Last night, While walking to the parking lot after shopping, I notice 3 guys looking in my car. I was still quite far from my Acura but I can see them lurking around. One was a lookout and the other 2 individuals were trying to get in my TL. I started running towards them and yelling and cursing whatever came out my mouth. They got scared and started running towards a vechile already in place to leave. They was a getaway driver.

My heart was pumping like crazy and was quite scared. I did't bother to run after them because I'm out of shape and 5 bags with me. The only thing done to my TL was damage to the door handle. It's broken but I can still open the car.

Couples of questions

1. How hard is it to steal an Acura TL?
2. If the window if broken, will the alarm trigger go off?
3. Does anyone on this forum had they TL or other models stolen? I have an 04.

Could have been worse but thanks GOD nothing happened.

chris.

 

.1. you can easily steal any car you want to.
2. No, it does not have shock or glass sensors
3. many have had TL's stolen, and one 07 TL_S was stolen about 3 weeks back.
4. FL does allow you to carry a gun to kill people if you feel threatened.
Could have been worse but thanks GOD nothing happened.

 

Well let me first say that you are VERY VERY lucky that this situation played out the way it did.

I have to stress the thought to everyone reading this that although the temptation is very high to 'defend' your vehicle, you NEVER know when the men trying to steal your car are armed with a knife, bat, or even gun.

Essentially, if a thief is dead-set on stealing a car, there is nothing that will stop him. Along with the constant enhances in anti-theft technology, car-thief technology has come leaps and bounds also. I know for instance that there are devices that can 'capture' your keyless entry device's codes simply by being in the vicinity of your car when you unlock or lock it. Although very expensive, they're becoming more common to steal higher end cars.

No anti-theft device is fool-proof. Simply, if a car thief wants your car bad enough, they will find a way to steal it.

I feel confident about my security because (as clishe as this sounds) my car is equipped with LoJack and I am licensed in Texas to carry a concealed weapon. Over the course of a week, there are probably only 5-10 instances that I don't carry when I leave the house, (church, flights, golf, etc.) which becomes more difficult during the Houston summers, but I choose to exercise that right.

Just remember though, your life is worth MUCH more than your life. Unlike life insurance, YOU are the benificiary of auto insurance, not your mourning family.

 

You should have hit the panic button on the key fob. I'm sure at that point you weren't thinking about doing that, just getting to your car before they broke in. If you were far you could have held the key fob up to your chin, somehow it increases the range, I do it when I forget where I park......hit the lock button and listen for the beep. Probably will cause brain cancer years down the line lol.

 

Oh boy, you guys are getting me scared now, my car is currently in what I like to call an class F neighborhood (20 homocides and countless shootings in 6 months). I can't wait to go back to my home in the suburbs this city only frieghtens me because I really don't want to experience my car being stolen.

 

I work in law enforcement in Florida and let me tell you, if someone wants your car bad enough they will get it. I take more reports a day for people that get their car broken into or car stolen then any other crime out there and with this being the holiday season these crime are on the rise. As far as what csmeance said, only part of that is true, Florida does have a law that states if you feel your life is in immediate danger you no longer have to try and retreat first, but you can only use deadly force if your life is in immediate danger, you can not use deadly force on someone because they are trying break into your car or steal your car or what we call in law enforcement "property crime".

 

Don't be scared.

I personally just prefer to be prepared for any situation that I may confront. I actually live in a very nice part of town in Houston, but I drive through some rough areas. But, anything can happen anywhere.

Just be informed about what may happen in the situation and react in the best possible way you can. Honestly, I wouldn't even confront the men even if I was carrying. The best thing to do was already said by PapaMan. Just hit the panic button and see what their reaction is. Unfortunately the majority of people just ignore a honking car, but it may be enough to get them to stop what they're doing.

 

but what if they start yelling at him and start to make advances, would he be in his right then?

i dont think it wouldbe property crime at that point. he would be able to see that as a threat on his well being right?

 

One nice reason to live in Texas.

According to Texas CCW laws, you are free to defend your property.

 

Depends on the situation, when someone yells at you, do you feel your life is being treatened? What exactly did they say? If they are coming towards you, do they have any sort of weapons? These are types of questions that law enforcement asks to determine if your life was in immediate danger enough to use dealy force. In the case above when he ran at them and they took off, you can not use deadly force or else you would be the one wearing silver bracelets.

