was very clear what he wanted
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You're making a huge assumption that this is a rational individual when there is clear evidence to the contrary. Are you REALLY willing to (quite literally) bet your life on that?
 
Gregaw said:
...There's no way to know if he's going to shoot or not. Yes, give him the money as long as you can't draw, but as soon as you think you can, go for it.

There have been too many times, even here in quiet Iowa, when what seemed to have been a 'simple' armed robbery turned into murder with completely compliant clerks. I would not be willing to take that chance if I had other options...
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Exactly. When doing everything a criminal asks of you doesn't reduce the odds of him murdering you, can there be any other rational way to deal with the threat?
 
Cool Luke,

I have never understood the argument you offer. Giving the money doesn't take the clerk out of danger. I'm thinking that when a gun is pointed at me, I'm in grave danger. Do you suggest trying to guess whether or not the violent criminal will shoot you after the robbery?
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Well of course you are in grave danger, but if you aren't in a position to fight back, compliance is certainly a good way to at least buy more time for when you will have an opportunity to fight back.

And compliance often does take people out of danger. When the robber just wants the cash, then the robber usually leaves once he gets the cash. You can't count on that happening, of course, but it does happen with regularity.

Exactly. When doing everything a criminal asks of you doesn't reduce the odds of him murdering you, can there be any other rational way to deal with the threat?
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Really? What stats do you have to support this? I would be interested in seeing the data where compliant people are shot/killed at the same rate as those who did not comply, but that doesn't seem to be reality at all.
 
First of all people like this robber are dangerous and scary people.
He comes into the situation in a high state of nervous excitement,waving a gun around and could have easily shot someone even if he did not intend to.
So under the given circumstances compliance would be a good thing but as stated before being compliant aint no guarantee of safety when your dealing with a dangerous person such as this.
Last,I would like to know what Jon86 means in his last sentence of post #15.
If you are worried about this from a legal issue because of the state you live in that's fine but remember that guy leaving probably did not start his armed robbery career that day and will almost certainly do this again.
And sooner or later he will probably kill or maim someone else.
 
If you are worried about this from a legal issue because of the state you live in that's fine but remember that guy leaving probably did not start his armed robbery career that day and will almost certainly do this again.
And sooner or later he will probably kill or maim someone else.
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Perhaps he will, but in many states, that has no bearing on the legal issue. If the law allows you to defend yourself from imminent danger, you may be hard pressed to articulate how a fleeing felon represented an imminent danger. Concern for what he might do in the future does not generally constitute imminent danger.
 
For the record, the design/layout of the store sucks. He was able to come from the parking lot, through the door and nothing outside or inside altered his course to the register. What I mean to say is that there were no hurdles. Think about how hard it would be to rob a Best Buy, just because of all the hurdles and how (if one of the employees did have a firearm) an employee would have time to draw and engage.

Small business owners need to work with security professionals (not just police) to come up with a store design and layout that might give one time to actually resist or more effectively handle the situation.
 
Micro,since we both live in Texas we are under the same rule of law.
He is still an armed violent felon and he is leaving with your tangible goods...Namely your money.
Whose to say he doesnt turn around at the moment he gets to the door and decides to shoot you,as in dead men tell no tales??
 
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