View Full Version : So I'm sitting at home right now, right...
CosaNostraUSMC
12-23-2007, 22:49
...and I walk from the living room to the bedroom to get on PS.com. My wife is in the living room with our son. As I sit down and log on, I hear voices outside, so naturally I look out the window (we're third floor streetside in little mexico) and see 2 unfamiliar young girls walk into the complex. I proceed to go back to the computer.
About 5 mins later, a knock at the door. I go to the door and peer thorugh the peep hole. I see the 2 girls in our hallway that I earlier saw entering the building. One is knocking on the neighboors door across from ours and the other has since moved laterally from our door...out of view. I get suspicious, don't answer, and am now heavy with a can.
They begin their decent down the stairs from our floor, which are directly adjacent to our door. I open our door and look on either side of the ground outside our door...we usually have a statue on either side, that were wedding gifts from Okinawa, which are now GONE.
I move out of the door and decend the stairs and catch them at the neighboors front door directly below our unit. I say, "Where are the statues that were next to my door?". They turn around and I get a good look at these two Latina juvenile girls, and begin taking mental notes of their appearance and attire.
The one closest to me says, "No abla Engles." By now I've figured they pulled the, 'I'm gonna play stupid Hispanic card'. Well, I wasn't having it. So, in my crappiest Spanish I say, "Oh really, maybe I'll get my gun!". Right away the first girl coughs up 1 of our statues from her pocket and I ask for # 2. They say, "there was only one". I say, "no there was 2 and I want the other one or there'll be mas problemas, comprende!". The first girl tells the second to give it back, and she does.
Now I'm glaring at them as if I could kill them, knowing that they just walked up to my front door and stole a wedding gift that was given to us by good friends, something irreplacable....not to mention so close to the holidays. Low down dirty bitches!
They leave, and I'm calm since we got our possesions back. Something tells me to go outside though, and I do. When I get street level, to my surprise and amazement, they're casing the complex next door to us. I figure they've been doing this all night, since it's holidays and a lot of folks are out of town. I decide to call a Paisan at the local PD.
He shows up in 5 mins, since he patrols my hood. I tell him all that happened, including my threat of getting my gun, and how they coughed up the goods right then and there. He radios another car, saying the girls I described were down the street as he approached my location. The other unit flies down to ID them and make a report.
He says, "You wanna press charges or what?" I told him, "nah, just punk kids, but thought you should be aware that they're casing the area, may lead to somehting later on, may not. Either way, I want to put it on the record that it took place and you get their info...just in case my use of the word "gun" brings uninvited guests around my place and family in the near future." And I let him know I'll be in NY for almost a week in the coming days, wife and son will be alone at home. He's a stand up guy so he says he'll patrol my place in the evinings and have someone roll through the hood in the afternoons for me, just to keep an eye out.
Not to get too long winded, but fuck...if you're gonna steal something, go big or go home. Don't waste the victim's time, LEOs time, or your own time with petty crimes like these 2 cafones. It's not worth the risk of arrest, or even worse, getting clipped by a pissed off homeowner, is it?!
FWIW, my guy at the PD called me now, said he got their info from their IDs, a couple of polaroids and told them, "it would behoove you not to fuck around with the gentleman's apartment or family after tonight. He knows people...and now...he knows who you are and where you live."
Just remember to remain vigilent during these holidays, Gents. If you leave town, have someone watching your place.
GratefulCitizen
12-23-2007, 23:16
Well done.
Stay safe.
brownapple
12-23-2007, 23:34
...told them, "it would behoove you not to fuck around with the gentleman's apartment or family after tonight. He knows people...and now...he knows who you are and where you live."
IMHO and experience, the best of deterrents.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-23-2007, 23:45
Laptop... $900
Monthly internet... $50
Looks on the faces of the girls in the polaroids I'm looking at right now... PRICELESS!
sleepyhead4
12-24-2007, 02:01
Right on. Someone who won't take sh!t and play victim. You are my new hero.
Jack Moroney (RIP)
12-24-2007, 06:12
Just remember to remain vigilent during these holidays, Gents. If you leave town, have someone watching your place.
