Pucker moment at the house tonight.

[Noxx]

Lemme just say, that some people don't have no kind of common sense.

Coming home just now, I'm getting the feeling through the last few turns to my house, that the car behind me is following me. I live in a nice quiet neighborhood, but this is the same nice quiet neighborhood where we had a mass shooting a few days ago, so.... like I always say, the bogeyman don't make appointments, right?

Anyway I pull up into my driveway a little harder than usual and get off fast and kick my visor up so I can get a good look at the car as it goes by. Maybe it's somebody I know. Maybe it's somebody I know and don't want to see, right? As I'm getting off the bike, the guy is pulling up in front of my driveway, facing up the wrong side of the street, and rolling his window down.

Alright so that's enough right there, now every alarm I have is going off, and the dogs are trying to come through the front door.. I'm into my pocket for my .38. It's dark, but that's why God in his infinite wisdom created Crimson Trace. I don't recognize this guy, and I'm about a RCH from pulling if I see anything I don't like.

"Doooooood, sorry to bug you but what kind of bike is that?"

"It's a V-Max."

"That kicks ass man, thanks."

.....and off he goes.


Funny I get that "What the hell is that?" question a lot, which I consider odd since Max has been around forever, but since I bought mine I hear it all the time. I just don't usually have people tailing me home in the dark to ask it.

I need a cup of Decaf about now. Yeesh.

I'm keeping it in the back of mind that I may have just been interviewed by someone who wanted my bike at a later date, but I'd like to think it was just a wayward yahoo who never learned about not making people nervous.

 

[Riss]

Figures, a dumb kid. Was probably not even born yet when I had a poster for the new V-Max hanging on my wall. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. AND that is why you go for the gun, BUT do not pull it. If you only suspect something is wrong. BTW, what is RCH ?

 

[sm]

Coming home just now, I'm getting the feeling through the last few turns to my house, that the car behind me is following me. I live in a nice quiet neighborhood...

Glad you are all right.

Suggestion if I may-
When one suspects they are being followed:

-Do not continue on normal route.

If in fact being cased/stalked one is best to try to not give away normal
traffic routes.


-Take turns to see if in fact you are being followed, and if so, do not go home, office, or wherever you were heading.

You do not want someone to know where you live, work, or those of girlfriend/boyfriend, or other family.
These persons can be used against you - you were being used to find out where these folks live /work.

Remember, do not go where trouble is, leave if trouble shows up and have mindset, skill sets to deal with trouble if need.

Evade.
Head to a fire station, or police station for instance.
Lay on the horn and attract attention.

Note: New neighborhoods often have one way in /out. This was to discourage criminals from having multiple entry and exits.

These are the ones with "circles" , just one nice easy "arc" with houses/Apts/Condos/ Businesses, built on both sides of the street, leading to a main street, and this street is often connected to a single /limited enter/exit.

Sounds secure doesn't it?

Criminals will box you in and you cannot evade. Now you run to home/office, and they now know where you live/work/ or those dear to you.

Hence the reason Early Signals are critical and the earlier the better.
This also why mirrors are set as they should for defensive, assertive, aggressive and offensive driving.

Lose that tail.
Early, on known / familiar streets if can.

a. Old neighborhoods will have "dead end" streets and cul-de-sacs, and if turn onto one of these, criminals have you boxed.
b. New neighborhoods will have one way in /out and again you are boxed.

Check six before getting into death boxes.

IF, you get caught, stay in vehicle or on motorcycle.

A Bike allows more maneuverability in cutting through a yard and down a sidewalk and past a block, for instance.

In a vehicle, pull a 180* , or pretend you are pulling into a driveway and let car following pass and then hit reverse and leave.

Tip: a circular drive with no cars allows one to pull in and head back from whence they came.


Worse case, in a vehicle- "Nail er Ned": and punch a hole to evade, escape.
Reverse is best...
Metal & Weight have advantages.

This is why I hate air bags...sometimes the air bag will not deploy in reverse as it will going forward.
Sometimes...

 

[Noxx]

BTW, what is RCH ?

An inappropriate and very slim unit of measurement.

 

[conserv1]

But.. what does the "R" stand for?

 

[notorious]

Wait... you have a CCW and you live in Covina? There's only a few possibiliies there... Blue Knight?

I would not pull into my driveway, that's for sure. I would not go to the police station either. Guess where all the cops are? Not at the station, they are on patrol.

Unless you go to a LAPD station where they have desk officers, most suburbs have clerks, dispatchers, and cadets working the desk. They can help by calling the cops as well as anyone else but not much more. It will save you a trip to make a report though... but you already knew that.

I would rather pull into a busy strip mall or plaza where there's a lot of foot traffic. Where you are, I would go to the Covina Mall in that Elephant Bar section where the police presence is higher.

On a bike, I would definitely just get away and I wouldn't bother stopping too long at intersections or red lights. A lot of bike jackings happen that way.

 

[conw]

I could hear the "doooood, that's awesome, thanks" as I read it. I know exactly the type.

