Keep your guns out of your CARS!!!!

[Guest db99wj]

I know many of us put our guns in our console, or glove box when we go to places where the state says we aren't responsible enough to carry, IE, restaurant that serves, but DONT put them in your car unless you have a safe. Especially if you are at a Christmas Party, especially here in Memphis, but I suspect that other cities as well.

This is what happened.

On Friday nights we go over to a relatives house for food and beverages, originally was a weekly martini party. We were in the mini van, I was planning on having a few adult beverages, so I left the XD at home. This is in an area that is good, but close to the border of not good. Lots of those here in Memphis. This one is at Mendenhall, south of Summer. Mendenhall south of summer, good, summer bad. Anyway. Toyota camry in driveway, the mini van in the cove, Tahoe behind us. We were inside, enjoying a beverage, food and a basketball game, car alarm goes off, we go over to window to see some folks taking off out of the cove, in a car, no lights, speeding off, the Toyota's lights flashing and horn honking. We go out, window smashed in, cell phone gone, one of those spring loaded punches on the ground. Did they go straight to his car and pass the Tahoe and our mini van or did they go straight to the camry, I bet they looked in all of them. Cops came in about 15 minutes, two of them. Very nice and helpful, said they had 4 of these same type calls on his shift and that anytime there is a gathering for a party lately, there are multiple car break ins.

So, I don't think I am going to leave my gun in the car at all, ever. Unless I get a safe. In the mean time, if my pants are on, well i'm packin'.

Saturday night, was going to a Christmas party, got in my Jeep around 9pm, letting it warm up, noticed a car at the end of the street, just sitting there, wrong side of road, right where my street intersects a busy entrance street to my Nhood. I sat for 5 minutes, so did this car, pull a uturn, go towards it, car takes off to the next street toward the entrance to the N hood, pulls over, I pull up beside car, roll down my window, black female, little older, won't look at me, backs up and almost hits a parked car, starts to move forward, I take off so not to get hit, onto the cross street, turn around put my high beams on her. She takes off, I chase her, get tag number, make model of car, call the non emergency police number and tell them what happened, they send extra patrols because of suspicious activity. She was acting like she was lost or waiting on someone, she did not belong in the N'hood. I rode around looking for anyone that would be walking. But saw no one.

This area is known as East Memphis and the good part of East Memphis, along Walnut Grove, but there has been like 100-150% increase in break ins of cars and houses this year. They are cutting phone lines, they are cutting power to houses and breaking in, if the alarm has battery back up, they will even go in anyway, with the sirens, find them and cut them. I am carrying all the time, even at home.

Long post, but a lot of crap is going around, be cautious, be observant, and I'm not going to roll over for these scumbag criminals.

Edited December 15, 2008 by db99wj

[Guest bkelm18]

Good job on confronting the car. Who knows? You may have spared some family from getting robbed or murdered.

[Westwindmike]

Good job on confronting the car. Who knows? You may have spared some family from getting robbed or murdered.

Or you could have been murdered. Best to leave chasing cars to the police.

[TGO David]

Key word: Memphis

Take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

[Guest bkelm18]

Or you could have been murdered. Best to leave chasing cars to the police.

Yes well you could also contract a flesh eating virus from taco bell but that doesn't stop people.

[Guest db99wj]

Or you could have been murdered. Best to leave chasing cars to the police.

This was not a highspeed chase or anything like that in fact, we we hadn't got up to the speed limit yet, I followed long enough to get license plate, make and model of the car.

Risky, a little maybe, but like I said, I'm not rolling over for these scumbags. Would I do it again, absolutely.

[Guest db99wj]

Key word: Memphis

Take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

That would be a start, but I would bet that other metro areas are seeing the same problems. Economy is bad, jobs well, people are losing them and people can't find them, as you are experiencing, when these types of things happen, crime, especially the burglery type of crimes, cars, houses, carports, shoplifting goes up. Gots to be able to buy a the Wii for Christmas, no matter what!

[G27]

Key word: Memphis

Take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

I'm pretty sure cockroaches survive radiation exposure.

[Magiccarpetrides]

One of my friends has lost 2 pistols out of his truck...a pristine Sig P6 (like mine) and a Glock 19...both out of driveway. Needless to say he doesnt leave a gun in his truck anymore. He actually lives in a great part of West Knoxville. NEVER NEVER NEVER leave a firearm in the car.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Why would he leave guns in his vehicle... in his driveway? Too hard to take them inside with him?

[towerclimber37]

I just installed a gun safe in my Jeep. we thought we were going to Boston and there was no way I was going to go up there without a firearm..but I didn't want to be in a position to leave it in the jeep unsecured. It would also serve for the wifes' wallet if she didn't want to take her purse.

they're a great investment if you ask me!

[BryanP]

This area is known as East Memphis and the good part of East Memphis,

There's a good part of Memphis?

[G27]

I don't leave my gun in the car unless we end up somewhere where carrying isn't allowed (in which case I have a pretty awesome hiding place for it), but does anyone have any experience with these?

