[losttourist]

So need your opinion about something that happened on the weekend. I had gone to a local plaza to pick up a couple things. Just got on my bike when a car pulls up an parks beside me.  3 guys step out laughing about something when one guy steps up beside me, in my face and says give me your ride. The other 2 had positioned themselves in front and behind me. I wasn't sure what to think at first and said what? He replied let me ride your bike. I really had nothing to reply with as I stared at him and decided to put on my helmet and start the bike. The guys just stop there and the guy says how much was your jacket. And I slowly started to move out the guy in front of me stepped aside.  At that point I calmly drive off. 

So what was this about exactly? Simple admiration of my tdub or an attempted jacking in broad daylight ? At any rate to me it was unwanted attention 

Thoughts?

 

[flingwing1969]

So need your opinion about something that happened on the weekend. I had gone to a local plaza to pick up a couple things. Just got on my bike when a car pulls up an parks beside me.  3 guys step out laughing about something when one guy steps up beside me, in my face and says give me your ride. The other 2 had positioned themselves in front and behind me. I wasn't sure what to think at first and said what? He replied let me ride your bike. I really had nothing to reply with as I stared at him and decided to put on my helmet and start the bike. The guys just stop there and the guy says how much was your jacket. And I slowly started to move out the guy in front of me stepped aside.  At that point I calmly drive off. 

So what was this about exactly? Simple admiration of my tdub or an attempted jacking in broad daylight ? At any rate to me it was unwanted attention 

Thoughts?

A**holes! Glad it went well for you.

 

[retmotor]

They're working themselves up to be robbers, sizing up potential victims. Had you appeared weaker to them, it may have not ended well. As they gain more confidence, they'll become more bold and more violent.

 

[Xracer]

I've known young people to do things just to shake you up. I've had all most the same thing happen to me while on my bicycle. In that case I just looked the kid in the eye and said " I don't think so" and rode off. I'd like to think the sight of my powerfull body clad in skin tight spandex made them think twice but I know better.

 

[TWisty]

Does Ontario have the "Stand your ground" law?

You can't hardly miss from point-blank range.

 

[Loppy]

I'm a CCW holder for situations just like that. I would have slowly put my hand in my jacket pocket (where I carry when i ride) and politely advised them I dont want any trouble, but taking anything off me would be an act of agression and in fear for my life, I would "vigorously" defend myself. Basically, just try to get the hell out of there as quick as possible.



They were just punk kids probably high on something that saw an easy target (3 on 1) and were screwing with you to see what you would say and do. I'd say you did well. Gawd I cant stand punk bully thugs.

 

[Loppy]

Does Ontario have the "Stand your ground" law?

You can't hardly miss from point-blank range.

In California, you can only defend yourself with like/kind force. Its a grey area, as three guys could EASILY beat one guy to death with their bare hands, but if none of them had weapons and you took one or more out, you might be more screwed than the original perps... If one of them brandished a gun or knife, then its a no brainer. The situations are VERY tricky and always fluid. The BEST thing to do is avoid it altogther. Situational awareness.

 

[losttourist]

These three black males were between 20-25 yrs old. We are not allowed to carry here only the criminals are. According to a guy here at work who knows the area well says they backed off because I showed I wasn't intimated and possibly not an easy mark. Also found out a guy was stabbed to death at same location last yr

 

[retmotor]

...when one guy steps up beside me, in my face and says give me your ride...

I should point out, by definition, that's robbery in the state of Nevada. It's a show of force used to intimidate and if the guy said, "Give me your ride." He and his buddies just committed a felony. That's not fooling around, nor is it screwing with people for fun. It's criminal. I don't know what the law is up there, but you could file a report against those turds down here.



An attempted crime and an actual crime carry the same penalty, btw.



Here's how it is worded if you're curious (emphasis is mine):



NRS 200.380 Definition; penalty.



1. Robbery is the unlawful taking of personal property from the person of another, or in the person’s presence, against his or her will, by means of force or violence or fear of injury, immediate or future, to his or her person or property, or the person or property of a member of his or her family, or of anyone in his or her company at the time of the robbery. A taking is by means of force or fear if force or fear is used to:



Obtain or retain possession of the property;



Prevent or overcome resistance to the taking; or



Facilitate escape.



The degree of force used is immaterial if it is used to compel acquiescence to the taking of or escaping with the property. A taking constitutes robbery whenever it appears that, although the taking was fully completed without the knowledge of the person from whom taken, such knowledge was prevented by the use of force or fear.



2. A person who commits robbery is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 15 years.

 

[mhomadness]

You got lucky!! Being able to keep your cool in a situation such as that is key to survival. Here in Calif, defending yourself by any physical means would most likely put you in more trouble with the law than the perps. How you handled that was textbook! The next best thing to do if the situation had escalated, would have been to try and escape on foot. Your bike can always be repaired for much less money than your bod. Cary a cell phone with you, call 911 immediately!! One of the best criminal attorneys I've ever met said "YOU must be the FIRST one to call 911" he meant that the first one to reach the 911 operator will be the one treated as the innocent party in the dispute rather than the antagonist. Depending on the situation, that can make a huge difference. Even a witness calling 911 before you can cause the responding officers to be confused as to who started what. I know this may seem crazy, but we are talking about California. (In my case.)



I commend you for the way you handled that situation. Nuf said. m.

 

[flingwing1969]

In California, you can only defend yourself with like/kind force. Its a grey area, as three guys could EASILY beat one guy to death with their bare hands, but if none of them had weapons and you took one or more out, you might be more screwed than the original perps... If one of them brandished a gun or knife, then its a no brainer. The situations are VERY tricky and always fluid. The BEST thing to do is avoid it altogther. Situational awareness.

In CA confrontations like this really suck - aggressor has the legal, as well as the physical advantage. If you kill him/them you live to go to trial and likely to jail (especially in some of our more liberal bastions like SF), if you let him/them beat you to death, in spite of your best efforts, your estate can sue and win - collecting exactly nothing from the slimball(s).

 

[flingwing1969]

These three black males were between 20-25 yrs old. We are not allowed to carry here only the criminals are. According to a guy here at work who knows the area well says they backed off because I showed I wasn't intimated and possibly not an easy mark. Also found out a guy was stabbed to death at same location last yr

Charming!

 

[frog13]

In California, you can only defend yourself with like/kind force. Its a grey area, as three guys could EASILY beat one guy to death with their bare hands, but if none of them had weapons and you took one or more out, you might be more screwed than the original perps... If one of them brandished a gun or knife, then its a no brainer. The situations are VERY tricky and always fluid. The BEST thing to do is avoid it altogther. Situational awareness.

Soviet/Cali. law does not override the constitution......sorry,you have the right to defend you AND your property.....Nancy and the rest of the Red communist can go to h-ll.



File a report,if the mounties will do that?.

 

[Loppy]

Soviet/Cali. law does not override the constitution......sorry,you have the right to defend you AND your property.....Nancy and the rest of the Red communist can go to h-ll.



File a report,if the mounties will do that?.

You'd think so right? Unfortunately, its not the case here. Flingwing is right, the specific City or County venue can make all the difference. Shoot someone in SF, even if you have a CCW and it's on video where you did everything to avoid it and had no other means but to draw and fire... you're F'd. They WILL charge you with a crime. Even if you're eventually found not guilty and within your rights, you'll have lost your gun (they're supposed to give it back, but never will), you'll have lost god knows how many days of your freedom, and lawyer expenses that would break a bank... not to mention all the time off etc. likely loosing your job...



We used to go to SF all the time, love ATT park for Giants games, love riding around the city, the food etc... I dont go anymore. The city is a NO CARRY city, like NY, Chicago etc. The only guys with guns are the criminals, and if I carry, even though I've done the training, done the background, did everything right, I'm a criminal with a potential felony. It's sad.