Well if I hear anything outside my door that does not sound like an owl, coyote, fox, or large non-human breaking through the crust of the snow, the tranquility of the forest will be disrupted by a round getting jacked into the chamber.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-24-2007, 10:31
Well if I hear anything outside my door that does not sound like an owl, coyote, fox, or large non-human breaking through the crust of the snow, the tranquility of the forest will be disrupted by a round getting jacked into the chamber.
Sir, you always find a way to put things so...eloquently.
Defender968
12-24-2007, 10:35
My only comment would be next time press charges, the first one may not do much but many states have 3 strike type laws, in SC it's called property crimes enhancement, after the 2nd conviction of a property crime i.e. stealing something, you can be charged with the property crimes enhancement statute which actually has teeth. I got a long time career criminal sent away for nearly a decade with this statute after he stole a 6 pack of natty light.
My only comment would be next time press charges, the first one may not do much but many states have 3 strike type laws, in SC it's called property crimes enhancement, after the 2nd conviction of a property crime i.e. stealing something, you can be charged with the property crimes enhancement statute which actually has teeth. I got a long time career criminal sent away for nearly a decade with this statute after he stole a 6 pack of natty light.
Ditto. Unless those girls were known and you wanted to cut them a break you should have pressed charges. If it was the 1st time it might get them back on the right course. If not they may have been at this for a long time and use their cute little Latina look to keep them out of jail.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-24-2007, 11:36
The officer obtained their info and photos for me, off the record.
We're having someone pay them a visit this morning...should change their minds about doing this sort of thing again, especially if it involves my property and residence.
Don't think we'll be seeing those two girls around the neighborhood again, anytime soon.
Just as a word of caution, I would be careful as to how far I took the "off the record" intimidation tactics. All it takes is one phone call from these girls to the PD, and your paisan at the PD is going to be doing suspension days for giving out a juveniles' personal information to a third party.
Just from a PO's angle, he did you a personal favor, but if you take it too far, he could get burned pretty badly, especially since they are juveniles. We are not allowed to photograph juveniles without a parent's consent (or at minimum, a notification and charges being filed), and we sure as hell aren't allowed to release those photos to a third party. That's a huge no no.
Your chance to really jack with them was when you could have pressed charges. IMHO, you should have. Get them in the system, so the next time they do this (and they will) it isn't a first offense.
Best of luck.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-24-2007, 12:36
They appeared to be juvies, but in fact are of legal age.
The visit they and their parents received was from the Asst. DA, and a guy I know that did some time for bad things. Both said the girls were visibly shaken and cried when they heard about life inside.
Nothing too sinister, just an eye opener for these two. As I said, I don't think they'll continue down this path. Hopefully, they'll remember this.
My Christmas present to them, for their lifetime.
They appeared to be juvies, but in fact are of legal age.
The visit they and their parents received was from the Asst. DA, and a guy I know that did some time for bad things. Both said the girls were visibly shaken and cried when they heard about life inside.
Nothing too sinister, just an eye opener for these two. As I said, I don't think they'll continue down this path. Hopefully, they'll remember this.
My Christmas present to them, for their lifetime.
Ok, that's a different story from what I initially understood. I thought that they were juveniles, and that you were just having some random dude go scare them. That could be bad.
Considering that they were adults, and that the ADA went, then the officer should be fine.
Happy Holidays.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-24-2007, 13:00
...and that you were just having some random dude go scare them.
What did you think...I was gonna have a couple of kids clipped over some porcelain?:rolleyes:
Defender968
12-24-2007, 13:23
You know you laugh, but believe me I've seen crazier things while on the job. In the military we deal with screw ups on occasion, but in my opinion by far and large we deal with people with decent heads on their shoulders. The civilian world is completely different, it was a bit of an eye opener to me when I first became a LEO. People are morons, and as such do stupid things, because they either don't or are unable to think through their actions.
Perfect example, Joe bag of garbage sticks up his local Pizza joint, gets a whapping 500 bucks, of course he lives 2 minutes from said Pizza joint and is a known thug, so he gets hemmed up pretty quick. Anyone know what the penalty is for armed robbery? I'll tell you it's a whole lot longer than the one week he could have spent working at McD's to earn that same 500 bucks.
Because people do not, by far and large think through their actions it's completely plausible to me that someone might have two girls "clipped" over porcelain, after all I knew a thug who killed a kid over a base ball cap. Not that I’m saying you’re that guy, but it does happen. Just my .02.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-24-2007, 13:41
...it's completely plausible to me that someone might have two girls "clipped" over porcelain, after all I knew a thug who killed a kid over a base ball cap. Not that I’m saying you’re that guy, but it does happen. Just my .02.
