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Old June 13, 2008, 07:19 PM   #1
#20fan
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what happened at the Shopping Center

Went to a local shopping center the other day to pick up some drinks.
As I was pulling in to the parking lot I saw a gentelman walking around
like he had no place to be but shouldn't have been there.
I parked and went in the store and he seemed to follow me around. I went up and down isles keeping an eye on him in the security mirrors around the top of the walls, he always went where he could see me, made me nervous.
Went to the checkout and he passed behind me and headed for the exit
but stopped before going out the door. I asked the checker if there was security on duty. She said no so I payed for my items and went toward the exit, bag in my left hand as I am right handed. As I passed by him and started out the automatic door he stepped in right behind me, almost lock step. As I exited the door I made an immediate right and walked back in the store through the other auto door!
The guy just stood there and looked at me stupidly then walked off.
I called the local SO and reported it. He saw me on the phone and bolted.
When I told my Cousin about it he said "that guy dosen't know how lucky he was, you could of had your gun"
My wife replied "that guy dosen't know how lucky he was, 'cause he DID have his gun."
I really am interested in opinions, do you think I handled this right?
Should I have confronted the man to determine his motives?
I know I can't be the keeper of man but what if he went on to harm someone else?
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Old June 13, 2008, 07:34 PM   #2
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I think you handled it fine, you threw him off enough to eliminate any threat he posed at the time.

They may always go somewhere else to try again, but as you said, you can't protect everyone...going to confront him would have possibly escalated the situation. All in all, I would have done the same thing.

Going back into the store was not what he expected...good move.
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Old June 13, 2008, 07:54 PM   #3
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I'd say you handled it great. It's a good thing you were alert.
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Old June 13, 2008, 08:47 PM   #4
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Another argument against condition white.

Nicely done!
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Old June 13, 2008, 08:54 PM   #5
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Doesn't sound to me like you were in any danger. It sounds to me like someone thought you were sexy.
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Old June 13, 2008, 09:17 PM   #6
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nicely handed!

You were aware and observant. Threw him a curve and did postive non-threatening action.
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Old June 13, 2008, 09:35 PM   #7
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I agree.... you handled it well. It could have escalated but you threw him off by being aware of your surroundings and preventing it to go to the next level. There is no sense in forcing an escalation when you can walk away. It's the smart thing to do if there is no immediate threat.

Someone give that dude a cookie!
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Old June 13, 2008, 10:34 PM   #8
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After reading your story, I am left wondering why he picked you. I mean, are you a small man with a limp? Were there no other customers? Are you wearing a Rolex and gold chain?
Please don't take offense, I simply wonder what he thought made you a better target than anyone else. If you are a 6'5" dude with a beard and lumberjack build, I have to wonder if his intentions weren't somewhat less sinister.
In any case, you did the right thing in my book.
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Old June 13, 2008, 10:57 PM   #9
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Thanks all for the replies. I thought I handled it ok but other opinions never hurt.
As to why he would have picked me I have no idea. I'm not a huge man but I am 6'4" about 220-225lbs. I have a few miles on me, or decades which ever. It was a Sun. not alot of people. I don't bling up except for 1 thing, I drive a orange and black '07 GT Mustang. Mid life crisis says so on the license plate
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Old June 14, 2008, 12:24 AM   #10
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guys just because some one looks at you funny does not mean any thing. Keep an eye on him maybe but thats it
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Old June 14, 2008, 03:55 AM   #11
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Quote:
He saw me on the phone and bolted.
I don't think he would have done that if he was just following him because he thought he had a cute butt or something.
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Old June 14, 2008, 03:58 AM   #12
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Oh yeah he would. Especially if he heard him calling security or the police. This just sounds like a simple "cruising" to me and nothing at all sinister. The MO is all wrong for an attack. He was in a public place, kept making himself visible, and followed closely while in populated areas.
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Old June 14, 2008, 04:29 AM   #13
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Well, maybe he DID think he had a cute butt LOL, who knows...still, better safe than sorry.

I protect that part of my body too.
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Old June 14, 2008, 08:08 AM   #14
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Good job. You avoided a confrontation and nothing happened. You reported the incident and let the LEOs take it from there.
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Old June 14, 2008, 08:35 AM   #15
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drive a orange and black '07 GT Mustang.
Pic? Make sure there's a gun in it too...keep it firearm related.
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Old June 14, 2008, 08:35 AM   #16
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best of all, you made it look like you forget something, and when on the phone that you were calling a loved one to remind you, lol. But of course, he thought it was something else, lol.
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Old June 14, 2008, 10:04 AM   #17
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Awesome move...

The best gun fight is the one you can avoid, awesome work.


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Old June 14, 2008, 01:34 PM   #18
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Quote:
drive a orange and black '07 GT Mustang.
Quote:
Pic? Make sure there's a gun in it too...keep it firearm related.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2442808

Had a g22 in the trunk and a Kimber on the hip
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Old June 14, 2008, 01:40 PM   #19
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Very sharp! How much for the stang and the Kimber?
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Old June 14, 2008, 03:53 PM   #20
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Great Job...

Sounds like a severe disruption of the guys OODA Loop, good job on your part.
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Old June 14, 2008, 10:38 PM   #21
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Sounds to me like you did just fine. Good job.
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Old June 15, 2008, 12:25 AM   #22
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first of all, Congrats on handling the situation properly and not confronting/escalating/or most importantly brandishing. Smart move on your part to just make your way right back into the store.

Second this sounds like a similar situation I happened to be placed in last year. Me and my girlfriend went down to a local supermarket that is open 24 hours. There is usually 1 or 2 workers on and the place is dead other than them. It was about 1am and we casually walked around and noticed another girl shopping and another man. We grabbed what we came there for and strolled around and grabbed some stuff we didn't. We went to check out and the girl we had seen earlier came and confronted me and my girlfriend. She explained that the man had been following her around and staring at her and she was scared to walk to her car alone. I DID NOT have a firearm on me, because I had just turned 21 and did not apply for it yet. I always carry a pretty heavy duty folding knife in a back pocket so took it out(where no one could see) and held it in my hand inside of my front sweatshirt pocket when i noticed the man standing outside. This is one time i actually made my girlfriend carry the bags as we walked out in case something did arise I would have both my hands free. The man looked at the girl as she walked with us and turned away and went to his car. Luckily the girl was parked near us so I stood between her car and ours until she was in safely and drove off with us following. Don't know what the man wanted but I felt good to be there to comfort someone.
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Old June 15, 2008, 03:13 AM   #23
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Well done on the car and the situation!
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Old June 15, 2008, 03:17 AM   #24
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Seriously people...I am almost laughing at how you straight guys cannot recognize a simply "cruising" and somehow allow your testosterone levels to turn it into a life threatening situation. I, and a couple Pink Pistol members that have e-mailed me, recognized it right off the bat and all are getting a good laugh out of this thread.
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Old June 15, 2008, 06:19 AM   #25
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Seriously people...I am almost laughing at how you straight guys cannot recognize a simply "cruising"
Damn PBP, what ever happened to telling someone you're interested...instead of silently following someone like a stalker?

I would rather someone tell me, than walk 2 feet behind me saying nothing, wouldn't you?
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