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What to do about scumbags checking car doors at night?

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  • Sublime

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    Mar 24, 2019
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    Well now we are just getting bogged down in legal terminology semantics. What does it say in Chapter 9? That is like saying shooting someone in self defense trying to kill you is a crime. That is why the two types of defense are listed. It Is gonna go to court.
    You don't want to represent me anyway.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
     

    innominate

    Asian Cajun
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    Jan 3, 2010
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    Let me get this straight; a guy with a baseball who has verbally threatened to rip your head off with it while 40 feet away begins to close distance with you, and you would WAIT until you HAVE to shoot him rather than to draw and prevent from having to shoot him while he is 30 feet away? Is that right?

    Isn't that the antithesis who what you clam to espouse?
    The guy with a bat isn't the type of situation oldag is referring from what I read. I think he's referring to you saying "I won't kill someone just over stuff". But if you pull your gun on someone to perform a citizen's arrest for trying to open car doors, or they were taking a stuff from an unlocked car, that could be one of the possible outcomes. If they attacked you instead of running away or following your commands until the cops showed up you would be killing someone over stuff. I think y'all kinda agree but are arguing different points.
     

    diesel1959

    por vida
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    I was not clear. I was not saying from a legal standpoint. Rather from a situational standpoint.

    So the perp stops. Apologizes, starts very slowly walking toward you begging forgiveness. Will you pull the trigger if you cannot retreat and the perp keeps walking? Maybe some folks will pull the trigger without hesitation. But some folks will be hesitant to do so. Maybe to the point of waiting too late. It has happened.

    And other scenarios exist as well.

    Some (not you) suggest using a baseball bat (hopefully that was hyperbole). You go after someone with a bat, they pull a gun. Oops.

    Discretion can be the better part of valor.
    You presume the man with the bat does not also possess a handgun on his person? Display of a bat can move up the force continuum ladder to display of pistol to discharge of pistol.

    Most of us in law enforcement also carry an impact weapon, so that’s the logical equivalent of the bat.
     
    Last edited:

    toddnjoyce

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    To be clear, shooting someone is a crime. There are situations that will be decided by a judge or jury that can make the crime justified...
    Or a prosecutor.

    An area of the penal code I find many don’t have a solid understanding of the difference between a justified use of force or deadly force and a defense to prosecution, which is mentioned elsewhere in this thread.

    ...If you shoot someone that survives it is aggravated assault at minimum...

    Which is why some advocate that if you’re going to engage someone, engage with deadly force. Until their dead, since dead men tell no tales.
     

    Tamlibtoim

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    Jun 1, 2016
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    Texas (Bay Area)
    This exact situation happened to my family. Wife’s vehicle was left unlocked and property was stolen. Everything was recorded by video and a timeline was established with the help of other neighbors videos as well. Police were notified, reports taken, end result nothing. The question presented by OP was my conundrum also. What can one do to stop the burglary? Deterrents can help like motion activated lights but most criminals ignore them knowing they are automated. (They didn’t care about our lights being on) What you need is to be notified at that moment something is happening. There are some companies that make a motion activated light with camera, two way communication capabilities and an audible alarm that will notify you on your phone as soon as motion is detected. That will give you some choices in the instant the situation arises. THAT is the game changer in this scenario. The second idea I came up with if you really want to pursue the situation is to use a small GPS tracker and place it inconspicuously on a easily identifiable item you own. Make sure you can identify said item by Model# and Serial# or by an engraving with name on it. If and when item is stolen you then have the means to notify the proper authorities immediately and how to locate said item. This in my opinion is the only way this situation can be handled without placing ones self in danger of physical harm or judicial penalty. Of course there could be 1000 different other ways but this is what i came up with.
     

    ZX9RCAM

    Over the Rainbow bridge...
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    I have motion activated camera/lights covering my driveway, they notify me through my phone with an alert.
    The only problem is, neighborhood cats and dogs might set it off 2-5 times a night. So I have the audio alert turned off, unless I want to get woken up 2-5 times a night.
     

    perfor8

    God, guns, and guts
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    Dec 30, 2018
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    It should be legal to shoot thieves in the act. Money, and/or valuables (stuff) is a proxy for human labor. Labor is man-hours consisting of time. My life is a block of time. Any theft of my stuff is a theft of my time, and a portion of my life. It's moral and ethical to defend your property - it just ain't legal. One shouldn't confuse legal/illegal for right/wrong.
     

    Sublime

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    Mar 24, 2019
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    Dallas
    It all goes back to layers of protection. Sure lock your car if it is left out. Add lighting and cameras. Secure perimeter. Have a dog. Make it as unappealing as possible so they go somewhere else.
    I didn't listen to my dog one time. In the morning, I found a set of keys by the outer sun room door. I spoke to my neighbor who owns the keys. It appears a BF of an ex GF had the wrong house.

    That said, IF you confront a thief at night in TX with a gun, know Chapter 9 pretty well, have a plan, and watch for the trailing accomplice.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
     

    TxStetson

    Opinionated and Irritable
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    4   0   0
    May 9, 2013
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    The Big Country
    Not the movie
    Google dusk till dawn law in TX
    upload_2019-6-15_11-56-31.jpeg
     

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    candcallen

    Crotchety, Snarky, Truthful. You'll get over it.
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    2   0   0
    Jul 23, 2011
    21,358
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    Little Elm
    How about not leaving valuables in your otherwise insured car?

    Thieves are infuriating for sure.
     

    Jack Ryan

    Mr. Medium
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Aug 22, 2016
    636
    46
    Eseldorf
    This exact situation happened to my family. Wife’s vehicle was left unlocked and property was stolen. Everything was recorded by video and a timeline was established with the help of other neighbors videos as well. Police were notified, reports taken, end result nothing. The question presented by OP was my conundrum also. What can one do to stop the burglary? Deterrents can help like motion activated lights but most criminals ignore them knowing they are automated. (They didn’t care about our lights being on) What you need is to be notified at that moment something is happening. There are some companies that make a motion activated light with camera, two way communication capabilities and an audible alarm that will notify you on your phone as soon as motion is detected. That will give you some choices in the instant the situation arises. THAT is the game changer in this scenario. The second idea I came up with if you really want to pursue the situation is to use a small GPS tracker and place it inconspicuously on a easily identifiable item you own. Make sure you can identify said item by Model# and Serial# or by an engraving with name on it. If and when item is stolen you then have the means to notify the proper authorities immediately and how to locate said item. This in my opinion is the only way this situation can be handled without placing ones self in danger of physical harm or judicial penalty. Of course there could be 1000 different other ways but this is what i came up with.

    For when the car is right outside your house, put one of those wireless driveway motion detectors in it and the receiver in the house.
     
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