He wasn't sure how many armed guards it would take to ruin his day...

[Fatman]

but he knew how many we were going to use. That's a handy bit of information to have right there!  

We were making a pickup at a Liquor Control Board store in a seedy section of Norristown. My partner hopped the stop and I kept watch, parked with our door even with the glass-fronted store's door. I had a clear view of everything in the store and my partner.

About a minute in a short, gang-tatooed guy wearing a wife beater and a pair of baggies low (with the top half of his boxers hanging out, of course) bopped across the street in front of the truck.  Something didn't look right - his right pant leg was facing me and was penduluming as he walked. Something heavy in the side bucket pocket...

Then the contents of the pocket printed as the pants swung. It looked like an 'L'.  It took a split second to realize it was a full size pistol carried barrel up, grip across the bottom of the pocket - not something I'm used to seeing.  He walked towards the liquor store and I hit the warning lights, tapped the siren twice, got my partner's attention and pointed him out. Everyone on the street turned when the siren went, except our buddy. He went into the store, up to the display case two feet inside the door and kept his face and right side facing away from my partner. He wasted time by examining his tied shoelace, checking his wallet and studying the display case while waiting for my partner to walk out past him.

I hand signaled for my partner to stay where he was (elevated office platform opposite the display case) and get a grip on his pistol. I moved to the truck door, drew my pistol to eye level, motioned some pedestrians away from the store front and then called my partner on his radio.  I knew it was on public - I told him, "Stay where you are. He's packing heavy in the right front pocket. If he moves for it, I'll to drop him through the glass."

That got a reaction. The guy raised his hands to chest height, looked out at the truck and decided he didn't want anything in the store that badly. He walked out and back the way he came, keeping his hands up and in plain sight.

I'm assuming the patrol car that passed us with its lights on a few minutes later was on its way to the store, where the manager was left with all the info we had.

Lessons learned or confirmed:

1) Staying alert pays off.

2) If your personal warning light goes on, there probably is a cause. Act on your gut within reason, rather than hoping you're wrong.

3) Criminals are not necessarily stupid.

4) I would do whatever the situation required to keep my partner, innocents and myself safe, but I'm damn glad it didn't go that far.

Stay safe.

[jaybet]

......So are you going to give Ron White a credit on this one or not?

[Fatman]

......So are you going to give Ron White a credit on this one or not?

Thanks! I forgot which comedian said it. 

[Jackel]

and the moral of the story is, never trust a guy wearing baggy pants 

[1911 Junkie]

What kind of dumbass goes to rob a store when:

a) There is an armored truck parked outside that obviously carries armed guards.

    or

b) Waiting for the armored truck to leave, more than likely taking most of the money with it.

This guy obviously confused the truck with the "short bus" that he is intimately familiar with.


Good looking out.

[Sponsor]

[Fatman]

What kind of dumbass goes to rob a store when:

a) There is an armored truck parked outside that obviously carries armed guards.

    or

b) Waiting for the armored truck to leave, more than likely taking most of the money with it.

This guy obviously confused the truck with the "short bus" that he is intimately familiar with.


Good looking out.

They usually let the hopper collect the deposits and then jump him from behind on the way out to the truck. 

[Kid Shelleen]

This guy obviously confused the truck with the "short bus" that he is intimately familiar with.

That's Hillarious Junkie. Ever considered a second career in comedy?

I'm glad that things worked out Fatman and that no one was hurt. Stay sharp and stay safe.