So...which scam is it?

[Jamisjockey]

Two shady guys in a crappy car pulled in behind me after I parked at the kid's gymnastics monday.
"Hey, you want a surround sound installed?"
"Hey, no, *expletive deleted*ck off or I call the cops."  Checked all quadrants while they were talking to be sure.
I figure
1) Stolen stereo equipment.
2) Low end knock off crap
3) Casing the house to rob it.
Either way, I wasn't exactly polite to the losers. 

[Brad Johnson]

Door three, Bob.

Brad

[Jocassee]

Two shady guys in a crappy car pulled in behind me after I parked at the kid's gymnastics monday.
"Hey, you want a surround sound installed?"
"Hey, no, *expletive deleted*ck off or I call the cops."  Checked all quadrants while they were talking to be sure.
I figure
1) Stolen stereo equipment.
2) Low end knock off crap
3) Casing the house to rob it.
Either way, I wasn't exactly polite to the losers. 

All three is likely. The scary thing is some will fall for it.

[Calumus]

Likely just the "White Van" scam. They seem to be particularly active right now. I haven't seen one in a few years; but I've been approached three times in the last couple of weeks. On top of that, craigslist is swamped with people trying to sell their "slightly used" Bach&Odin... systems.

[AJ Dual]

Likely just the "White Van" scam. They seem to be particularly active right now. I haven't seen one in a few years; but I've been approached three times in the last couple of weeks. On top of that, craigslist is swamped with people trying to sell their "slightly used" Bach&Odin... systems.

Yes, the "White van speakers" scam.

The funny thing is on bigger forums there is ALWAYS one guy who INSISTS his are great, and he "knows about the scam" but they're "Really good for what he paid for them. " 

[Perd Hapley]

The funny thing is on bigger forums there is ALWAYS one guy who INSISTS his are great, and he "knows about the scam" but they're "Really good for what he paid for them. " 

But they really are!

Especially since I started using Pear cables with them.

[Boomhauer]

A good article to brush up on for managing contacts with strangers. I've posted it before and it's excellent. http://www.triangletactical.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sncontacts.pdf

Two shady guys in a crappy car pulled in behind me after I parked at the kid's gymnastics monday.
"Hey, you want a surround sound installed?"
"Hey, no, *expletive deleted*ck off or I call the cops."  Checked all quadrants while they were talking to be sure.
I figure
1) Stolen stereo equipment.
2) Low end knock off crap
3) Casing the house to rob it.
Either way, I wasn't exactly polite to the losers. 

Potentially all three, primarily the third one.

Did they try to block you in when they pulled in behind you? I regard being blocked in and/or being approached by multiple unknowns as an imminent threat and I move to control the dialogue and situation immediately...it throws them off considerably- they do not expect it.

[Jamisjockey]

A good article to brush up on for managing contacts with strangers. I've posted it before and it's excellent. http://www.triangletactical.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sncontacts.pdf


Potentially all three, primarily the third one.

Did they try to block you in when they pulled in behind you? I regard being blocked in and/or being approached by multiple unknowns as an imminent threat and I move to control the dialogue and situation immediately...it throws them off considerably- they do not expect it.

Yep blocked in.  I had the entire length of my truck between us, and a clear line of sight left and right.  Building behind me.  I was already headed for my firearm just in case.  The scooted right along, I'm sure they prefer softer marks.

[Monkeyleg]

If they offered to install it, they wanted access to the house, maybe even for a robbery with you in it. It would be easier and faster and slightly safer for them to just sell it to you. Could be knock-off's, but I'd guess stolen.

[Boomhauer]

Yep blocked in.  I had the entire length of my truck between us, and a clear line of sight left and right.  Building behind me.  I was already headed for my firearm just in case.  The scooted right along, I'm sure they prefer softer marks.

Yep when they block you in they are definitely up to no good. When somebody blocks me in like and jumps out and advances on me I go in full on *expletive deleted*hole mode before they can even get their line of bullshit started. "Back the *expletive deleted*ck up, get the *expletive deleted*ck away from me, move your *expletive deleted*ing shitbox away from my vehicle!"...it immediately throws them off.


Whether they are trying to "sell something", beg for money, or as a prelude to an attack, they always try to start a conversation with you and try to make you feel at ease and relaxed. They are usually slick talkers, too, which is how they get many of their ignorant victims who are either too stupid to tell them to get lost, or too nice and want to "engage them in conversation". It's pretty much how they all operate, regardless of their ultimate goal.

[Jamisjockey]

Hell I won't even let the pizza dude in the house.

A few days ago I had a knock a the door.  Some guy selling some miracle cleaner.  "I don't do business with door to door salesman, get off my lawn."
He asked my name surely so he could tell my neighbor how I thought the product was amazing, because his pitch started with "I just left your neighbor Kurt's house and he loved.."
get the *expletive deleted*ck off my lawn son.

