Posted: 8/29/2011 4:06:17 PM EDT
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I don't post much anymore but thought this was odd and fit in in the HTF..
I have been home from Afg for about 6 weeks now and am helping a friend by running one of his projects in North Dallas. I am an Electrician by trade for a little background. This morning we drove up from Granbury and got to the gig about 0930. Lined my crews out and went about my business. Well at about 1030-1100 I seen a fella walking briskly out of one of the side entrances of the project with a black trash bag slung on his back that had the profile of a 250' roll of MC. I was sitting out front on some picnic tables interviewing a possible new employee when I seen it and promptly followed this cat to his car. Walking up to the car I scanned the interior to see a 1-2yr old child in the backseat without even so much as a carseat. Made my way to the front door to see the bag in the floor and asked the guy what was in it. He replied it was his work tools. I found this odd as I am the Electrical Super and pretty much know the faces of everyone on every other trade on the job. Well I asked to see and he refused. so I asked another time very politely with still a refusal. Well he then told the driver lets get out of here. They backed up and I put myself between the car and the exit (mistake now looking at it) Told them again I needed to see what was in the bag before I could let them go. Driver backed up and forward trying to go around but I am a large person and still move around quite well. Driver then started creeping up on me with his car like I would move and I didn't. So then he bumps my shins with his bumper and at that point I let them know how close I was to turning this into a weapon situation. This cat got out of the car and started yelling at me and asking me if I was on drugs for threatening to bring a gun into the situation with his kid in the car. This went on another bit then I told the driver he could leave as I could tell desperation was setting in but the passenger (original thief) had to stay there until the police arrived. Well the passenger got out and the driver drove sorta out of the parking lot but not really. I was trying to detain the thief without putting hands on and without shooting someone. He ended up getting away since the crew that I had around me didn't need any trouble and were afraid to touch him and I was in the same boat as I didn't want to get slapped with some dumb stuff that would mess with my overseas income. Well after these turds leave and get away the police show up and I had pictures of the whole ordeal from the car to other stuff. Talking to the officer that showed up doesn't look like the guy will get much more than an attempted theft since he didnt get away with anything and I guess the driver will get about the same. Is this pretty common in Dallas? I have been here 6 weeks and this is the first time I have ever run into this. Hell I have been doing electrical work since getting out of the Army and its the first time I have ever seen anything like it. Am I on drugs for considering to bring a weapon into the situation if need even though the cat had a kid in his car? I like to think I am pretty sane but its all about doing the right thing. Maybe its not how things are resolved here int he city but us country people must think different. What kind of asshole brings his 1-2 year old baby into a situation like this to steal stuff? Cost of wire attempting to be stolen was $186 our cost and scrap cost is less than $50. I |
Tell me about it .I have seen bullshit like that more times than I can count .I used to work out in the field and I will have some asshole trying to steal my welding machine or tools then they pull this shit (ME NO NO ) then thy act like they do not speak English .YES THIS COUNTRY IS FUCKED UP .  P.S THANKS FOR YOU SERVICE 
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Well I'm sure if you're ex /mil you are proficent with a weapon, I at least hope so, you know there a lot of other services other than on the front line, so for that I would say no you were not crazy to bring a weapon into the mix with him pulling the car up to your shins. Shoulda just went ahead and shot the fucking scum bags. There is a guy in Dallas that owns some sort of junk yard or something to that effect, that has shot and IIC no less than 2 shit bags breaking into said junk yard, no billed both times. Go figure, you'd think those type of people would learn wouldn't ya?
Regardless of what you did in the .mil....thank you for your service.   
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| People are brazen. Like the OP said, in broad daylight. They even burglarize the President George W Bush Library site. Steal anything that is not locked up. They have even tried to steal heavy equipment off the library site including a front end loader! They even had a semi truck trailer to steal it off the site. |
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As far as the bump to the Shins I didnt think much about it and when I explained it to the officer he asked but I just joked it off. Told him I was worried I would get some kinda crazy ticket or charge that would mess up my overseas work so I kept hands off. Apparently I could have rocked this cats world and not gotten into much or any trouble.
The more I think about it the more it pisses me off about the kid in the car for the whole situation. Especially being a dad. |
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Quoted:
Did he/they make off with the wire? Nah, threw it out the window thinking I would let them go.... I guess the diff in getting away with it and not is it would have been a Felony but I am not 100% on that as I am not a lawyer, judge, or even a cop... Hell I dont even report for a crime blog. 
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