 

fuck the police, always protecting the guilty. ****(insert word here) them and make a bs story... (i do not endorse this )

 

I totally agree
j/k, i know what u meant

I currently live in a really crappy neighborhood, in the most dangerous city in the US St.Louis!

And to make it worse, I have to park on the street every night.

My wife's car recently got broken into right in front of our house, and all the thieves took was a couple of burnt cd's and the ashtray with about $2 worth of change in it. BTW, it cost $70 to replace the ashtray!

The only thing that helps me is my all-around 15% tint...you can't see anything inside, especially at night

I get so paranoid, I wake up in the middle of the night and go outside to check on my car. I can't wait to move to the burbs and have a garage! A man can dream can't he?

 

While the situation must have been tense I would have probably hit the alarm and checked their plates if I was alone. You got lucky you and your car are both alright.

Mike

 

If you don't have a gun and they are stealing your car I think you should sit tight and let them steal it.

If you try to defend they might shoot you. Like others have said, don't take risk. Your life is a lot more expensive than the car.

 

I consider myself pretty spoiled. I live in a downtown urban area but my car is pampered in a heated underground valet parking garage. Well worth $100/month! OK I'll stop bragging.(OK so the downside is 20 unecessary cold starts when they shuffle my car around and curbed wheels, but at least my stereo is safe.) I wouldn't want to park on the street around here!

Anytime I leave my garage, though I'm really vigilant. I learned my lesson early on. My car was stolen once when I was 16. I was super careful ever since.

The thing to remember is what you've been told 1000 times but most people ignore. Use deterrents. They work! I know it's old skool but I ALWAYS slap on my CLUB steering wheel whenever I'm parked in a shady area. I also have alarm decals displayed. My cousin is a NYPD officer and I have some decals sourced from him. (so my car kinda looks like it's owned by a cop) All this won't give me 100% insurance of course but it may make them go to the next car.

And I wouldn't EVER confront 3 guys even if I had a piece. Immediate personal danger is the only time you'd want to use it. In a parking lot a stray bullet could hit someone else! If they want the car with a confrontation, hell, I'd give it to them. NO car is worth any of this hassle, that's why you have insurance. (good escuse for an 07 type-S)

If for any reason someone ran after me with a gun I'd run like a maniac in zig-zags screaming. Sounds funny but experts say they'd have less chances of killing you.

BTW 2 things u probably didn't think of during those split seconds but could have been important; the panic button (as said) and the license plate numbers of the punks.

 

Yea..i'm assuming u went to the mall or some large area with tons of cars. Now-a-days, tons of theifs lurk around there to break into cars with anything out. My suggestion is to just bring a beater car when u shop. That way if they break it..it's less of a pain to u.

What i always do is..

-park in well lit area
-put on club (may not work but still)
-try to park where a lot of people can see or walk by it
-never leave shit out on consoles and etc. so people can see in on. (radar det. on windshield, loose change, shopping bags in the back seat.)
- lastly, if you are familiar with the area, try to find out if there are cameras on top of the building or along the side of the wall. At Wal-Mart, I always park at the back so no one parks next to me. I also park there because not many people know that there are cameras aiming at my car.

 

Good ideas. Did everything you stated above and put everything I had in the trunk because of the holidays. Car was far because parking lots were full and they security driving around.

Acutually, the beat up car is the TL.

 

Just remember though, your life is worth MUCH more than your life.

Your right about that.

 

I remeber running towards them and thinking about the panic button but I did't use it because I was quite far away. I also put the key fob under my chin all the time but sometimes it works and dosent'. Thats why I did't use it.

You know there's myth about drinking soda out off a can. It causes cancer.

 

yeah, i remember that law going into effect and talking about it during one of my criminal justice classes a while back. I have been wanting obtain a concealed but I have been thinking IF i do really need one.

I had a paint ball gun in the trunk. I would have done mad damage to small one.

by the way: Did the law pass regarding pulling individuals for just not wearing their seat belts?

Chris.

 

I wasnt scared until after it had happened. I was fuming when i saw them attpemting to do something. I was scared after because a million things wrong have could have gone bad. Like them bring out there weapons such as guns knife and etc. I had nothing but some fucking bags. I will look further about wayz to protect myself.

Bullet proof vest!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

There' illegal to wear I think?