A cugine might do something like that. With age comes wisdom, hopefully, and one can look at a situation and give the job to the right guys.
I firmly believe in, "An eye for an eye", and in this case I think the punishment fit the crime.
As for how someone else may run his house, that's their business. I tend to do things a little different over here.
What did you think...I was gonna have a couple of kids clipped over some porcelain?:rolleyes:
No, but based upon your statements, I though that you may have had someone go over to intimidate them, which could have landed your buddy in hot water. You never indicated that is was the DA going, merely that these girls wouldn't be coming back to your neighborhood anytime soon......I was just trying to give some friendly advice.
And, as others have said, you have no idea how far the "average" citizen will take something, even something minor. I was on a call where a 12 year old was executed with a 12 gauge, face down in the grass, for bringing back a borrowed lawnmower with no gas in the tank.
I never make assumptions about how far someone is willing to take something...... my years in LE have shown me that any assumption I make will probably be wrong.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-24-2007, 14:11
...I though that you may have had someone go over to intimidate them...
Intimidation comes in various forms. The message sent this morning, fit the offense, and maybe changed these young girls futures. I take solice in this.
What...because I'm Italian with a screen name as such, I'm gonna whack poeple out for nothin over here?! Fulfilling sterotypes is best left to some other "Teflon" guys, and look what it got them.
Scimitar
12-24-2007, 14:21
[QUOTE=mdb23;192991]I was on a call where a 12 year old was executed with a 12 gauge, face down in the grass, for bringing back a borrowed lawnmower with no gas in the tank. QUOTE]
Crikey! :eek:
Seriously guy, don't make something out of it that it isn't. I was trying to give you some advice to keep yourself and your cop buddy out of trouble, that's it. Once you explained that it was a DA going to do some "scared straight" type stuff, then I said that was a different story..... how did this get to the point where I am accused of ethnic stereotyping? LOL
In my experience, two things get more cops fired than anything else....women, and doing favors for friends. I thought that your buddy had released personal info (and pics) to you, which was a big no no, and that you had someone going over to "pay them a visit" to make sure that they knew not to come back to your neighborhood. I thought this because it is what you said.
I merely said to watch how far you took it, as the cop's ass is on the line on this one. That's it.
Happy Holidays.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-24-2007, 14:45
Seriously guy, don't make something out of it that it isn't. I was trying to give you some advice to keep yourself and your cop buddy out of trouble, that's it. Once you explained that it was a DA going to do some "scared straight" type stuff, then I said that was a different story..... how did this get to the point where I am accused of ethnic stereotyping? LOL
In my experience, two things get more cops fired than anything else....women, and doing favors for friends. I thought that your buddy had released personal info (and pics) to you, which was a big no no, and that you had someone going over to "pay them a visit" to make sure that they knew not to come back to your neighborhood. I thought this because it is what you said.
I merely said to watch how far you took it, as the cop's ass is on the line on this one. That's it.
Happy Holidays.
I appreciate the advice. The actions this morning were thought thorugh and carried out after careful consideration to all parties invloved and planned accordingly. Don't worry about the ethnic sterotyping, I was bustin your balls...which may be hard to infer online.:D
I've known cops to get promoted for doing favors as well. Two way street. DAs are not immune to this either. Business is politics. Someone did pay them a visit to make sure they knew not to come back to my neighborhood. You thought that because I did say it, and it did happen. Of course, it was in a watered down, and appropriate manner for the situation. Now had the situation required "a different approach", one mighta been taken. That's neither here nor there, though.
As I originally said, this was my Christmas gift to them, for their lifetime. ;)
Down here if you're leaving town for the holidays you can register your house with the county sheriff office and they'll not patrol pass your house at least once every shift they'll even check your house to make sure everything is secured and good to go. Some of the local PDs do the same.
It might be worth it to some to ask your local agencies to see if they do the same the next time your leave for an extended period of time.
It might be worth it to some to ask your local agencies to see if they do the same the next time your leave for an extended period of time.
This is good to know. Even though my loved ones have "Guardian Security" at their house, I had never thought of that option before.
Thanks to everyone for the insight.
