Jim March
Member
SM's recent posts on situational awareness have been a big help.
I had a recent incident right along these lines.
I've been doing some freelance computer tech support lately, among friends and acquiescences...mostly those involved with election oversight, which is mainly a lefty/Dem bunch.
On one Saturday gig, myself and a husband/wife couple were going to a computer store for parts in their fairly standard sedan...fairly extensive computer bits, figure $500ish worth all total in big pile of brand-name store bags on a rear seat.
They suggest lunch out on the way back to their place while we've already started rolling. Cool, but I mention we'll need the parts into the trunk. Hubby says "sure, when we get there". I say "wait, no, let's pull into a gas station and transfer so we don't do so right there in the eatery parking lot".
This is Tucson AZ, which can be a fairly rough town.
We get to the eatery, and he pulls into the back parking lot towards the very back.
Problem: the whole parking lot is enclosed by a 6ft brick wall fence, except for a 3ft opening with no gate at the back leading into what's obviously a residential area. I explain that I don't like the looks of this. Too easy for kids or others to come popping in the back, raid a car's contents and then be gone back out the rear where vehicles can't follow...and they're most likely to raid whatever is right near that back exit.
So we parked more towards the middle.
What SM has been preaching is basic streetwise awareness. And it's a good thing.
I had a recent incident right along these lines.
I've been doing some freelance computer tech support lately, among friends and acquiescences...mostly those involved with election oversight, which is mainly a lefty/Dem bunch.
On one Saturday gig, myself and a husband/wife couple were going to a computer store for parts in their fairly standard sedan...fairly extensive computer bits, figure $500ish worth all total in big pile of brand-name store bags on a rear seat.
They suggest lunch out on the way back to their place while we've already started rolling. Cool, but I mention we'll need the parts into the trunk. Hubby says "sure, when we get there". I say "wait, no, let's pull into a gas station and transfer so we don't do so right there in the eatery parking lot".
This is Tucson AZ, which can be a fairly rough town.
We get to the eatery, and he pulls into the back parking lot towards the very back.
Problem: the whole parking lot is enclosed by a 6ft brick wall fence, except for a 3ft opening with no gate at the back leading into what's obviously a residential area. I explain that I don't like the looks of this. Too easy for kids or others to come popping in the back, raid a car's contents and then be gone back out the rear where vehicles can't follow...and they're most likely to raid whatever is right near that back exit.
So we parked more towards the middle.
What SM has been preaching is basic streetwise awareness. And it's a good thing.
