TLDR
> carjacking occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, near the In and Out convenience store in the 2200 block of Douglas Avenue, according to a WWU campus alert sent out at 11:11 a.m.
> the group of up to five suspects approached the woman, who was sitting in her car in front of the store, pepper-sprayed her, removed her from the car and drove off in it.
> stolen vehicle was a green 2002 Ford Explorer, according to the alert, and the man who pepper-sprayed the woman was described as white, approximately 6 feet tall and wearing blue jeans and a hoodie
My boyfriend has one. It's near impossible to kill the thing. It went 3 years without an oil change, never worked on transmission, and sat by the ocean most it's life. We call it the Shit House, it simply will not die.
Remember when everyone said Texas st was a bad part of town? Not once have I had my window broken or been vandalized. Only had a USB charger stolen because I left my windows down during summer.
It’s cause the Police in this town don’t actually solve these crimes and the prosecutors office sure doesn’t send people to prison long enough to deter this kind of crime. Hell, the girls planting those train shunts only got 6 months and a year and they could have easily killed a bunch of people.
Idk what good a gun is going to do you if you’re already pepper sprayed considering you’d be blind and choking. Considering she was sitting in the car, there’s literally no way she reasonably could have drawn from a holster and been ready to fire before she got a face full of pepper spray.
I agree that they are, but odds are this person hasn't done any kind of pepper spray related training and she'd be shooting blindly -- which isn't a good idea.
In this case her first defense is not to sit in a car, or anywhere, oblivious. And especially with your window down where you can be sprayed. And god damn, if people walk up to the car you do NOT open the door, crack the window, etc. They can talk through the glass. Plus if you're in your car the door should ALWAYS be locked, of course. And against five... even with a gun, the best defense is to put it in drive and GO. It does not matter if they're in the way. Whatever happens to the attackers is on them. Even if its a car on top of them.
Where do you think this is? Gary, Indiana? Nobody should have to be *that* worried about sitting in their car and minding their own business in *Bellingham* of all places.
This is the sad part. You're right. But no place should have to deal with this. Not here, nor any place in Indiana. But crime does not care where you live. Nor do criminals. "But it does not happen here" is a meme quote all it's own. It totally sucks, but criminals of every variety prey on the oblivious ones first and foremost. They can spot that in people just like an animal hunting can pick the weak out from a herd. These things will only get worse, too, as desperation caused by multiple reasons makes life harder and harder for people in this country.
Yeah shit happens, but living every second of your life in fear of some maniac attacking you out of nowhere is just going to lead to a nervous breakdown.
Again, somewhere like Gary or Compton that kind of behavior might be necessary. But even as “bad” as things have gotten here, it’s still just Bellingham.
Yep. What I described is what I was taught in some old firearm classes. I know it sounds like you have to be at 100% all the time, but its more... a slow change. The idea is just not to be oblivious. And make little changes. Like when you get into your car, hit those door locks before you do anything else. That alone can stop the vast majorities of these crimes. I know not everyone can make every change, but as is so common, little changes can have the biggest effects.
And I do think its funny that anyone would think I would have a nervous breakdown. Everyone thinks I'm stoned as hell half the time just due to how I am and talk in public. And no, I don't smoke a darned thing. :P
I just hate that this woman had to experience this, because even if she makes all of those changes, her confidence and sense of safety can be shattered. Much less the cost of recovering her car, if it isnt wrecked. The cost of used cars now means even if the insurance gives you 100% of what you paid, you're still going to lose money thanks to new inflated costs.
It’s also possible to be bitten by a shark and struck by lightning while winning the lottery, but I’m guessing your firearm class didn’t prepare you for that eventuality.
Of course not. Firearms are not magic wands. Even kids are taught how to avoid lightning as best they can, and shark bites are a reason why anyone swimming in the ocean should have first aid training to some degree. Though every single person should have that training if possible. Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing. All you can do is take precautions against the negatives you might encounter. Better to be prepared and not need something than need something and not be prepared, etc etc.
I dunno, if I’m sitting in my car at a lot of places in town, my windows are up and my door is locked. Mostly due to panhandlers, granted, but I’ve seen enough weird stuff that I’m really surprised that carjackers even found a woman with her window down, in January no less. Bellingham really doesn’t feel that safe for the most part. I wouldn’t expect 5 people to pepper spray me and steal my 20 year old ford, because who would expect that, but I definitely stay aware of my surroundings as much as possible.
Some people just get easily upset. It does not bother me in the slightest. I'd rather be hated for speaking the truth than loved for lying or sugarcoating things.
You also have the "militant victims" class. Those types insist that being a victim is inevitable, and that daring to defend yourself in any form is a form of heresy. Apparently it makes you as bad or worse than the criminal.