Holly
bricklayer
12-24-2007, 16:02
BOOBIE TRAPS :D
Well if I hear anything outside my door that does not sound like an owl, coyote, fox, or large non-human breaking through the crust of the snow, the tranquility of the forest will be disrupted by a round getting jacked into the chamber.
well, sir - you are officially dropped off my "people to bring cookies and maple syrup to during the holidays without calling ahead first" list... :eek:
Team Sergeant
12-26-2007, 08:33
And, as others have said, you have no idea how far the "average" citizen will take something, even something minor. I was on a call where a 12 year old was executed with a 12 gauge, face down in the grass, for bringing back a borrowed lawnmower with no gas in the tank.
You know mdb23, I read, a lot, most of what I read is news, national and international.
I find it amasing I missed this story as I'm sure it made national news. Must have happened what 20+ years ago, maybe when I was in Okinawa or deployed to Desert Storm?
What was her name?
You know mdb23, I read, a lot, most of what I read is news, national and international.
I find it amasing I missed this story as I'm sure it made national news. Must have happened what 20+ years ago, maybe when I was in Okinawa or deployed to Desert Storm?
What was her name?
http://www.topix.com/content/kri/2007/10/kansas-city-man-sentenced-to-15-years-in-killing-of-teen
His name was Cortez White. Here is one link to a news article regarding the event, and his killer's 15 year sentence. If you google "Kansas City teen killed over lawn mower," you will find many more. The kid borrowed the lawnmower to mow his mom's yard for mother's day, returned it a couple hours late (and empty), and got killed for it. The killers held him face down on the ground with their feet, put a shotgun to the back of his head, and killed him. I was wrong about his age, though, he was 14, not 12..... my sincerest apologies, but I didn't write the report, and my memory isn't what it once was.
If you want a copy of the police report, I can provide you a phone number to my dept, and they will provide you instructions on how to get one.
Anything else?
Team Sergeant
12-26-2007, 09:33
http://www.topix.com/content/kri/2007/10/kansas-city-man-sentenced-to-15-years-in-killing-of-teen
His name was Cortez White. Here is one link to a news article regarding the event, and his killer's 15 year sentence. If you google "Kansas City teen killed over lawn mower," you will find many more. The kid borrowed the lawnmower to mow his mom's yard for mother's day, returned it a couple hours late (and empty), and got killed for it. The killers held him face down on the ground with their feet, put a shotgun to the back of his head, and killed him. I was wrong about his age, though, he was 14, not 12..... my sincerest apologies, but I didn't write the report, and my memory isn't what it once was.
If you want a copy of the police report, I can provide you a phone number to my dept, and they will provide you instructions on how to get one.
Anything else?
Mab, you’re not writing for cnn and we’re not stupid civilians.
An execution style killing is quite a bit different then a fight over the lawn mower and someone dies.
So is saying the kid was 12 when he’s actually a teenager.
Anything else, yes, unless asked, save the advice for other boards.
Team Sergeant
Mab, you’re not writing for cnn and we’re not stupid civilians.
An execution style killing is quite a bit different then a fight over the lawn mower and someone dies.
So is saying the kid was 12 when he’s actually a teenager.
Anything else, yes, unless asked, save the advice for other boards.
Team Sergeant
The "fight" was a verbal one (them yelling at him). They pulled a shotgun on him, made him get down on his face, put their feet on his back, and shot him in the back of the head in broad daylight... Seemed like an "execution style" killing to us. I was wrong about the age, but I remembered him as 12 for some reason. Then again, I was just called to maintain the crime scene, not take the report.
That's fine though, your board and your rules. Wasn't trying to piss anyone off.
CosaNostraUSMC
12-26-2007, 13:32
MDB,
Not sure what the Dicks (Detectives) at your dept. put in their report, but I'd be inclined to think it was not as simple as, a lawn mower returned on E.
Seems a good defense though, "Oh my god, he returned my lawn mower on empty...I didn't know what to do...the Devil began to talk to me in tongues and well...all of a sudden, without malice and foresight, I (AND MY ACCOMPLICE WHO WAS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE AT MY LOCATION) had the shotgun and executed this kid...but he was only borrowing the mower.":rolleyes:
Face down...back of the head...broad daylight...in public. Those things aren't exactly by accident, and usually not spur of the moment