As an interesting little addition to SM's advice, a sure-fire way to tell you're being followed, IF there is a traffic circle/round-about with 3-4 entry points, you can go into it and go a full 360 degrees, then leave in the turn one turn past where you entered. If they stay behind you, you're DEFINITELY being followed.

 

[sm]

I would not go to the police station either. Guess where all the cops are? Not at the station, they are on patrol.

Allow to me clarify.

First off, one should learn to think on their feet and really fast!

Second, times have changed.

Third, there is always finding a Cop or Cops in a parking lot doing paperwork, or parked in front of a diner, gas station, rest stop, EMT, Emergency Room of a Hospital, or ...Fire Station.
Fire Stations fix some of the best meals one will ever eat, and these nice FD folks invite Cops, and EMTs to come have meals with them.

Professional Courtesy and Respect of others that run To problems.

Yes, in the old days cops left the station and satellite stations.
Now it depends on where one is and what is going on in that location.

I know one Satellite or Sub Station that is pretty much closed during the day, at night, it is occupied and the Officers ( both ladies and gents) are a mix of various skill sets and "street savvy".

Re: Lighted Parking Lots with a crowd.

Again, fast thinking with common sense will keep you from getting hurt, or worse.

It does not matter the signs "No Loitering" , "No Loud Music" are posted.

Some very "questionable" folks gather under the lights to crank up radios, pimp girls, sell dope, and do illegal gun deals.

You roll up honking a horn when some dude had popped his trunk from inside his vehicle and another dude has eased by tossing in cash, or dope, or both into that trunk , and then he/she (buyer) pops the trunk and the guns/ dope are tossed into the trunk by yet another vehicle...you are going to get shot.

These auto opening/remote opening car trunks and SUV back doors are a real handy tool , as one does not have to get out to open or close them.
Driver stays behind the wheel his passengers" (backup) stays in the vehicle watching 360* and in communications with look outs in strategic place in and around that lot.

The get a signal trouble is coming, be they Cops or Rivals, or just a lone car cutting through a lot to negate having to stop and wait at a stop light, and these "questionable persons" are gone in the blink of an eye.

Others provide distraction , impede cops from getting a good look at vehicle, or giving chase really early.


These folks gather, knowing full well the Cops are going to run them off, still with all the loud music, the distractions, some serious deals are going down.
Cell Phones coordinate, and one second a lot is empty, the next everyone shows up as arranged as some 'business needs transacting".

I have watched the same lot use numerous times at night/ wee hours.

I have also watched the exchange of gunfire, and I assure you these were not the model of criminals many have stereotyped.

It looked like a IDPA/ISPC match going on. Folks using nice guns , and one night Glock 40 was the preference, AEB the spent casings.

Shooting on the move, skilled mag changes using cover, two and three person teams working a "stage" and even some with shotguns keeping the shotgun running...plus the ARs and AKs...

You don't want to roll up to the wrong place. I know a lady out of town , that felt uncomfortable and went to a end of a hotel, thinking it would safe.
She took off, that was a "club" down there, not part of the hotel and those Lesbians were dressed nice, but must have been some serious dope dealing as these lady hauled out of there and found a Cop at a Waffle House a few blocks down.

Cop said he does go where she had been , unless he has other units for backup. It is not safe, even if it is a all girl joint.

Hence the suggestion to adhere to ADEE , and using mirrors and checking around you, not just your six.
Cell phones work great for Criminals, they can and will follow you and then hand you off to another vehicle to tail, and repeat with another.

The have scoped out the area for a take down and might have practiced plans on boxing you in, or forcing you to go where they want you to...like a lighted lot where their friends are.

Never ever roll into a Self Serve Car Wash that is lit thinking you can hide, ...heck even in daylight you do not know well.
Same Car Wash got a off duty police officer robbed at gun point at 11pm , one hooker shot at 12 noon, and 5 car jackings/ thefts at various time...all within 3 days.

Car Washes have always been known for "Rock-n-Roll stars" , Sex , Dope, car jackings,/thefts, etc, and being stalked/cased.

Or id a good looking gal, or kids with parents, or being followed if you have work truck with tool boxes, trailers, equipment...copper wire...

They can read J.Doe Company on the truck and know where the office is with other stuff locked behind gates...
Following you home with that truck and parking it in your garage, even driveway is less difficult to take from you, than where this truck would be kept by the company .



Teh Intraw3z is full of "gotta haves" and "gotta do's".

Nah...

No absolutes...

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

You really like that drawing don't you?

P.S. This being America and not jolly old England, I doubt many of us have access to traffic circles on a routine basis.

 

[notorious]

There's quite a few traffic circles on the westside and even quite a few in central suburbs now. I guess it's the new fashionable thing.

I go through one in Pasadena all the time.

 

[GrandMoffBrandon]

P.S. This being America and not jolly old England, I doubt many of us have access to traffic circles on a routine basis.

True but couldn't a similar test be done using four left-hand turns inside a city? Essentially, you "go in a circle" and if they're behind you the whole way, I think it says pretty strongly you're being followed.

