I got caught flat-footed today

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Intrepid Dad

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I went to an electronics store in a strip mall today and when I went back to my car I was caught off guard. First, a brief background. I received my CCW back in December 2006, so I'm still pretty new at this. I have a Springfield XD 40 in a Bianchi Carry-lok holster in the 3:30 position. I conceal it with a sports coat.

Since I drive a Suburban, I usually park my car further away from the stores so I don't have to fit it in between other cars. As I came out of the store, I thought I was practicing fairly good situational awareness. I looked around at various people moving through the parking lot and didn't see anything unusual. I reached my car towards the back of the lot. There were no cars in any of the contiguous parking spaces and no one was near me. It was the early afternoon.

I unlocked my car, got in and shut the door, put my key in the ignition and locked my seatbelt. This probably took all of 5 - 7 seconds. When I looked up from locking my seatbelt, there was a guy by my driver's side window. He was so close he was basically leaning on the outside of my door. He looked half-way normal so I cracked the window and asked what he needed. The guy proceeded to give me a sob story about how his mom needed help, they were visiting from Tempe, Arizona and they were stranded, and his mom had health issues and they didn't have any money....

I cut the guy off by saying that I couldn't help him. Without saying another word, he turned around and walked off. As he did, I looked down and realized that my sport coat was trapped under my seatbelt and my gun was wedged between my kidney and the car seat. I couldn't have accessed it if I needed it without unlocking my seatbelt and moving my coat.

As for lessons learned, I have a couple at least for now:

1. Seeing how the guy appeared virtually out of nowhere, I'm pretty sure he was lurking by one of the other cars and moved towards me quickly as I was getting into my car. I obviously need to be more diligent in scanning the cars immediately around me and maintaining situational awareness as I'm stepping into my car.

2. I'm a fanatic about using my seatbelt and have many years of using my seatbelt without thinking. It seems that I need to develop a new habit of starting the car, backing out of the space, and begin moving forward before I lock my seatbelt, making sure my coat doesn't cover my gun.

I got lucky that the encounter turned out to be nothing, but I shouldn't have to depend on luck. That's why I started carrying. So, can anyone think of any other lessons I should have learned? I appreciate your collective wisdom.
 
This might sound kinda weird, but it's because of the seatbelt thing that I usually have a concealed pistol in an IWB AND another one beside the seat. :)

What the hey, it's a good excuse to get another pistol.

Andy
 
The guy was probably a professional panhandler and harmless. But he did take you by surprise which shows you need to improve your situational awareness.

Seatbelts for me aren't a problem. I always have a pistol within reach cocked and locked in a holster just below the seat.
 
I don't have a CCW (yet) but in this situation, I think it would be beneficial if you are able to train yourself to do what I do, I fasten my seatbelt without needed to look at it. It could give you a couple seconds.
 
The one reason I DON'T buckle up when I get into my car/truck. I've had that happen once...not again. When I sit down I start the engine and pull off. I'll buckle up at the edge of the parking lot.

Mark.
 
And the most obvious thing is to lock the door the fist second you're able to. The reason I say "the first second" is because if you lock the door before you close it, then you might set your alarm (if you have one). If you don't have an alarm, the best time to lock up is before you close the door. If nothing else, you buy yourself a second or two before someone could try to get you out of the seat.
 
That's why a cross-draw BUG is great. You can access it more easily in the car. A snub .38 is great for that, as are the single stack polymer autos like the PF9 and Kahrs.
 
Thanks everyone for the responses so far. Locking the door immediately is a good one, as is locking my seatbelt without looking. I'm going to work on not fastening my seatbelt until I've got the car moving forward. Overall, I do need to improve my situational awareness.
 
He looked half-way normal so I cracked the window and asked what he needed. The guy proceeded to give me a sob story about how his mom needed help, they were visiting from Tempe, Arizona and they were stranded, and his mom had health issues and they didn't have any money....
Click to expand...

This guy sure gets around, I think he was in the Kroger parking lot in Houston last week :)

These panhandlers are a good test of your situational awareness, but lots of robberies/assaults start out with "got a light?" or "spare change?" so don't make a snap judgment as to "looks half-way normal".