Yep when they block you in they are definitely up to no good.

Eh.  I was out of the truck already and headed for the strip mall I was parked at.  Up to no good...sure.  But I don't think they were up to no good right then and there.

I had tactical advantage.  I couldn't miss at that distance with my M&P if things had gone sideways, and I'd have been shooting down at them from the curb and over the hood of my truck. 

[Calumus]

he "knows about the scam" but they're "Really good for what he paid for them. " 

That's because he only paid $250 for them. They list for $2600 you know...

[Angel Eyes]

[Jamisjockey]

Pretty much.

Open carry is moving through the Texas legislature...I'll be happy to walk around strapping a pistol.  I know it intimidates some people and I'm ok with that.  I walk outside to answer a door to door solicitor with a handgun on my hip, and that throws them off balance.  It did in Virginia :)

[vaskidmark]

"Get away from me!  Take your hands away from my kid!  Why are you trying to touch my kid?  Get away from my kid!"

I've had the voice recorder running since I got out of bed so there's no worry about getting to it and no fumbling to turn it on.  Phone has a 1-button "Emergency" dialing that does not need entering the passcode first.

JWs & The Baptists handing out tracts on the sidewalk get a different version if they do not take the "No thanks" hint: "Why are you threatening me?  Stop threatening me!  Get away from me!"   Fat old gimp backing away from two sweet little old ladies does draw attention.

Never had the opportunity to test it out but I might not be so grumpy if the Swedish Bikini Team offered to wash my van.

Jamis - OCing does not intimidate people because that is not the purpose you are walking around with your holstered handgun visible.  The fact that someone fears you might behave as badly as they are behaving is not your concern. 

stay safe.

[RoadKingLarry]

Pretty much.

Open carry is moving through the Texas legislature...I'll be happy to walk around strapping a pistol.  I know it intimidates some people and I'm ok with that.  I walk outside to answer a door to door solicitor with a handgun on my hip, and that throws them off balance.  It did in Virginia :)

A couple of years ago I was heading out the door to test a batch of reloads. I had a 1911 on my hip and my AR-15 slung on my shouldr. I opened the front door just as the guy with the mystery meat truck in my driveway reached up to knock. The look on his face was priceless. I didn't get any push black at all when I told him "no thanks". He just left with no hesitation at all.

[French G.]

In that vein I answered the door back in city life with a 1911 on my side. Pretty much ruined the ADT guy's sales pitch.

I've been blocked in once. 99% sure it was because I was parked where the drug drop was and he was looking for it or rather "something his girlfriend lost out here." I was reasonably polite and had gun to hand un-noticed. Shoulda been an ass and made him move his truck, but miles from witnesses probably ok to keep things low-key. Came way closer to shooting the aggressive pan-handler. If you change direction abruptly and increase speed I just assumed you were hoping to get shot.

[Hawkmoon]

Never had the opportunity to test it out but I might not be so grumpy if the Swedish Bikini Team offered to wash my van.

Your van. Sure, you want the Swedish bikini team to wash your ... van.

Riiiiiiight.

[Perd Hapley]

"Get away from me!  Take your hands away from my kid!  Why are you trying to touch my kid?  Get away from my kid!"

I've had the voice recorder running since I got out of bed so there's no worry about getting to it and no fumbling to turn it on.  Phone has a 1-button "Emergency" dialing that does not need entering the passcode first.

JWs & The Baptists handing out tracts on the sidewalk get a different version if they do not take the "No thanks" hint: "Why are you threatening me?  Stop threatening me!  Get away from me!"   Fat old gimp backing away from two sweet little old ladies does draw attention.

   You have that much trouble dealing with "two sweet little old ladies"? Ohhhhh-kay.

[K Frame]

Pretty much.

Open carry is moving through the Texas legislature...I'll be happy to walk around strapping a pistol.  I know it intimidates some people and I'm ok with that.  I walk outside to answer a door to door solicitor with a handgun on my hip, and that throws them off balance.  It did in Virginia :)

Yeah, but your Roy Rogers suit with the fring was what REALLY scared the piss out of them...

[Perd Hapley]

Yeah, but your Roy Rogers suit with the fring was what REALLY scared the piss out of them...

[vaskidmark]

   You have that much trouble dealing with "two sweet little old ladies"? Ohhhhh-kay.

No trouble with them at all, or dealing with them.  As I said, if they do not understand "No thanks" then I want to find something that they do understand.  As I recall, you have the advantage of not having Jebus's own version of Hare Krishna telemarketers swarm you.

stay safe.

[Hawkmoon]

  You have that much trouble dealing with "two sweet little old ladies"? Ohhhhh-kay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uel1vfAQ52M