 

[conw]

Yeah, I guess so, but that isn't quite as fun Plus you might get got before you make all the turns to know for sure.

No idea what happened with the quintuple posting.

 

[WardenWolf]

If I see someone I don't recognize following me, I drive past my house without pausing and circle around. If the person is still following me after I get to the end of my street (my street loops around), I reach down and unzip the pouch containing my Ruger P90 .45 and start heading for the main road. I'm prepared to use my car's speed to lose a pursuer.

 

[notorious]

The quintiple posting occurred on a lot of threads, think it was a server meltdown.

As for losing a tail, just make 3 right turns at 3 successive streets and that will pretty much give 90% of the tailers away.

 

[sm]

Mike the Wolf wrote:

If I see someone I don't recognize following me, I drive past my house without pausing and circle around. If the person is still following me after I get to the end of my street (my street loops around), I reach down and unzip the pouch containing my Ruger P90 .45 and start heading for the main road. I'm prepared to use my car's speed to lose a pursuer.

You are a wise man.

Folks, Mr. Wolf just gave an excellent example of Strategy & Tactics.

 

[notorious]

Depends on how paranoid you are... I wouldn't lose them too far from home because you want to be able to get home in case it's a tactic to chase you off while the 2nd team goes after your family now that you (the primary threat and defender) are out of the picture.

Just saying... being paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

A lot of bike jackings happen that way.

how many bikes get jacked? never heard of one

 

[expvideo]

Consider that maybe this guy saw you at the ATM or something and was following you with bad intentions, but when you pulled into your house he thought that maybe he could hit an even bigger jackpot by looting the place when you leave. Now he sees that you have noticed him, so he makes some comment about liking your bike and leaves, only to come back later now that he knows where you live.

Now that's probably not the case, but you have to consider these things. As much as your home gives you a feeling of security, you never ever want to go to your home if you are being followed. I would follow Mike the Wolf's advice. Pass your house and double back. If the car is still following you, it is time to escape and evade. Lose him. Do not confront him. He could have had a problem with the way you looked at him or he might think that you were that guy that tried to shank him in prison, so when he rolls down that window you should be going into condition red. Creapy cars following you at night and then rolling down the window are bad news. Not this time, fortunately for you, but it could have been a lot worse.

 

[22lr]

Ive had a few cars follow me for to long so I just go around the block. No car that isnt following you will follow you around the block. It works, fast, and then if they are following you id drive over to the police station.

Am I paranoid, no. I carry a 9mm and a 12ga in my car what do I have to be paranoid about. Better to play safe then sorry. Who knows who the car is and what they want.

 

[Macmac]

I have a bike that gets similar querries, a 1981 xs 850 Sh triple.

Most everyone thinks it is some 'new' prototype.

The traffic circle thing got me laughing. Where I live these are rare, but if there was one, I can see me popping up the chasers 6. probably totally wrong thing to do, but it sure would be fun and with the snowmobile head lamp on Hi a pretty miserable place to be for the chaser.

With a bike like your's it should be no problem to loose just about anything.

 

[Noxx]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

You know the funny thing is, I know full well that the first action on the list if you think you are being followed is NOT to go to your house. There's a number of circumstances I can attribute it to (tired, cold, etc) but it just comes down to a mental failure. Of course now I'm kicking myself for it, and I slept pretty light last night.

I really do think it was just some random goofball, let's hope so.

 

[notorious]

I do give it to you, I haven't ridden in this frozen SoCal weather for a month or more. To me, frozen is anything below 60F on a bike. I hate frozen hands and noses.

 

[Noxx]

Ah it ain't so cold.

Besides, Vmax ownership comes with an inclination, nay an obligation to get out and least once a week and hunt down either a Hells Yuppies Sportster, or an unsuspecting squid.

Failure to properly feed your Max results in rough idling, plug fouling, and unreasonably long rear tire life.

 

[Ben86]

You kept on top of the situation without overreacting. Good job.

Some people don't realize when they are being creepy. Then again some people ask stupid questions to cover their true intentions.

A few days ago I might have had an experience with a potential pick pocket, while shopping for wallets no less! Once I made eye contact with him he froze, turned and fiddled with the wallets on the shelf for about 10 seconds then walked off. You just gotta stay aware. Most criminals, when realizing they have lost the element of surprise, will stop.

 

[notorious]

Nice bike. Always loved those things... wait... who you calling a Hell's Yuppie? I ain't no Hell's Yuppie. I am 100% Earth's Angels.

Living where you are, you must get so tired of the squids blasting up and down Route 39 all day. I know I do when I pass through there. My friend just had a head-on there at GMR when a squid crossed the double yellow and took him out, shame.

Back to the topic at hand, there's been a rash of home invasions in the general area. A few friends in SanGabe and another one in Rowland were victimized that way within the last few months.

Be careful out there. The economy is not improving anytime soon and neither is the civility of our fellow man... or woman.

One of our buddies had his home taken over by 3 young girls (early 20s) with guns! He wasn't home but his grandma was and the girls held her at gunpoint while they cleaned out the house.