I am enjoying a rare day off today...with absolutely nothing to do, more about the reason for this in a bit.

I have been working some crazy hours on top of a pretty godd commute and as such, have not had time to post or even to check up on the site much. I still get in to check up on my fellow NM'ers in the HTF once in a while. Heck, I have not even been shooting in 5 months!!! My job in Albuquerque has been monopolizing most of my time and my hottie wife is taking the rest. I am down to just one day of golf every several weeks!!

So, back to my day off (I plan on spending MOST of it right here with you reprobates!). While at work yesterday at about 1530hrs, a coworker came out of the breakroom screaming that someone was breaking into my jeep, parked directly behind the building. I quickly made my way to the rear door and opened it. I then saw a young man next to my Jeep, holding my Garmin GPS unit, surrounded by broken window glass. I yelled at him, "WHAT THE F*&^ ARE YOU DOING?" amd he dropped the GPS on the ground (breaking it GRRRRRR), dropped a load in his pants and turned towards me.

To set the scene...(most of these details, I found out later...but it makes more sense to tell the story chronologically). My coworker noticed a late model black Toyota Solara backed into the parking space directly behind the exit door, with two men inside the car. The passenger got out of the still running car and walked around the building towards the front, came inside and walked around for a couple of minutes then returned to the car idling out back. The driver and passenger then had a lively discussion for a few minutes that ended when the driver opened his door, looked at my Jeep parked next  to him, driver's door to driver's door as the Solara was backed in. The driver left his door open and stood next to my driver's window. He then repeatedly struck the window until it broke and reached inside. It was at this point that my coworker screamed her warning to me.

So here I am, looking at a guy that just damaged my vehicle, and was stealing my property. I then quickly covered the 10 ft or so between the door and the BG and delivered a pretty good left jab to the BG's face. Unfortunately, the follow-up right cross did not connect. The BG then decided that a getaway was now at the top of his 'to-do' list and dove into the open door of the car. I blocked the closing of the door with my left leg an faced into the car and delivered a few more connecting blows with my left and tried to grab some hair to hold this little shit still so I could hit him  with a couple of rights and maybe drag him out of the car.

To this point no words other than my cursing were heard, and the passenger was shocked into immobility as only a few seconds had passed since I opened the rear door of the building.

About now, the driver mahed the gas, but as the car was in Park nothing was happening. I put the BG in a headlock and began to wrench his little ass out of the car. I should mention to those who have not had the misfortune of personally meeting me that  am 6'5", 225 lbs and weight-train 3 times per week...my opponent was 5'5", 140 lbs and came directly from our neighbor to the south. About the time I had made some progress wrenching our little dirtbag from his car, the passenger wakes up and drops the car into gear. Knowing that there was gonna be a significant foreward acceleration of the Solara, and knowing I would not have enough time to finish extricating the BG, I turned loose of his neck. Unfortunately this release was about 1/2 second too late and my right shoulder got a pretty good wrenching of it's own resulting in an anterior dislocation (with an quick susequent relocation) of my right shoulder.

Hence the unanticipated day off!

Once the Police arrived and gathered the witness statements, a larger picture emerged. It seems that the duo was planning a robbery of the Credit Union where I work. It seems that the passenger was sent into the lobby to case it and either rob it himself with the driver acting as a getaway driver, or to report back to the driver at which time they would both rob the branch. Once the passenger came inside he was confronted with our unique 'e-teller' design in which we have no traditional teller line. Instead a bank of television screens with drive-up pneumatic tubes CCTV cameras and phone handsets allow banking transactions with no direct Teller/customer contact. This setup worked as advertised in thwarting teller robberies and the passenger made a hasty retreat to the getaway car. Once in the car, my coworker observed the passenger and driver had a very animated conversation the ended when the driver opened his door to rob my Jeep.



After Action Report...

I was very proud of my tactical-ness in reacting to this scene. As I opened the rear door, instead of just tear-assing outside and confronting the BG, I maintained cover behind the door while looking around it. This door is quite heavy, fireproof (read metal construction, probably NOT bullet resistant enough) and locks upon closing, unlocked only by a key-card. I maintained this cover until the BG dropped my GPS (after I screamed at him) and I could see his hands were empty. As I knew the distance between us was about 10 ft. and from practicing the 21 ft rule with blue guns and rubber knives in many training scenarios , I knew I could cover this distance before the BG could produce and use a weapon.

While the time dilation effect was in play, I was thinking slowly, calmly, and kept aware of elements of my training. Other coworkers commentled afterwards that I moved very quickly and slapped my right hip a couple of times. This slapping was not to draw my pistol as no life threat was in place, but rather to maintain control of my weapon in the upcoming possible physical alteration.

I was surprised that my careful training had not touched on an altercation in which the BG was trying to get away from the scene. It seems that all of the training I have had (armed, unarmed, edged) all of the scenarios and training elements assumed that the BG was going to stand and fight. As such, many of the techniques commonly taught do not apply leaving me in this situation reverting to Barroom Brawl 101.

I am proud that confronted with a criminal situation, I answered the question we all have asked of ourselves..."when that moment finds me, how will I react?" I answered it well.

Quoted: WOW!!! Good going!!! How did the Police respond to your beating of the perp?

Very positively....the first responding officer was quite surprised that someone got involved and did not just cower inside.

Quoted: I should mention to those who have not had the misfortune of personally meeting me that I am 6'5", 225 lbs and weight-train 3 times per week...