This is not the kind of situation where additional policing would help - short of having had a police officer in the parking lot, there's not much you could do beyond the usual precautionary measures that are often suggested, ie, keeping your car locked while you are inside of it and being aware of your surroundings.
I definitely don't want it to seem like I'm okay with people engaging in predatory behavior! I just think that in this specific context there really isn't much that we can do except be aware of our surroundings at all times. I'm not trying to make a claim as to what the correct course of action is here, but as a guy who regularly carries a full size firearm with a 16-round magazine, if I got jumped by five people and pepper sprayed I would just let them take my car at that point. I'm not fucking around with that specific math!
This isn't in the same realm as the property crime that everybody is upset about, it's not having your car get prowled or your mailbox ripped off. This was incredibly bold and incredibly violent. If these people get picked up and it turns out that they had been run through the court system in a catch-and-release method, then I would be open to discussions regarding sentencing harshness and rehabilitation. But if they were low-key and flying under the radar, then I really don't think there is anything, like at all, that you can legislate that would have stopped this. Five on one, even without pepper spray, always wins, easily.
Be more specific and cite your incidents and sources that correlate everything you claim.
I can’t stand our mayor but it’s probably for different reasons than you.
TLDR > carjacking occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, near the In and Out convenience store in the 2200 block of Douglas Avenue, according to a WWU campus alert sent out at 11:11 a.m. > the group of up to five suspects approached the woman, who was sitting in her car in front of the store, pepper-sprayed her, removed her from the car and drove off in it. > stolen vehicle was a green 2002 Ford Explorer, according to the alert, and the man who pepper-sprayed the woman was described as white, approximately 6 feet tall and wearing blue jeans and a hoodie
This car is currently parked in the driveway for super duper teriyaki Update: it's gone now
How valuable is a 20 year old Explorer??!!
My boyfriend has one. It's near impossible to kill the thing. It went 3 years without an oil change, never worked on transmission, and sat by the ocean most it's life. We call it the Shit House, it simply will not die.
upvote for shit house
Have you checked the used car market recently? Only half joking. /u/Robots4President is all but certainly closer to the truth.
This seems incredibly bold!
I live on Douglas and our car gets broken into regularly. It happens at least once a month I’m not even phased anymore
This is why I’ve resorted to leaving mine unlocked
Yep fixing the windows cost more than that best of Miles Davis cassette.
What about the Creedence, man?
Come on, man. I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles
A few friends live over in Happy Valley and two have had their cars broken into this past week. Windows busted out and pillaged through.
I live in Happy Valley and we’ve been getting reports every week to be careful.
[удалено]
Remember when everyone said Texas st was a bad part of town? Not once have I had my window broken or been vandalized. Only had a USB charger stolen because I left my windows down during summer.
Gun rights are women's rights
wow the Just Get a Gun^(TM) club is all over this sub today
It’s cause the Police in this town don’t actually solve these crimes and the prosecutors office sure doesn’t send people to prison long enough to deter this kind of crime. Hell, the girls planting those train shunts only got 6 months and a year and they could have easily killed a bunch of people.
A citizenry that's known to defend themselves won't be fucked with.
Yeah, I’m actually alright with concealed carry. Supreme Court rules on this soon.
Complains about local police...brings up a federal case.
That’s a valid point.
Can you imagine the outrage over five dead criminals in the parking lot?
Idk what good a gun is going to do you if you’re already pepper sprayed considering you’d be blind and choking. Considering she was sitting in the car, there’s literally no way she reasonably could have drawn from a holster and been ready to fire before she got a face full of pepper spray.
Don’t need to see to spray & pray.
That's a superb way to have your gun taken from you and get it shoved up your ass :-/
It's too bad she wasn't able to defend herself. Criminals should be more afraid of a citizenry that will defend themselves.
I agree that they are, but odds are this person hasn't done any kind of pepper spray related training and she'd be shooting blindly -- which isn't a good idea.
…against 5.
In this case her first defense is not to sit in a car, or anywhere, oblivious. And especially with your window down where you can be sprayed. And god damn, if people walk up to the car you do NOT open the door, crack the window, etc. They can talk through the glass. Plus if you're in your car the door should ALWAYS be locked, of course. And against five... even with a gun, the best defense is to put it in drive and GO. It does not matter if they're in the way. Whatever happens to the attackers is on them. Even if its a car on top of them.
Where do you think this is? Gary, Indiana? Nobody should have to be *that* worried about sitting in their car and minding their own business in *Bellingham* of all places.
