Self-Defense Forge: Chronicles of Self-Defense, Analysis of Situations

There have been two armed robberies in my apartment complex in the last week. The office, much to my incredible anger, refuses to release information about the incidents to me when I call. I'm actually considering suing them because they won't tell me what they know, and I'm a dadgummed resident. I'm not talking about super specific things either... I'm talking things like "What part of the property did this happen on?" Alas, I digress.

Tonight, I was leaving my complex late to go over to my parents house. As normal, I had my flashlight and my 1911 on me. As I neared my car, a silver Chrysler Magnum pulled up, and then went past me. Busy complex, nothing unusual there. I got in my car, and noticed that the Magnum had pulled around a loop, and was headed back my way. He was going pretty fast, but he slowed down when he got to the point that I couldn't back out.

In less than five seconds of him turning around, I was partially blocked in. I literally couldn't back out to my rear right, because he was there. Then, he stopped directly behind my vehicle. Keep in mind, it was dark and my lights were on. The vehicle was in reverse, so my reverse lights were on as well.

At this point, I felt like I was in a bad situation. I was blocked in. If I got out, I could create a situation where one didn't actually exist. Also, if I got out, I couldn't have my pistol at the ready - that would mean holding it in my hand.

Thus, I decided to stay in the car, and put the pistol in my lap. If nothing came of it, I wouldn't freak anyone out. If he did decide to do something stupid and repeat his actions from previous nights (keep in mind, they won't release info so I don't know anything about the robber), I could defend myself quickly with no drawing of the weapon.

So I stayed there and watched the guy in my mirror. And he stayed there. 11:20 turned into past 11:25. He gets out of his car. He looks at my car. And then he gets in, and drives away - fast. No way he could see my gun, no lights on in my car. He just drives away like a bat outta hell.

I'm probably more cautious than a lot of people, but I feel like this could have gone down badly. Am I reading too much into this? How would you have handled the situation?

wow. that sounds intense. glad you're okay.

did u handle it right? well, you are alive and you didn't have anything taken, so I'd say yes.

hopefully with enough information someone will put the guy away

Sounds like you handled it appropriately. Did you call 911 and report it?

That was definitely suspicious. I think you did exactly the right thing.

You handled it exactly fine - head on a swivel and ready to rock, but not in panick mode. Your apartment managers are real pricks, unless they have a damn good reason (ongoing criminal investigation) so I wouldn't second-guess them.

At least you now know "anything" can happen so you can be vigilant and
ready for "anything."

Anywho, parking lots are when people are EXTREMELY vulnerable.
Plenty of hiding places, and blind spots where you can't see while getting in and out of your car. And don't get me started on getting boxed in.

One thing you can do is "tactical parking." Always back in, so you can pull straight out. Never have to back out. It's hard to function with your back turned. Also if the shit hits the fan you'll have enough things to think do without trying to back your car out.

Don't forget unlocking your actual apartment door is another very vulnerable time.

Paranoid? Not at all.....it's part and parcel of living in America - armed robberies + shootings are a daily thing, so increase your odds of survival.

Jesus Fucking Christ.....I knew it. Color me surprised we'd get some comment like this.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NO GUARANTEE YOU WON"T GET ROBBED.
Robberies happen in "nice" neighborhoods too. There's not a magical protective bubble around certain zip codes.

You don't live in America....you have zero idea what we are talking about.
It's like a virgin bragging about sex - you just don't get it until you get it.

Part of the reason we have these problems is that so few people are willing to take responsibility for their own self defense.

I won't be a victim. My GF won't be a victim. At least not without a fight we won't.

She is living in a NICER apartment in Memphis in a much better area than I do. Personally, I like being close to the interstate only ten minutes from work.

oldfella1962, good advice about tactical parking. I will start doing that.

The whole reason these threads get posted here instead of the Red Room is so that people like the OP don't have to worry about their threads getting cluttered up with pointless, passive aggressive bullshit.

