Banquet robbery scenario

[HI express]

Went to a sit down dinner party last night..about 400 guests. Lots of strangers milling about. At one point one of the double doors flew open and about 8 men (in tuxedoes) came marching in double file. They were just there to escort the bride and bridegroom in, but in a brief second..my heart paused.

Took me back to a time when folks really put on a lot of jewelry, etc., to show off at these special occasions. For a while it seemed that almost every large banquet was quietly being robbed (quiet, because no one reported it to the police) but the MO was basically the same here in Los Angeles. Some time in the middle of all the ruckus several armed men (usually) four or more would walk into the hall where the dinner and dancing was going on and they would get everyone quiet and have them place their watches, wallets, and jewelry on the front table. The BGs would scoop up the swag in the table cloth and take off.

First, anyone else have this happen? Then if you were one of the 400 guests, what would you do?

 

[armedcitizen]

Never been in that situation but if I were I would comply. No wallet or watch is worth my life or anyone else's. It's not that I'm opposed to resistance but taking on several armed men in the environment you described is a no win situation. Even if you get the one closest to you, the others will most likely open up and you could have a blood bath on your hands. This response assumes they come in and only want to rob the place. If they come in shooting, or start shooting at some point, I think you try to take them out.

 

[Bayou Boy]

I've thought about this too.

I was at a wedding reception a couple of months ago for two very wealthy families and remarked to a friend that there must have been $10-$15 million in jewelry and watches there between the 500 guests.

I thought to myself,"I wonder how many here are CCW?"

 

[centac]

Um, was'nt this from one of the Batman movies?

I've never heard of this actually happening, though I suppose it is a (extremely) remote possibility. I also cannot imagine that hoods with such a distinctive MO would last very long before they wound up A) getting caught in a sting, or B) wind up at a wedding like mine where every second person was a cop, and not the kind to go anywhere unarmed. I have'nt done it personally, but I know a number of police who worked as security at parties and such, so I would bet where there is money, there is protection.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I doubt it's a very efficient way for criminals to gather much money: the odds on getting shot by somebody like me have to be much higher than the odds on getting shot robbing a bank, and the market for used watches probably isn't all that rich. If it worked as a method, I'm sure we'd hear about it more often.

 

[sm]

I agree with Standing Wolf.

Now here in AR , State Stats says one cannot carry in church...easier to bust in and take the cash.

I haven't been in church in awhile, been to a banquet tho'.
Don't always wear a watch , never wear jewlery - don't own any, don't always carry a wallet...

So I'll comply, but they gonna be disappointed - or surprised if they ask for more.

 

[GRB]

In a situation as described, the best thing to do maybe to comply if you can. Other things can happen besides them just grabbing loot and fleeing. If they start patting people down looking for more - well what about your pistol(s) when they get to you? Maybe a good idea to hide it, maybe not. What to do if they start beating people and, it looks like they are about to shoot someone. Of course if they start shooting or stabbing, well then the S has HTF and it is time to take action. You then have to decide, do you run or do you fight. Hope to never be in such a situation - too much like Pulp Fiction and, too much like some real life crimes I can recall.

All the best,
GB