I helped to chase a purse snatcher today

[toreskha]

I've never done anything like this before - totally new experience. I just helped to (attempt to) apprehend a purse snatcher. I was at Walmart a few minutes ago, opening my car door when a several people near the entrance yelled, "Stop him! He's got her purse!" The guy was running down one of the parking aisles, so I started running parallel to him. Another guy was after him to his rear. The thief stopped at a gold Ford Escort and I slowed down a little because I wasn't sure if there was about to be an armed carjacking. Apparently he had the presence of mind to lock his car before going in to commit a crime, and now he was fumbling with the lock. If I had gotten there before he got in the car, I could have easily taken him down. He managed to get in, but by then the other guy was getting closer, so I opened the car door and quickly stepped back. Then I moved way back and let the other guy take him - he seemed really pumped up to do it. That guy tried to pull him out but he stepped on the gas and ran over a shopping cart and sped away.

He didn't get caught immediately, but one of the employees said the surveillance cameras are pretty good and they can get the video off to use as evidence. Also, they did get the tag number. He looked like a really rough guy - that "just got out of prison" look. Not very smart, though.

Anyway, that was something different and it's fortunate that no one got hurt (run over, shot or otherwise). I never considered using my gun to resolve the situation, as it's a crowded area with lots of tinted car windows around and I'm not comfortable taking that kind of liability for someone else's property. However, I tried to be mindful the entire time of keeping out of his possible line of fire.

I'll call them back in a few days and see what became of it. Hope they catch him.

 

[Glock Fan]

Glad nobody got hurt. Too bad you weren't able to nail the dirtbag.


gf

 

[tattedupboy]

Too bad he got away. Nice try, though.

 

[DJ58]

it is to bad he got away but you did everything you could do to try and stop him from getting away. the main thing is no body got hurt, my wife had her purse stolin last year out of her car at church while unloading things pain in the butt cancelling the credit cards the so forth. i'm sure they will have it on camera, hopefully the plate will run the write number to get him.

be safe out there it's that time of year people like that need money you know to buy a gift for there freinds:wacko:

 

[Red Hat]

Sounds like you did everything you could under the circumstances. Remember there are a lot of dead hero's and you don't want to become one of those.

 

[HK4U]

Glad you did not get hurt. Sometimes those things turn bad. A citizen here some years ago was in a mall when a couple of guys ran out of one of the stores with something. He saw them run and chased after them. When he caught up to them in the parking lot they got in their car at which time he reached in and grabed their keys. The driver told him to give him the keys back. When he refused the punk shot and killed him.

 

[festus]

You did the right thing by not drawing down on him

You did the right thing by not drawing down on him...I'm glad you are safe.

 

[CCW357]

Great job, Im sure with the plate number they now have him in custody

 

[toreskha]

Great job, Im sure with the plate number they now have him in custody

I called Walmart a few hours ago and they said they didn't think he'd been caught yet but I should call Loss Prevention in the morning. Considering the circumstances, the car was probably stolen too.

I guess these types of things probably happen all the time but it's uncommon to see it in action. It was very surreal. The guy never looked at any of us; he was completely focused on what he was doing. We couldn't feasibly chase him after he drove off, so we just had to stand there watching him go.

One of my friends told me a while back that her sister (who I had met before) was going to leave a Walmart in Houston when she suddenly got blocked in by a truck. She got out of her car, a man approached her and tried to take her purse. She fought with him for at least a minute, but he finally got away with it - and several thousand dollars in cash, which was a bad idea to be carrying around anyway. No one else could really see what was going on to help. That's what really made me despise people who do that sort of thing (besides the obvious point that they're leeches).

In hindsight, it was fairly stupid to give chase on foot when I had a perfectly good car right next to me (and the 92 inside). I could have just followed him out of the parking lot with relatively little risk to myself. I'll chalk that up for next time.

 

[Glock Fan]

I called Walmart a few hours ago and they said they didn't think he'd been caught yet but I should call Loss Prevention in the morning. Considering the circumstances, the car was probably stolen too.

I guess these types of things probably happen all the time but it's uncommon to see it in action. It was very surreal. The guy never looked at any of us; he was completely focused on what he was doing. We couldn't feasibly chase him after he drove off, so we just had to stand there watching him go.

One of my friends told me a while back that her sister (who I had met before) was going to leave a Walmart in Houston when she suddenly got blocked in by a truck. She got out of her car, a man approached her and tried to take her purse. She fought with him for at least a minute, but he finally got away with it - and several thousand dollars in cash, which was a bad idea to be carrying around anyway. No one else could really see what was going on to help. That's what really made me despise people who do that sort of thing (besides the obvious point that they're leeches).

In hindsight, it was fairly stupid to give chase on foot when I had a perfectly good car right next to me (and the 92 inside). I could have just followed him out of the parking lot with relatively little risk to myself. I'll chalk that up for next time.