--wally.
 
You will learn from this one,and as time goes along.
Not that I know it all by ANY means.just sayin'.

I always lock the door before sitting down,and shut the door as soon as I possibly can.The seat belt goes on last,and maybe not until I pull out of the immediate area.
..I was surprised once,and have not forgotten it.And it's been many years ago ,and luckily a very harmless panhandler.
 
Caught flat-footed

Besides CCW, I also have a quality fixed blade knife, setting in the floor depression, on the left side of the drivers seat.

I don't wear a sport coat, but I have gotten into the habit of slightly pulling up my outer shirt so I don't sit on it while driving. This also makes access to my Glock 19 easier.
 
One of my friends has a holster that is attached to his seat belt. Once the seat belt is in place, he then transfers his carry weapon to that holster.
 
When you get in the car, open your jacket and buckle the seat belt under your jacket (i.e., raise the jacket up so it sits on top of the belt.) This will make drawing it easier.
 
lapses

It's the same principle that women do when their attention becomes focused in their purse while searching for something and they become temporarily unaware of their surroundings.

Perhaps too, you should try to park that large machine -front forward to give you the ability of a one move exit.
 
Man, I just posted in a thread about panhandling gone wrong awhile back. I posted a few articles and cited several incidents where people in my region alone were robbed, carjacked, and even killed, several in just a month's time in one area, where it started out as an alleged panhandling attempt turned violent armed robbery. Other people in that thread were talking about how they maintain distance at gas stations etc., where this commonly occurs...

I used to think panhandlers were harmless. Not any more. Sure, many of them still are, but too many of them are hardened criminals pretending to be harmless.

As for the other tactics you and others have mentioned... I've noticed a few things about my awareness as I finally received my CWP a couple months ago, I conciously, and now sometimes subconciously, started carrying my groceries, soda, or whatever in my weak hand in the parking lot, along w/ keys etc., allowing for quick entry into vehicle, while also leaving my strong hand completely free to get to IWB holster if needed. Of course there may be exceptions, where I'm conciously prepared to get rid of whatever I'm holding to do same, if need be.

Another thing I started doing, as someone else mentioned, is locking the door immediately upon entry. I know at least one of my cars won't let me lock the door until I close it (preventing keys locked in car), but both my vehicles have panic alarms which can be activated at the press of a button, which I'm prepared to do as I approach the vehicle.

Sounds like you were fairly well prepared as you mention, being aware, but still got caught off guard. You are doing well by continuing to be aware and think along with the collective group here, IMO.

Another preventative measure, something I've done for years for convenience, and as it turns out it has a tactical advantage too, is backing into parking spaces. I also drive a large SUV, as well as a sedan. I find people in parking lots are pretty stupid and inconsiderate, whether walking or driving, it seems some people are looking to get hit, in some cases, they really are (ins. fraud, etc.). So, no matter how good of a driver you are, someone can still screw you in a parking lot, and you w/ your big SUV, all other things being equal, who do you think if gonna get the blame, especially in my case w/ tinted windows...

Therefore, a long time ago, I started backing into parking spaces. I found I had more control over my environment, as I approached the parking space, particularly in the SUV, I'm at a practical/tactical advantage, seeing my surroundings as I drive up to the space, I can see any vehicles or people in the immediate area much more so than I can walking up to the vehicle. When backing in, other people in the row driving have little choice but to wait for me, whereas backing out of a space, I have to wait for them. When parked, my own vehicle can create a blindspot, someone could be hiding on the other side of my own vehicle, as an extreme example. Then once seated in the vehicle, I'm getting my bearings, starting the car, looking out for the surprise visitor, as you experienced, meanwhile cars and people may be approaching or passing my vehicle from behind if I'm pulled forward into the space, I'm at a tactical and practical disadvantage, having to look out for predators, speeding cars, other people backing up, toddler offspring of careless parents, etc.