The obvious thing you missed is the call to police. Whether you decide to call 911 or just have the non-emergency number in speed dial, once weirdness started I'd have got the cops on the line and asked them to send a car by. You can put the phone on speaker so your hands are free and if they give you any guff you can tell the cops that you're going to get out of the car and ask that they remain on the line in case something IS going on.

And if you park nose-out and mounted an M240 under the hood, you could've totally lit up their car.

Good points... but what about the light? My light is a Surefire. A nice surefire.

At the risk of derailing the thread, it would be neat to have the "Knight Rider" light bar installed on a car, along with a PA, equipped with a voice modulator.

If you were parked nose-out in this scenario, it would be interesting to see the effect of:
1) Firing up the KITT light;
2) Hitting the headlights--on high;
3) Announcing: "MOVE YOUR CAR. YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO COMPLY."

My honest opinion? I probably wouldn't have even bothered with the gun. Your Acura weighs, what? 3,000lbs? If you're really worried that the shit is hitting the fan, use it offensively or as an escape tool.

As far as I'm concerned, you're only worried about damage, resale value, and insurance deductibles when you know you're going to live to see the next sunrise. If I think I'm about to die, I can make my vehicle do some amazing things and conquer some obstacles it was not designed to conquer.

Want knockdown power?

Forget the .44 Magnum...bring the Escalade.

Yep. Like Albert said, try it with a Jeep with those lovely built-to-actually-take-abuse bumpers. I was in an accident once (long story, won't repeat it here) where I was driven into the back of the car in front of me. Crushed his read end, scratched the paint on my front bumper.

Thirded.

I might've gotten the gun out where I could've used it quickly if needed, but my first thought would've been to use my vehicle as a weapon.


Now if I can only get tracks for my Tacoma. :dream:

I'm not sure how I could have used the vehicle as a weapon and had any legal ground to stand on.

Parking behind me set off bells, but it isn't illegal, is it?

I can't hit someone because of what I think they'll do, can I?

Did you shoot them because of what you thought they might do?


Same thing.

I should probably practice more, but after the 3rd time a road-rager followed me almost all the way home, I reduced my key chain the just the car and house keys. The idea being, since I don't carry, I could barrel down the driveway, hopefully get the car hidden behind the house before the pursuer crests the hill (if not, block the driveway to delay him), bail out of the car and into the house fast as possible. Once inside locked doors, gun and phone are handy.

Want some friendly unsolicited advice? Don't ever take anyone home. If you think you're being followed, take them to the police station, a mall, any place big with lots of people. Don't ever show them where you live.

I hear what you're saying. I don't believe it would have worked in my situation I was parked right next to the building entrance. He had a legitimate reason to walk into the building. If he pulls a gun as he walks into the building, I can cap him. If I ram his car, he can still shoot me.

Oh yeah, I'm aware. Trying to see all contingencies though. The police station is in the middle of town, which involves traffic lights, heavy rush hour traffic, waiting to make left turns... In my area it should be fairly easy to get far enough ahead on the twisty side-streets to duck into my driveway and get the car behind the house. If not, I keep driving till I can get somewhere safer.

To me the main weakness in your defense plan is the possibility of it ending up with your entire family being killed, and not just you.

Could you put Mary on sniper detail and call her if you're coming in "hot"? Alternately maybe you could have a command-detonated claymore to deter pursuit.

I haven't seen a claymore in many, many years. We never even used them in Iraq, or even heard of anyone using any type of mine or remote detonating device (except for the insurgents).

I guess they aren't worth the risk or bad publicity from propaganda.
Guaranteed those pricks would lure kids into the kill zone just to show how we "massacre" kids.

Tomorrow I'll ask some young soldiers if they even teach them claymores anymore during basic.

The classic stupidity (IMO) was when I used claymores you were supposed to yell "claymore claymore claymore" before you blew it.

So.....I don't suppose the enemy will think to concentrate their fire on the guy about to detonate the claymore, would they?

Talk about tipping your hand!