[G27]

There's a good part of Memphis?

Everything's relative...

[BryanP]

Everything's relative...

I guess. I know I turned down a great job offer about 10 years back because it would have involved moving to Memphis. Visiting is enough.

[Magiccarpetrides]

Why would he leave guns in his vehicle... in his driveway? Too hard to take them inside with him?

Thats kinda what I said. Hes a contractor and is always on the go so he liked knowing he always had 1 in case he ever forgot lol.

[Punisher84]

Or you could have been murdered. Best to leave chasing cars to the police.

Db knows what he's doing. If we all just sit back and let the police try and do everything crime will never go away. Fight back and help the cops out. The good street cops appreciate it. Only the administrators hate a citizen with free will and a gun.

Fear is more of a killer than anything.

[poak]

Db knows what he's doing. If we all just sit back and let the police try and do everything crime will never go away. Fight back and help the cops out. The good street cops appreciate it. Only the administrators hate a citizen with free will and a gun.

Fear is more of a killer than anything.

+5,982,348,742,384

Criminals will only get more bold and ruthless the more they see law abiding citizens sitting down instead of standing up.

[ZenDog]

I don't leave my gun in the car unless we end up somewhere where carrying isn't allowed (in which case I have a pretty awesome hiding place for it), but does anyone have any experience with these?

I have one- I like it, I use it-- I keep the key to it on my keychain. It has a steel cable that loops around the seat rails- it is pretty tough- the casual smash-and-grab thief will be deterred. If they have super dooper bolt cutters on steroids, I dunno.

One guy I read tested it- he said he had to beat the H$ll out of it with a hammer and chisel to get it open. Took a long time and a lot of muscle.

[Seaslug]

It ain't just Memphis. There were at least 9 vehicle break-ins in downtown Knoxville Saturday night--including my girlfriend's. She lost A LOT of stuff.

And for the poster who said that we should basically all live in fear of the potential repercussions of confronting a criminal and back down, I must respectfully disagree. Your choices are your own, and I will not judge you for taking a passive stance. My choice, however, is to never sit idly by and watch another innocent be harmed--either physically or financially. I could not bear to live with myself if I had the opportunity to prevent a crime and did nothing. I am prepared to accept the consequences of my actions, whatever they may be.

[Guest db99wj]

Db knows what he's doing. If we all just sit back and let the police try and do everything crime will never go away. Fight back and help the cops out. The good street cops appreciate it. Only the administrators hate a citizen with free will and a gun.

Fear is more of a killer than anything.

Thanks.

+5,982,348,742,384

Criminals will only get more bold and ruthless the more they see law abiding citizens sitting down instead of standing up.

Exactly. Not wanting to be a vigilanty or hero or anything, but I am not going to sit down and hide. I will be an important asset to the police, by being observant, being a witness, and with those two, reporting things that need to be reported and in order to do this effectively, is to have a good description of the suspicious person. Sex, color, make, model, license plate number for example, and i made damn sure I got that information. The persons who broke into the car on Friday night, I only saw a dark two door small car with no lights on. Not much police can do, but I only got a look for a few seconds from far away. My 9 year old daughter saw more, but did not have great details, other than a male, hooded sweatshirt. She gave a statement to the police officer. I was proud, so was she.

If I do have to take a more forceful approach due to my life being in danger for doing the right thing, I am prepared to do so.

[Oh Shoot]

I have one- I like it, I use it-- I keep the key to it on my keychain...

(re: Center Of Mass safe)

Yeah, same.

Admit that I haven't really USED it yet.

Hopefully good enough for temporary stash during brief absence.

As you mention, good cutter of some sort and it's gone, though.

I should really find a way to bolt it somewhere, but in a small toy pickup very limited as to where. Maybe vertically behind seat, need to look into that.

As to increased ripoffs, hey, of COURSE it will increase in "good" areas - that's where the goods are. If I were looking to thieve, I ain't gonna do it in the projects!

- OS

[Punisher84]

+5,982,348,742,384

Criminals will only get more bold and ruthless the more they see law abiding citizens sitting down instead of standing up.

It ain't just Memphis. There were at least 9 vehicle break-ins in downtown Knoxville Saturday night--including my girlfriend's. She lost A LOT of stuff.

And for the poster who said that we should basically all live in fear of the potential repercussions of confronting a criminal and back down, I must respectfully disagree. Your choices are your own, and I will not judge you for taking a passive stance. My choice, however, is to never sit idly by and watch another innocent be harmed--either physically or financially. I could not bear to live with myself if I had the opportunity to prevent a crime and did nothing. I am prepared to accept the consequences of my actions, whatever they may be.

Fist bump anyone?

[Guest Boomhower]

Fist bump anyone?

How's this??

Or this??

Yeah, I don't think so either......maybe this one will do then

Edited December 15, 2008 by Boomhower

[Guest bkelm18]

Fist bump anyone?