Yeah,but I remember that you were #1 in DonR's list of "asses to be kicked" at the Hun farm

Glad to hear you are OK wiggy!

Next time,grab a stick and hit the SOB.We are getting too old to be beating people up!

Quoted: Dumb luck… They have a knife or gun and there is a good chance you would be rotting in the morgue right now.

DID YOU EVEN READ THE FREAKING POST?

I would suggest re-reading it...paying close attention to my keeping cover, the 21 ft rule, and keeping the perp (driver's) body between me and the passenger.

Are you one of those types that would only 'get involved' after the scene has been sanitized and pronounced clear by LEO's? I admit that my reaction could have been risky...but as I already stated, I had mitigated the threats until a point where I was comfortable to act.

A person could what-if themselves into complete inaction in a situation like this...sometimes strong, quick, decisive action is exactly what is needed.

To each his own...it is after all your own ass.

Instead of considering myself lucky (dumb or otherwise), I am proud of my assessment of the situation and of my considered reaction to it. While I was scared of the possible outcomes, I was more 'scared' of my not acting, of having to live with the knowledge that when this moment came, I was unwilling or unable to act.

Your sheeple ID is ready now.

Quoted: they didnt cut your top off the Jeep? oh wait thats WAL MART......

Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo....hard top SUV.

Quoted: Well done, Wiggy. Too bad you couldn't get the perp.

Thanks.

Pretty bummed that they have not caught him/them yet. I got the plate, but it came back to a stolen Solara from California.

Quoted: So did they catch'em? Kharn

Not yet, see post above...

Quoted: Quoted: I should mention to those who have not had the misfortune of personally meeting me that I am 6'5", 225 lbs and weight-train 3 times per week... Yeah,but I remember that you were #1 in DonR's list of "asses to be kicked" at the Hun farm Glad to hear you are OK wiggy! Next time,grab a stick and hit the SOB.We are getting too old to be beating people up!

My good friend Ed!

Great to hear from you!! How are you and how is the brood? Did you get everyhting completed and everyone moved into the Avila compound?

My Dr. said the exact same thing to me about being to old for this! I am actually checking into the legalities of ASP ownership in NM. Then I am gonna buy one!

Quoted: you are luck you are in NM.  many commie states would have charged you with assult for not dialing 911 and letting an inept barney fife handle it.

The responding Officer was surprised that the 'tussle' between me and the BG was not included in his original radio call. He said that he woud have responded quicker if it would have been, now a crime against an individual (me) rather than against property (my Jeep).

No charges, no hassle, no stern warnings, no talking to, no suggestion to let the LEO's handle it...just a hearty, "well done!".

Quoted: My good friend Ed! Great to hear from you!! How are you and how is the brood? Did you get everyhting completed and everyone moved into the Avila compound? My Dr. said the exact same thing to me about being to old for this! I am actually checking into the legalities of ASP ownership in NM. Then I am gonna buy one!

Hey,bud!

Everyone is well.Juan and I have moved into the compound,which is now 1/2 occupied

Edward will hopefully build withing the next 2 yrs and George will need to be convinced to move back from AZ.In the meantime,Juan and I will keep the place growing.But we need to talk on the phone.This hijacking of your own thread is inexcusable ,and talking to you on the phone, is so much more pleasant!

Take care and stop beating on BG.The PD need practice too,you know!

Quoted: Quoted: Dumb luck… They have a knife or gun and there is a good chance you would be rotting in the morgue right now. Seems to me he was carrying a pistol of his own.  I would assume he would have used it if the perp pulled a weapon.

No, I was not carrying (against company policy...will try to use this occaision to get changed) my CCW at the time. I had decided to cover the distance between us and get 'inside' his offensive zone, if you will. I only made this decision and then moved out of cover AFTER I determined his handes were empty. He had dropped my GPS at my yell, then did not go for a weapon immediately. When a few seconds of him standing shocked stone still...I rapidly closed the distance and commenced striking him about the head.

While we were 'dancing', I kept the passenger in mind and did not present much if any of my body to the passenger. This was relatively easy as the driver and I were standing and the passenger was sitting in his seat, the car was a hardtop. With these factors in play, the passenger presentled little threat as he could neither see the BG and I well and I kept the BG's position between me and the passenger. Strangley, in retrospect, I was glad I did not have my standard CCW as my holster has only friction as a retaining device...NOT the type of leather one wants when involved in a hand to hand fight.

I will be researching a CCW holster with some sort of additional retaining element.

Quoted: [It sounds to me like you knew exactly what to do, knew the situation very well, and made a decisive action. Good job Wiggy.

Thanks a bunch bro!

After the altercation was over and before the LEO's arrived, I was very excited about telling you guys about it and then began to critique my actions to make sure this was something I wanted to share. All of my ruminations and critiques led me to be very proud of my (newly bad) self!

I also came out of it with a short list of items I need to address...a retention holster for CCW, more hand to hand training, purchase and use of an ASP, and the purchase of a good quality heavy folder.

Quoted: Alright, nice job! Sounds like those are "guest workers" here to do jobs Americans refuse to do. So, are you married/single? You can't turn this to your advantage! I'm always looking at the bright side.

VERY married, and VERY happily.

Quoted: Quoted: VERY married, and VERY happily.photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=26412 Nice job man! So, you're going to get some extra luvin' for your crime-fighting efforts, right?

I am certainly working on it!!!!

Nice work, Wigs.

ETA: The keys to dominating an encounter like that are speed, surprise and violence of action. It sounds like you used all three to your advantage.