This is a perfect example of why "purse carry" isn't the best method of carry.


gf

 

[Scarecrow]

your heart must have been pumping.. glad to hear that no one got hurt in any way.. too bad the moron got away.. hopefully not for long though.

 

[gdcleanfun]

Glad no one was hurt. This would make a good scenario for teaching in class. A gal's purse was snatched in front of Smith's here in town last year. She held onto it and was dragged behind the car for a short time. She's okay, but lost some skin. It's easy to Monday-morning-quarterback and decide that you could have gotten in your car, or done something else, but the truth is, your adrenaline kicked in and you did what you thought best at the time. Good job!

 

[toreskha]

your heart must have been pumping..

I haven't really run like that in a while. I probably need to get back into the gym.

I've got to say, it was kind of fun though. It felt like a movie or something, and the entire incident lasted 20-25 seconds. The whole time I was thinking, "Is this really happening, and WTF am I doing? Am I completely out of my mind?"

Glad no one was hurt. This would make a good scenario for teaching in class. A gal's purse was snatched in front of Smith's here in town last year. She held onto it and was dragged behind the car for a short time. She's okay, but lost some skin. It's easy to Monday-morning-quarterback and decide that you could have gotten in your car, or done something else, but the truth is, your adrenaline kicked in and you did what you thought best at the time. Good job!

It's a good lesson for next time. I'd do it again, but I'd follow in my car and keep a safe distance. I wasn't about to grab inside of the vehicle, because I know a sheriff's deputy who tried the same thing and was violently dragged across an intersection (he lived, thankfully).

 

[tattedupboy]

I also like the fact that your story shows to antis th at all antis aren't the trigger happy, hotheaded, vigilantes they portray gun owners to be.

 

[PascalFleischman]

I never considered using my gun to resolve the situation, as it's a crowded area with lots of tinted car windows around and I'm not comfortable taking that kind of liability for someone else's property.

Great thinking.....glad everything turned out safely, if not by apprehending the guy. Thanks for your help & presence of mind to help fight crime. And most importantly, glad you didn't have to draw.

 

[boris]

well done!!!

it is true that you don't have to resort to weapons use everytime. but you know, if you would have shot him in the butt, you would have the snatcher, the lady would have her purse and in Texas, you wuld have gotten a " ATTABOY!" glad you did not get hurt.

 

[tattedupboy]

it is true that you don't have to resort to weapons use everytime. but you know, if you would have shot him in the butt, you would have the snatcher, the lady would have her purse and in Texas, you wuld have gotten a " ATTABOY!" glad you did not get hurt.

That's true. In Texas, property can be defended using deadly force.

 

[Glock Fan]

That's true. In Texas, property can be defended using deadly force.

That wouldn't stop a BG from filing a lawsuit against you if you manage to "cripple" said BG in the incident. After all, the BG is a career criminal and by putting the BG in a wheelchair, they won't be able to work and support themself.

All kidding aside, it's a good practice to not "shoot to wound". Along with various other complicaitons, you'll have to contend with the BG being able to make a statement to the police. I'm a frim believer in using deadly force only when absolutely necessary. One version of the story for the police to figure out is a lot better than two.


gf

 

[toreskha]

That wouldn't stop a BG from filing a lawsuit against you if you manage to "cripple" said BG in the incident. After all, the BG is a career criminal and by putting the BG in a wheelchair, they won't be able to work and support themself.

All kidding aside, it's a good practice to not "shoot to wound". Along with various other complicaitons, you'll have to contend with the BG being able to make a statement to the police. I'm a frim believer in using deadly force only when absolutely necessary. One version of the story for the police to figure out is a lot better than two.


gf

Florida law allows for the defense of property with force right off the bat, although I'm not sure about someone else's property. Although it may be legal and they may be the scum of the Earth, I wouldn't feel right about shooting someone over a purse. If they're in my house or car, that's different. After doing something like that, I'd have to explain what happened to a lot of people (police, relatives, lawyer, friends, etc) and that would really weigh on my conscience more every time I try to justify it. Many of those people would have a hard time accepting that a fatal shooting was justified in stopping some washout from getting away with some cash and chewing gum. It would also destroy a lot of the effort I've put into convincing various individuals that carrying a firearm requires a logical and collected attitude.

I'm sure it won't be long before someone else does the job anyway.

 

[Glockster20]

Tores, a similar thing happened to me about 12 years ago in Tampa.... I was in the Target parking lot and noticed two black youths running full sprint through the parking lot with a guy in a shirt and tie in hot pursuit. I noted that the black males were outrunning the guy and were heading in my direction. So, I pretended not to notice them as they split up and one headed right towards me... as he was about to pass me, I swung around with my arm extended and clotheslined him.... pinned him to the ground. The guy in the tie caught up to us and thanked me and immediately removed the brand new pair of shoes the punk had just stolen from his store! We then escorted him back to the store and the police and his parents were then contacted. His partner in crime got away but I'm sure it wasn't for long:biggrin: