How to manage yourself on the streets.
Post you're stories here.
What works for one may not work for all or with all perps!
These are fluid and fast moving situations that can go in almost any direction rapidly.
There is no one right way and being intuitively creative on your feet is an asset.


The Parking Lot Ploy

This is common in Odessa TX. Not sure why so but have had happen to myself more than half a dozen times.
•Happens either going to your vehicle or leaving.
•They come up on you fast, many times you don't see them until they're within a dozen feet or less. This is intentional.
•They ask for something.

♤Drop what you're doing and focus all your attention on them.
♤Watch their eyes and especially hands.
♤Never put your hand(s) in your pocket or otherwise tie them up; be ready to go.
♤No easy/free rides, make that clear by your body language and words. Be decisive and go with your gut feeling.
Sometimes if they seem harmless and don't act aggressive I will verbally tell them I'm not doing that well either.
If they leave, fine.
If not I will rapidly escalate it to "Get the fuck out of here!"
If I'm saying this I'm pissed because I'm pretty sure they are a wannabe mugger.
♤Anger is more useful than fear, push fear aside and do what needs done.
♤At that point they will either walk away after about 3 warnings or they won't.
How you hold yourself and speak is important but be ready to go if they don't back down.
Sometimes it takes a few exchanges because fucktards be slow and things aren't going as they planned.
♤Verbally keep them off balance and take the initiative.
This is psychologic intimidation. Done right it will end without violence.


This happened earlier today, again:

Was over at Walmart's and had just parked next to a cart corel near my driver door. Had ears buds in/music on and had rolled up the window but had the door open.
Noticed the guy when he was about a dozen feet away coming right up to me. He placed himself behind the cart rail but right next to my open door.
I'm already not liking him.
He says something and I gestured to my ear and said "I can't hear you".
He talks again and I repeat myself.
After which he's not moving. Without hesitation I get out of the car and close the door* facing him.
I really don't give a fuck what he's saying, he's smaller than me and I'm pissed. Been sick the last couple days although I'm now feeling better and more than willing to share the pain.
He repeats himself as do I... I walk away. He's still talking.
He decides not to follow.
Once inside I let a store manager know and give them a description. They get this a lot.

*be careful entering or exiting a car door. If the perp can body slam the door before you clear it he can break your leg. In this case the cart cage blocked him and allowed safe exit to square off with him.

Good post.

Does anyone here carry?

Posted by RescueMe1060 Does anyone here carry?

I don't, and I'd be extremely hesitant to explore with anyone who did. I recently heard about an explorer through the grapevine who got nailed to the wall because he was unarmed but exploring with somebody who had a concealed carry.

Legally, possession of a firearm elevates the severity of almost all offenses to the felony level, even if it's something minor like trespassing. Furthermore, if one person in a group is committing an offense while armed everyone is considered to be complicit- just like if a bank robber carries a gun, the unarmed getaway driver can still be found guilty of armed robbery.

And lets say you did have to use it in self defense- you'll first have to justify your presence, and if you shoot someone while trespassing somewhere you clearly didn't belong that's not hard for a competent prosecutor to turn into premeditated murder, because "he was looking for trouble your honor."

I'd say leave the guns at home. If you can't explore safety without one, explore somewhere else.

Posted by RescueMe1060 Does anyone here carry?

Had a permit to pack for 20 years.
Might do it again.
Many times it's a liability though.
In reality I do fine without one and I don't have to hold back like I would if I was packing.
For what happened today however is exactly how I would behave if packing.

Holy shit I thought I was on UER not nextdoor.

You sound like a Karen the way you're terrified of panhandlers.

Like hand them a fiver and tell 'em to fuck off, welcome to being an adult in a city.

ONE TIME THESE BERNIE BROS CAME TO MY HOUSE TO "CANVAS" BUT I KNOW THEY WERE REALLY TRYING TO DO A HOME INVASION AND RAPE MY DOG.

why the fuck is this in UE main anyway?

Posted by uLiveAndYouBurn Like hand them a fiver and tell 'em to fuck off, welcome to being an adult in a city.

I never give them anything and if you put your hand in your pocket what perfect time to blind side you... sucker.
There are always jobs here if you want to work; panhandlers here are bums or worse and most are from many states away.

The only homeless guy I gave anything to (power bars) never asked for anything and was down here going to his first day on the job 8 miles away on foot with the only clothes on his back and what little he was washing at the laundromat. Lost everything in a Chicago fire a week earlier.

Each situation/person is different but as a general rule I am more likely to help someone out if it seems pretty clear that they are being honest with me. If they feed me a line of shit and are obviously trying to con me then they can kiss my ass.

I can't imagine going through life that afraid of everyone who approaches you. Sounds exhausting but you do you I guess.

Any interaction with beggars (especially teens in large parking lots) can turn bad not usually the teens but the gypsies that run them. DFW mostly Ft Worth had a large gypsy population. They do driveway paving and other assorted handyman jobs, they ask for payment up front then take a powder or do a half-assed job and disappear.

I investigated a bunch of gypsies in Ft Worth in the 1990s. Their deal was paying cash for an RV usually a bottom of the line trailer. staging some photos then staging a wreck. We caught them using the same photos for half a dozen different wrecks. The trailers were always claimed to be high end luxury models and stupid insurance companies paid off sight unseen.

Well wheres this story goin? We got a subpoena from Ft Worth on one of our subjects. He was running teenagers panhandling in parking lots like Walmart and Lowes or large grocery chains. In a couple cases co-panhandlers or their boss were waiting a couple cars down and snatched purses from unsuspecting lady victims.

FWPD busted several "families" of gypsy thieves and scammers for crimes between 1988 and 1999.

So if youre a real parking lot Rambo type go ahead and interact with the shady characters Im sure you can perform a "take down" if need be or use some martial arts to thwart the muggers. (until they cold-cock you from behind with a tire iron LOL)

Fuck a bunch of gypsy scum..

uLiveAndYouBurn really likes you Blackhawk :]

Posted by RescueMe1060 uLiveAndYouBurn really likes you Blackhawk :]

so does Max

at least one part of him

I carry a Glock 19 for EDC, cause as the great warrior poet George Washington said, "Stay strapped or get clapped."(Probably). I travel a lot and have come across a lot of sketchy people. I was glad I had the means to defend myself. And if someone sketchy started to talk to me, I was constantly looking around to make sure they didn't have a friend that was coming up on me.

I won't carry while exploring due to the legal multiplier you can get sucked into really quick. I do carry a CRKT M-16 14SFG. A big ass, rapid(non spring assisted) opening knife(TN has no knife carry restrictions). Just incase I come across a methhead and I fear for my life. But I always wear gloves, cause if I have to engage a drug addict, I don't want to catch their filth LOL.

Posted by RescueMe1060 uLiveAndYouBurn really likes you Blackhawk :]

Posted by 2Xplorations so does Max at least one part of him

And the gypsy scum...

#maxwuved

Posted by uLiveAndYouBurn ONE TIME THESE BERNIE BROS CAME TO MY HOUSE TO "CANVAS" BUT I KNOW THEY WERE REALLY TRYING TO DO A HOME INVASION AND RAPE MY DOG. why the fuck is this in UE main anyway?

Because some people like to feel badass, and holding a gun gives them that feeling. I've explored Milwaukee, south side Chicago, and Gary unarmed and without any issues. I've found that all you need is a couple friends and some common sense to avoid issues.

We're not recon special ops, and not everybody is out to get you. A lot of people look at life through a self-justifying lens where everybody is out to kill them so they need a gun for safety, when in reality it's a crutch for those who can't rely on their common sense and de-escalation skills. I firmly believe that if you can't feel safe exploring without a gun you shouldn't be exploring that place anyway.

This thread is about techniques and experiences to help keep members safe on the street.
Many times you'll be alone be it walking or driving in a car.

Posted by Aran Because some people like to feel badass, and holding a gun gives them that feeling. I've explored Milwaukee, south side Chicago, and Gary unarmed and without any issues. I've found that all you need is a couple friends and some common sense to avoid issues. We're not recon special ops, and not everybody is out to get you. A lot of people look at life through a self-justifying lens where everybody is out to kill them so they need a gun for safety, when in reality it's a crutch for those who can't rely on their common sense and de-escalation skills. I firmly believe that if you can't feel safe exploring without a gun you shouldn't be exploring that place anyway.

Ever been shot at or been taken down at gun point?*
I have... willing to bet there's a few on this site that have been shot or stabbed as well.
De-escalation doesn't work when the motherfucker is capping off rounds at you.



*we can do clarification as needed.

Posted by Aran Because some people like to feel badass, and holding a gun gives them that feeling. I've explored Milwaukee, south side Chicago, and Gary unarmed and without any issues. I've found that all you need is a couple friends and some common sense to avoid issues. We're not recon special ops, and not everybody is out to get you. A lot of people look at life through a self-justifying lens where everybody is out to kill them so they need a gun for safety, when in reality it's a crutch for those who can't rely on their common sense and de-escalation skills. I firmly believe that if you can't feel safe exploring without a gun you shouldn't be exploring that place anyway.

Sounds like something someone that's not allowed to own or carry a firearm would say.

So, those that do carry only do so to make them feel like a badass? Meanwhile youre tough enough to roam south Chicago with only your bare knuckles I guess.

Man that's Internet bad-assery for sure!

The safest way to explore is to exclusively bring people who talk incessantly on the internet about how badass they are.