 

yeah i know.

chris

 

While running towards them I had thoughts of them having a gun. I would have jump to the side, where the cars are parked and yelled and ran zig-zags to prevent anything bad. I saw them clearly and they had nothing in their hands, so decided to go after them. Like I said before. It could have been worse.

Running zig-zags saved my life yrs ago when I was teen because an alligator was chasing me. Alligator running right after you will catch you but they can't really run that far.

 

yeah, I know we have that law but I have no permit to carry a gun.

 

"4. FL does allow you to carry a gun to kill people if you feel threatened."

Sorry but this is a overstatement as to what the law says. As others have explained, your life must be in imminent danger or in imminent danger of being harmed.

Bottom line- in Florida you can not use deadly force to protect property.

 

"by the way: Did the law pass regarding pulling individuals for just not wearing their seat belts?"

It cannot be the primary reason for the traffic stop.

 

I disagree. If you "feel" threatened, that is enough to justify action. If a perp points a gun at you and later says it was unloaded, or he was just kidding, too bad for him. You don't have to be in real danger, you just have to be scared. Juries get that.

Here, in ultra liberal Minnesota, an elderly man shot an unarmed kid who broke into his house. He was questioned and released. The kid died.

 

If a a professional thief wants your car, he'll likely get it. The 1st thing they teach you in Criminal justice school is that you don't stop a thief, you just slow him down. The issue then becomes by how much depending upon the anti-theft devices you have.

Living in the Miami area, one should consider a vehicle locator system like LoJack in case they do steal the car. You'll also get a discount on your insurance once installed.
.
.

 

That's actually one of the reasons I'd never move to Texas. Morons with guns. Not calling you a moron, but you can't deny you have them there. Last thing i want to happen to me is have some red neck thinking I'm a threat to his property and bam! Shot in the ass.

 

Sure- if someone points a gun at you ( or any other deadly weapon likely to cause death or serious bodily injury)- in FLA, the law permits you to use deadly force to protect yourself.

That is not what the above posters were talking about. gggoldenhawk observed 3 people stalking his vehicle- he yelled at them and they RAN AWAY.
csmeance stated that "4. FL does allow you to carry a gun to kill people if you feel threatened."
Unless these people brandished a weapon or these 3 would be thieves approached/attacked ggoldenhawk then the use of a gun would be unjustified under applicable FLORIDA law.

Don't know what is/isn't allowed in Minnesota.

Castle doctrine allows you to use deadly force in your own home regardless of whether the intruder is armed or not. Don't confuse that with what is being discussed here.

 

Just do it like the hunters in South Park - "He's coming right at me!" - and aim well so they can't testify otherwise.

 

Lol ... you might wanna stop doing that

 

FYI... Their are morons, redneck's and just plain a-holes with guns in every state. TX's has no more gun related homicides/incidents than any other state.. In many cases much less.
Sure I own a few guns, but definitely never want to "have" to use them for self defense. But if I do, this is one TX'n that wont be shoot'n/aiming at your "ass".. :-)

 

HEYY!!!!

I couldn't edit because I edited something before you pointed that out.

be nice... lol

 

As most have stated you are lucky. I would've hit the panic and not rushed them. If I had my cell phone with me I'd call the cops and try to stay at a distance. Hell you just never know what those thieves are packing.

 

That's true, but if you've ever sat through a CCW class to get certified you would have some appreciation for the type of people that are carrying. My specific class ranged in age from 21 (myself) to 64 (an elderly woman). Plus it's not cheap, so that limits the attendence to a somewhat focused group.

Also, it is made unmistakenly clear which scenarios and circumstances would 'justify' and 'warrent' using deadly force. One thing that is stressed to the highest degree is that even if you are a CCW carrying member of society, using your weapon should be your absolute last resort.

 

You're really lucky that they didn't gang up on you and take your keys to your car, and those 5 shopping bags full of goodies... that would've been kinda funny.

Glad to hear you and the car are alright.

FYI, in CO, your car is considered your "home" thus it's legal to use deadly force if someone tries to carjack you.

 

But only Texas will have blind people with guns... you guys are crossing the line!!

article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6173535.stm

 

^ that is hilarious

 

O-man.... You know how hard it is to hit those animals when they're tied to the fence on the game reserve...??? This just gives the blind folks a "sporting" chance at the kill!!
:-)

Bottom line,
At least in Texas, a blind person with a gun defending their property is required to have a "spotter".. Without one, someone might get shot in "the ass"!! :-)


Merry Christmas all - don't shoot Santa!!