 

[evan]

Damn! that sucks! You did the right thing. If things turned ugly and it were me I'd get the hell out of there on foot. Sure, I'd be pissed but a motorcycle is certainly not worth getting stabbed or shot over. One guy against three isn't going to turn out well unless your Chuck Norris or Bruce Lee. I always try to be aware of my surroundings and not go into an area that doesn't feel or look right. I'm in Cali and have never carried a firearm or really even considered it. I do carry one when riding in the boonies but thats really more for mountain lions/bears. (seen both and luckily they took off)

 

[losttourist]

Hey guys I want to thank you all for your replies and insight. I'm glad I still have my bike and I came out unscathed. The good thing is I've got my radar on now. Its just a sad state of affairs when something like this can happen in broad daylight. I guess because I'm just a little guy they figured it would be easy. After talking to more people that are familiar with the area I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. People have been robbed of everything from smokes to clothing in the same manner there apparently. My daughter and I have cycled in the same area previously and as far as I'm concerned I won't be taking her by there again.

Anyway best regards

 

[flingwing1969]

Hey guys I want to thank you all for your replies and insight. I'm glad I still have my bike and I came out unscathed. The good thing is I've got my radar on now. Its just a sad state of affairs when something like this can happen in broad daylight. I guess because I'm just a little guy they figured it would be easy. After talking to more people that are familiar with the area I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. People have been robbed of everything from smokes to clothing in the same manner there apparently. My daughter and I have cycled in the same area previously and as far as I'm concerned I won't be taking her by there again.

Anyway best regards

Sounds like a great idea. There are areas where no one should be. When I was a police officer here in the SF Bay Area, I was the sniper on our swat team. We did our training in the abandoned buildings of the Hunter's Point Naval Station, which sits at the bottom of a bluff on which very low class housing sits. As we entered the neighborhood, we closed our police car windows, increased our speed, put on our lights and sirens and stopped for nothing. We actually took fire from the houses on the bluff so I was tasked with getting out of the car first and setting up my sniper position looking up at the bluffs until we were safely shielded by the buildings in which we trained. We were ten police officers, in uniform, in patrol cars, and armed and we were still subject to attack.



Judicious, selective positioning is a good thing.

 

[zardoz]

I carry an "asp". It will never see the light of day until it's needed... but when it does someone will be hospitalized.. and it WON'T be me

I used to work security in Toronto so I can feel for ya losttourist. I bet I worked the area you were accosted in... tell ya what let me guess... I'm only gonna guess two.. my favorites

"Jane and Finch"? or "Dundass and Sherbourne"?



Get some training in straight baton and police procedures

z

 

[old mad max]

You got lucky!! Being able to keep your cool in a situation such as that is key to survival. Here in Calif, defending yourself by any physical means would most likely put you in more trouble with the law than the perps. How you handled that was textbook! The next best thing to do if the situation had escalated, would have been to try and escape on foot. Your bike can always be repaired for much less money than your bod. Cary a cell phone with you, call 911 immediately!! One of the best criminal attorneys I've ever met said "YOU must be the FIRST one to call 911" he meant that the first one to reach the 911 operator will be the one treated as the innocent party in the dispute rather than the antagonist. Depending on the situation, that can make a huge difference. Even a witness calling 911 before you can cause the responding officers to be confused as to who started what. I know this may seem crazy, but we are talking about California. (In my case.)



I commend you for the way you handled that situation. Nuf said. m.

"X" 2.......... It sounds like you called their bluff...................... They were just showing off for one another... If it were my wife she would have shot them @$$ holes................ OMM. Glad it worked out the way it did.

 

[tw200sgp]

In Singapore and Australia it's very difficult to use violence in this situation without risking being charged. Personally my reaction would (and has) been similar to yours.