Was armed and approched by a hustler.

[LaVere]

I had just returned to my van and it was raining lightly and my window
were lightly fogged up. As I started my van a 30 yr old person waved a
kind of a Hi. I Nodded back. He came over to the car as if he knew me. I
was not sure who he was or if I knew him. Since it was about 11:00 am
parking lot quite busy and I was alone. When he approached the
passenger side window.

I AM carrying a Kahr K40 on my left hip IWB. I went to lower the
passenger window with the electric switch to about 3-4 inches only. Well
it got away from me and went to about 8-10 inches. The man approached
the window and rather standing back to say hello, he stuck his head
nearly through the window and his right arm through to the elbow and
started to hassle about needing jumper cables.

As I'm reaching for my K40, in loud commanding voice ( I think ) "remove
your arm from my car". I repeated a second time. This time he backed off
and started another verbal approach.

I returned my hands to the driving position, rolled up the window and
took off. I did not have to pull the weapon, but it sure was nice to
know I had it.

I circled around the lot just to see what he was up to and he had
another car stopped. I looked to be a young lady. While I was not going to
get out, I was going to be a good witness. I stopped in back or the
ladies car ,not blocking her in, dialed 911 and gave a full report and
description of man woman and her car and licence. He looked at me a
couple of times on the phone.

I waited and watch them (Oh yes he got in her car) drive away to give
the police direction of travel.

I hope his mid set was I've been made and not hurt or rob the person.

My moral is I can't be in condition red 24/7 but that I can change to
red in a millisecond and still have enough time to react safely.

 

[Oldtimer]

LaVere, a couple of things came to mind as I read your post. #1: The "hustler" appproached the passenger side of your van. To me, that would almost spell out "carjacking", for most people would approach on the driver side. #2: The "hustler" stuck his right arm inside the open window. That is NOT the action that a stranded motorist would do. Picture yourself as being in need of jumper cables. Wouldn't you (A) approach the driver of another vehicle on the driver side, unless there was a passenger in that vehicle?, and (B) Would you even THINK of pushing your arm inside the open window of a total strangers vehicle?

One more item: You PROBABLY had the key in the ignition, or had it ready to put it in. Next time, if there is a next time, START your car before doing anything else. That will give you the option of immediately fleeing from the location.

Other than that, you done GOOD by notifying the police and using "command presence". All too many people are gullible!

 

[TarpleyG]

You should have rolled up the window on his head THEN drove off. Next time, he'll think about sticking body parts into places they don't belong.

Greg

 

[riverdog]

OR. . .he was just a stranded motorist with poor social skills and the lady in the car gave him a ride to where he could buy some jumper cables. We'll just never know.

BTW, on this note, the way batteries are these days, when they die, they really die and jumpers won't work unless you can start the car from the other guys battery. Then drive someplace and get a new one -- BTDT.

 

[LaVere]

You should have rolled up the window on his head THEN drove off. Next time, he'll think about sticking body parts into places they don't belong.

Greg

That was a thought but I didn't want to hurt the window.

 

[LaVere]

LaVere, a couple of things came to mind as I read your post. #1: The "hustler" appproached the passenger side of your van. To me, that would almost spell out "carjacking", for most people would approach on the driver side. #2: The "hustler" stuck his right arm inside the open window. That is NOT the action that a stranded motorist would do. Picture yourself as being in need of jumper cables. Wouldn't you (A) approach the driver of another vehicle on the driver side, unless there was a passenger in that vehicle?, and (B) Would you even THINK of pushing your arm inside the open window of a total strangers vehicle?

One more item: You PROBABLY had the key in the ignition, or had it ready to put it in. Next time, if there is a next time, START your car before doing anything else. That will give you the option of immediately fleeing from the location.

Other than that, you done GOOD by notifying the police and using "command presence". All too many people are gullible!

Thank you what a nice reply. Well sir, I don't recall if the car was runing or not. But that is always the first thing I do. When I approch someone to offer assistance I always stay 10 feet ways. No hands in pocket, and ask if they need help. I hope the lady is ok.


Thank you
Gordon

 

[6655321]

Next time this happens, if it is a carjacker, just grab his arm and floor it

 

[psyopspec]

BTW, on this note, the way batteries are these days, when they die, they really die and jumpers won't work unless you can start the car from the other guys battery.

I would beg to differ, at least in colder climates. And what else would you jump them off of besides another battery?

 

[psyopspec]

double tap

 

[Manedwolf]

I waited and watch them (Oh yes he got in her car) drive away to give
the police direction of travel.

I hope his mid set was I've been made and not hurt or rob the person.

Yeah, well, in that sort of case, that's what you call "Darwinism in action", unfortunately.

 

[ka50]

One day I had ????ty thing happen to me.

I was driving down the interstate and hit the rim laying on the road, had a blowout, did 180 and bumped my car a little.

I pulled over and started changing the tire. As I was done, my battery went out.

So, here I am, black shoes, black pants, black leather jacket, black car, 6'1 200lbs... at 1am, trying to signal down someone to jump me. I stayed for around an hour (there were plenty of cars passing by) until someone of Muslim descent stopped to help me out...

I was kind of scared, too, cuz I wasn't packing at that time (didn't even own a gun). Now if I go on a long car trip I always have a 9mm on me.

The moral of the story being is you never know when someone needs help, however the guy sticking his head into your window is way out of line.

 

[riverdog]

I would beg to differ, at least in colder climates. And what else would you jump them off of besides another battery?

When my battery died it simply stopped accepting a cgarge somewhere between my house and work. The abttery would not accept a charge from the guy who tried to give me a jump. Called insurance company roadside assistance and they sent a truck with a start up unit that acts like a battery and the car started using that as a power source. Drove to the repair shop that works on my truck and determined the battery was gone, would not take a charge. No indications at all before it died. Maybe it was just my battery, but the guy in the shop indicated that this was happening a lot with the newer batteries. Replaced it with a new Interstate and have had no problems. YMMV

 

[joab]

IMHO
Your first mistake was acknowledging his greeting.
Your second was entertaining the thought of conversing with him b rolling your window down

Sounds cold but these days that's just the way it is

Other than that you did good

 

[CAnnoneer]

Car trouble? AAA membership is only 45 dollars an year and they give you free tow within a few miles and free minor repairs.

I don't think I would have let the scumbag carjack the lady. Many women are just too nice and/or scared to say no to an ostensibly reasonable request. Letting something like that happen is a hard thing to carry on one's conscience. It is better to confront and drive the perp away. Most of them are cowards anyway, looking for easy prey; they back down fast when they sense determined resistance.

 

[Preacherman]

+1 on the battery warnings. A couple of months ago, my car battery gave out. I'd been driving around all morning, running errands. Parked the car outside the bank, walked inside, came out, tried to start - nothing! I tried to jump-start it from another vehicle - no dice. Eventually had to get the car towed to the dealership, where they confirmed the battery had died and replaced it. It seems that modern batteries are designed to last well, but when they die, they're dead, and there's nothing one can do about it.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

"he stuck his head nearly through the window and his right arm through to the elbow"

uh...not the sharpest knife in the drawer to have not seen a potential Chinese Puzzle. Kinda like a rolling Havahart trap.

'oops...sorry...must have hit the button the wrong way....'

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[TarpleyG]

We get about 5 years out of batteries down here. Good ones anyway (OEM, etc.). Colder climates should get more life...

Greg