So, in addition, after my Self Defense awakening, I realized that if the SHTF so to speak, I'm much more able to safely jam on the gas and get the hell out of there if I'm backed into the space, compared to pulling in front ways. Also, if intentionally boxed in by a predator vehicle, I can at least see and make decisions, ram em, get around em, draw, shoot, take cover, etc. In youre case, since you generally park in outlying areas of the lot anyway, you may do this already, just by pulling forward into a double space w/ the end result being your faced out to exit by driving forward, but for the benefit of others, thought I'd mention it.

Those are my thoughts anyway...


* Back into parking spaces

* Carry stuff in weak hand if at all possible

* While holding keyes w/ thumb on panic button in weak hand also, if at all possible

* Be aware as you approach vehicle

* If necessary/practical do a walk around before getting into vehicle

* Only unlock driver's door w/ remote if alone (some remotes will allow you to just open one door, instead of all doors)

* Try to remember to look inside your own vehicle before entering

* Lock the door immediately upon entering and/or closing the door

* If you do look down to find the ignition or whatever, remember to pan around on and off as you get your stuff together and start the car

* Start the car immediately, even if you planned to do something else before pulling away, in case someone does approach you, you're ready to drive away already

* And as other's mention, I'd personally pull away before doing the seat belt, if it conflicts w/ your draw/placement

* Sometimes, I'll do something to make the CCW more accesible while driving, such as adjusting clothing or something, just keep your local laws in mind anytime you may play w/ the concealment or lack there of, if you change anything, and undo whatever you did before getting pulled over or exiting the vehicle, etc.

Keep it safe, thanks for posting and giving us all something to think about...

Karz
 
Great thread.

I'm getting a little complacent, myself.

In reviewing my own actions on returning to my car, I realized that while I'm putting stuff in the trunk, I'm thinking about things like milk jug placement so it won't leak and why'd that dumb clerk bag my hot chicken with my frozen food.

Perfect time for a ne'er-do-well to institute the approach phase.

Thanks for the heads-ups.
 
When I sit down I start the engine and pull off. I'll buckle up at the edge of the parking lot.
Click to expand...

+1+1+1

I do the same thing. I usually dont lock mine till I am on the road ( soon after I pull on the street.
My dad was hit broad side one time. The drivers door was on the right side of where the arm rest should have been. He was pushed into the passenger seat up against the door. Had he been buckled, it would have killed him. He come out with only a minor scratch on his finger. (<<<just another reason I wait so long to click it)
 
Flat footed, eh? At least it wasn't a touch attack! *laughs*


Seriously though, I've had a few "close" encounters like that. Nothing serious, but helps you maintain vigiliance.
 
I know at least one of my cars won't let me lock the door until I close it (preventing keys locked in car)
Click to expand...
Many car makes WILL let you lock the door even when it is open. This can often be worked around by pulling the handle first. Pull the handle and, while holding the handle, lock the door.

Intrepid Dad, Thanks for the heads up. It's far too easy for all of us to simply think "I'm pretty safe here", as we let our guard down.
 
karz10 had really good tactics, most of which I have been practicing for years. I always back in a parking space both away and at home. Nobody is going to box me in in a weak position. The funny thing about parking rear of car first in the driveway is that a few of my neighbors do it also now. I have lived in my house for over 20 years and have never told anyone my reasons for parking my cars the way I do and few other things I do. But I notice now a few of my neighbors are doing the same as I do nowadays. I don't know whether it is coincidence or realization of the situation
 
I had a retired cop ask me once, if I was a cop, after he caught me scanning away....I live in the inner city, and had people knock on my door, go to my back yard, side yard, asking to do snow shoveling, yard work, and or telling hard luck stories for money. They are crackheads, and would kill you in a minute for $5, if they think they could overpower, stab, and or shoot you. That is why you don't turn your back on them, keep your distance, and have your hand on your gun....That is why I carry front pocket....
Street people know who carries, and leave them alone.....
Live in the inner city for a few years, you will smart up if you do not want to become a victim.........
 
Lots of great advice from everyone. I clearly have work to do. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far.

Intrepid Dad
Colorado Springs, CO
 
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