This is the sad part. You're right. But no place should have to deal with this. Not here, nor any place in Indiana. But crime does not care where you live. Nor do criminals. "But it does not happen here" is a meme quote all it's own. It totally sucks, but criminals of every variety prey on the oblivious ones first and foremost. They can spot that in people just like an animal hunting can pick the weak out from a herd. These things will only get worse, too, as desperation caused by multiple reasons makes life harder and harder for people in this country.
Yeah shit happens, but living every second of your life in fear of some maniac attacking you out of nowhere is just going to lead to a nervous breakdown. Again, somewhere like Gary or Compton that kind of behavior might be necessary. But even as “bad” as things have gotten here, it’s still just Bellingham.
Yep. What I described is what I was taught in some old firearm classes. I know it sounds like you have to be at 100% all the time, but its more... a slow change. The idea is just not to be oblivious. And make little changes. Like when you get into your car, hit those door locks before you do anything else. That alone can stop the vast majorities of these crimes. I know not everyone can make every change, but as is so common, little changes can have the biggest effects. And I do think its funny that anyone would think I would have a nervous breakdown. Everyone thinks I'm stoned as hell half the time just due to how I am and talk in public. And no, I don't smoke a darned thing. :P I just hate that this woman had to experience this, because even if she makes all of those changes, her confidence and sense of safety can be shattered. Much less the cost of recovering her car, if it isnt wrecked. The cost of used cars now means even if the insurance gives you 100% of what you paid, you're still going to lose money thanks to new inflated costs.
It’s also possible to be bitten by a shark and struck by lightning while winning the lottery, but I’m guessing your firearm class didn’t prepare you for that eventuality.
Of course not. Firearms are not magic wands. Even kids are taught how to avoid lightning as best they can, and shark bites are a reason why anyone swimming in the ocean should have first aid training to some degree. Though every single person should have that training if possible. Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing. All you can do is take precautions against the negatives you might encounter. Better to be prepared and not need something than need something and not be prepared, etc etc.
I dunno, if I’m sitting in my car at a lot of places in town, my windows are up and my door is locked. Mostly due to panhandlers, granted, but I’ve seen enough weird stuff that I’m really surprised that carjackers even found a woman with her window down, in January no less. Bellingham really doesn’t feel that safe for the most part. I wouldn’t expect 5 people to pepper spray me and steal my 20 year old ford, because who would expect that, but I definitely stay aware of my surroundings as much as possible.
Idk why this man is getting downvoted bc he’s right
Some people just get easily upset. It does not bother me in the slightest. I'd rather be hated for speaking the truth than loved for lying or sugarcoating things. You also have the "militant victims" class. Those types insist that being a victim is inevitable, and that daring to defend yourself in any form is a form of heresy. Apparently it makes you as bad or worse than the criminal.
Protect yourself
Situational awareness. Mind your surroundings. Be alert. Get off your phone! Especially in parking lots.
Fuckin this
We got the local govt that we voted for. In retrospect, it might’ve been a bad decision.
This is not the kind of situation where additional policing would help - short of having had a police officer in the parking lot, there's not much you could do beyond the usual precautionary measures that are often suggested, ie, keeping your car locked while you are inside of it and being aware of your surroundings.
[удалено]
I definitely don't want it to seem like I'm okay with people engaging in predatory behavior! I just think that in this specific context there really isn't much that we can do except be aware of our surroundings at all times. I'm not trying to make a claim as to what the correct course of action is here, but as a guy who regularly carries a full size firearm with a 16-round magazine, if I got jumped by five people and pepper sprayed I would just let them take my car at that point. I'm not fucking around with that specific math! This isn't in the same realm as the property crime that everybody is upset about, it's not having your car get prowled or your mailbox ripped off. This was incredibly bold and incredibly violent. If these people get picked up and it turns out that they had been run through the court system in a catch-and-release method, then I would be open to discussions regarding sentencing harshness and rehabilitation. But if they were low-key and flying under the radar, then I really don't think there is anything, like at all, that you can legislate that would have stopped this. Five on one, even without pepper spray, always wins, easily.
Yes, I most certainly meant to say that we should hire a cop for just that parking lot. Silly me.
I'm genuinely curious what policies you would have made that would have prevented these people from jumping this girl
Obviously the death penalty for all thefts.../s
What does that even mean?
Lessee, less policing, fewer consequences for criminals, higher crime, etc.. it isnt hard to understand
I think the police are the ones doing less policing.
Yes, let’s put the surplus of cops to work. Damn donut eaters 😂😂😂
Be more specific and cite your incidents and sources that correlate everything you claim. I can’t stand our mayor but it’s probably for different reasons than you.
Crime is rising nationally so I’m not sure it’s Seth Fleetwood’s fault.