The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: True_Texan on June 20, 2009, 09:24:09 PM

Title: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: True_Texan on June 20, 2009, 09:24:09 PM
I just got back from a quick trip to the convenience store. While I was there, the clerk, who has become a well known acquaintance, pointed toward the ceiling in front of the door. I looked up and saw a shot gun blast in one of the ceiling tiles.

Apparently, 30 to 45 min after I had left the night before, some guy decided he wanted to make a quick withdrawal. The clerk said the man walked in the door, fired off a round, turned to counter and told him to put all the money in a bag. Now, the clerk was saying the guy only had 1 shot in the shotgun as in, the gun only held one at a time. I asked if it was a break-action shotgun which of course only got me a blank stare.

But he said after the guy through the bag on the counter, he reached down to pick up a shell he had dropped on the floor. Whether it was an empty or a fumbled a reload, I don't know. But now the clerk has a pipe behind the counter that he said he would use because the robber looked away from him while he was picking up the shell. Not sure if that is the best idea.

Anyway, apparently the robber made off with $600. The clerk told me that he didn't give him any of the $100 or $50 bills. Only $20's and smaller. He said if he would have gotten all of the cash, it would have been somewhere around $5000.

Here's a pic of it. Sorry for the blurry picture. Snapped a quick shot of it with my iPhone (got the 3GS BTW phil ;D) while trying not to draw the other customers attention to it.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/True-Texan/IMG_0240.jpg)

This just bothers me because that is a little too close to home for me. Store is less then a quarter mile away.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: Hazcat on June 20, 2009, 09:31:45 PM
True Tex,

I am afraid it will get much closer.......and soon.

Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: Texas_Bryan on June 20, 2009, 09:41:08 PM
Help him out on the gun front, the robber probably won't be back tomorrow, but in four or five months your boy could be ready, with a weapon and some training.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: True_Texan on June 20, 2009, 09:44:18 PM
Help him out on the gun front, the robber probably won't be back tomorrow, but in four or five months your boy could be ready, with a weapon and some training.

I did suggest that actually. That is when he showed me the steal pipe he had behind the counter.  :-\
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: Texas_Bryan on June 20, 2009, 09:54:59 PM
I did suggest that actually. That is when he showed me the steal pipe he had behind the counter.  :-\

 :-\ Indeed.  A pipe?  Tell him to get a good stabbing knife if that's the route he's going to go.  Yeah, OC and a knife, the old one two.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: MikeBjerum on June 20, 2009, 09:55:49 PM
I did suggest that actually. That is when he showed me the steal pipe he had behind the counter.  :-\

A steel pipe is a great idea ... especially if it is holding a brass case packed with lead and powder!  

Seriously, I know that not every business is friendly toward their employees protecting themselves, but I'm sure there is some training in the area that would be of benefit to him and anyone working or living in a similar area/situation.

Glad it is all good so far, and I hope it stays that way.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: Kid Shelleen on June 20, 2009, 10:29:44 PM
Thankfully no one was hurt!!!!
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: tombogan03884 on June 20, 2009, 11:32:12 PM
The pipe is more likely to get him killed as the next robber may not be a bumbling dipshit. NEVER resort to half measures, Texas has lenient gun laws for a reason.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: m25operator on June 20, 2009, 11:42:49 PM
The pipe is more likely to get him killed as the next robber may not be a bumbling dipshit. NEVER resort to half measures, Texas has lenient gun laws for a reason.

And more importantly, lenient Grand juries. ;D ;D and prosecutors, but it does depend on which county.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: fightingquaker13 on June 20, 2009, 11:47:14 PM
+ 100. Concealed means concealed. Your employer might not want you to carry a gun, so don't tell him, or any other employee. Keep your mouth shut, your gun hidden in your waste band and who will know? I wil not go after a guy armed with a gun if  all I've got is a pipe. Tell him to get his CHL, and then tell him to tell no one. All things being equal, it can't any worse. Better your jb than your wife.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: Kid Shelleen on June 21, 2009, 12:01:02 AM
Quote
FQ 13 says: Better your jb than your wife.

Huh?
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: TAB on June 21, 2009, 12:04:08 AM
just give them the cash, you can buy insurance to cover theft/robbery.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: True_Texan on June 21, 2009, 01:44:12 AM
just give them the cash, you can buy insurance to cover theft/robbery.

That is the one thing that most of the guys I have talked too that work in convenience stores have said. They just hand over the money. Press the drawer open button and back away with hands up. I don't see anything wrong with that at all. Money is never worth dying over and unless they own the store, it isn't even theirs to worry about.

The problem begins when lead is introduced into the air. They come in shooting, they are going out in a zipped up bag (my view of it). It just seems that most of these guys don't want to have any part in having a gun. Now I don't know if they legally can't have guns or it's a moral/religious objection or just an employee restriction. I have never asked because that information is filed into the "None of My Business" folder.

I just make friendly conversation with them because that is the kind of person I am. Plus, the three closest stores to me are owned by the same guy and they shift the workers around to each of them. So I come across the same people regularly. I am starting to think at this point, I need to have a chat with the owner about his rules and what he will allow.

Hell, maybe I'll even apply for a little extra work as some 'muscle' during the late hours. I would be out of sight most of the time, because I would be standing in the cooler trying not to burst into flames during the summer heat. ;D That and it would give me a tacti-COOL advantage!  ;)
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: True_Texan on July 01, 2009, 01:20:28 AM
Just found out they caught the SOB that robbed the place near by. He was caught in San Marcos, a town not far from here. He apparently also robbed a Little Caesars Pizza place and an AutoZone. He was arrested on his 4th attempt at another convenience store. Everyone of his robberies started off with a shotgun blast into the ceiling.

He is from Pearsall originally but he attends the local university here in town and lives not far from me. He was an offensive lineman for the football team and had completed his junior year.

He is now facing up to life in prison with at least 4 charges of aggravated robbery and whatever else they can put on him. The dummy ruined his life over a little extra cash. Next year he would have been done with school and possibly gotten into professional football.

People's stupidity and greed never cease to amaze me.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: Texas_Bryan on July 01, 2009, 02:55:36 AM
Just found out they caught the SOB that robbed the place near by. He was caught in San Marcos, a town not far from here. He apparently also robbed a Little Caesars Pizza place and an AutoZone. He was arrested on his 4th attempt at another convenience store. Everyone of his robberies started off with a shotgun blast into the ceiling.

He is from Pearsall originally but he attends the local university here in town and lives not far from me. He was an offensive lineman for the football team and had completed his junior year.

He is now facing up to life in prison with at least 4 charges of aggravated robbery and whatever else they can put on him. The dummy ruined his life over a little extra cash. Next year he would have been done with school and possibly gotten into professional football.

People's stupidity and greed never cease to amaze me.

Not far from me either, hopefully they throw the book at him.  His lucky someone didn't blast him during one of his robberies.
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: fightingquaker13 on July 01, 2009, 03:01:34 AM
Huh?
It was late at night, and I had gone out to dinner with some friends, wine was drunk, keys were missed. Lets try, better to lose your job than your life (although a good jib sail is pricy, and depending on the wife.......). :-[ ;D
FQ13
Title: Re: Ceiling Tile Ventilation
Post by: Kid Shelleen on July 01, 2009, 10:14:22 AM
It was late at night, and I had gone out to dinner with some friends, wine was drunk, keys were missed. Lets try, better to lose your job than your life (although a good jib sail is pricy, and depending on the wife.......). :-[ ;D
FQ13
Knew what you intended but funnier the first time ;D