Street takeovers.

[Moab]

I don't know how recent this was. But these street takeovers happen almost nightly here in LA. Often people are seriously injured. And occasionally gun play breaks out. 

Task forces have been created to deal with mob robberies. Where dozens of people meet up online, go to a retail store and basically walk out with as much merchandise as they can carry.

Mob rule has kind of taken over certain parts of the city. 

But this is a new level. What did this guy think was gonna happen? 


https://youtube.com/shorts/p3RRPPbna6c?si=dI4EsP9n0n3PcIlV

[Lambykins]

That guy should have ended up a Darwin Award recipient!

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

That guy should have ended up a Darwin Award recipient!

Give it some time and he'll probably end up getting one soon.

Morons like that seem to never learn anything until it's too late.

[Moab]

That guy should have ended up a Darwin Award recipient!

I think he did. The narrator says he was shot several times. And I think his slow reverse in a circle was not on purpose. I think that was his last defiant act.

There are many videos of street takeovers. It appears to be complete chaos. Cars spinning around in circles with crowds of people feet away. Unable to move fast enough to dodge an errant car. Many people have been run over or shot at. The last one I saw some guy was shooting into the spinning car in the middle. That was surrounded by a deep crowd of people. I forget how many people ended up shot. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

A group of morons started doing street takeovers in Austin, but I haven't heard much of that since Austin PD started cracking down on them.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this sort of foolishness pops up more and more and in other cities. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some folks try that in smaller towns or cities.

[Uomo Senza Nome]

There were a number of mob robberies in Philadelphia earlier this week. They used cover of peaceful police protests to make organized strikes against phone stores.

[Lambykins]

There were a number of mob robberies in Philadelphia earlier this week. They used cover of peaceful police protests to make organized strikes against phone stores.

The *rob mobs* seem to be happening in a lot of cities.
I wonder what the best strategy would be for store owners to stop that crap? I mean, you can't just shoot them, and the "lets find them through security video" strategy rarely results in arrests or return of merchandise.

[Moab]

There were a number of mob robberies in Philadelphia earlier this week. They used cover of peaceful police protests to make organized strikes against phone stores.

The *rob mobs* seem to be happening in a lot of cities.
I wonder what the best strategy would be for store owners to stop that crap? I mean, you can't just shoot them, and the "lets find them through security video" strategy rarely results in arrests or return of merchandise.

In LA they have had to form a task force just dedicated to this. Some of the larger heists were being done by specific groups of people. All wearing masks of course. So yes, identifying them is difficult.

Solutions?:

Pepper spray? Armed guards with pepper spray? Or pepper spray with dye in it? That later would identify robbers. And possibly ruin the merchandise from being able to be resold? Remember invisible ink? That was a real thing. They caught a guy in my unit in the military stealing out of wallets with it. After he pulled money out of a bait wallet filled with dye. They called a formation. The dye was a piwder that was activated by moisture. Like perspiration. And we watched as he rubbed the invisible purple dye all over his face. He was caught.
 
Locked area for employees. And locking front doors. I've seen video of robbers being locked in stores they attempted to rob. But this was in third world countries and required a higher level of bravery and cleverness. And they probably don't have the liability issues we do here.

Many highend jewelry stores have double doors. With a locked vestibule between them. So you have to be buzzed in thru the first set of doors. Then wait in the locked vestibule to be buzzed thru the second set of doors.

At some point our cities are going to look and operate like a maximum security prison.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I don't know if the place is still in business or not, but I once visited a pawn shop in Houston where you had to be buzzed into the shop.

I inquired about that to one of the employees (may have been the owner now that I think about it) and was told they did that because other businesses in the shopping center they were in had been robbed numerous times. So they started doing that and had several employees who carried a firearm in case someone tried to rob them.

[Moab]

https://youtu.be/Kb5As8k5L_M?si=MPO1ekjtABfFhSXR

[Anianna]

There were a number of mob robberies in Philadelphia earlier this week. They used cover of peaceful police protests to make organized strikes against phone stores.

The *rob mobs* seem to be happening in a lot of cities.
I wonder what the best strategy would be for store owners to stop that crap? I mean, you can't just shoot them, and the "lets find them through security video" strategy rarely results in arrests or return of merchandise.

In LA they have had to form a task force just dedicated to this. Some of the larger heists were being done by specific groups of people. All wearing masks of course. So yes, identifying them is difficult.

Solutions?:

Pepper spray? Armed guards with pepper spray? Or pepper spray with dye in it? That later would identify robbers. And possibly ruin the merchandise from being able to be resold? Remember invisible ink? That was a real thing. They caught a guy in my unit in the military stealing out of wallets with it. After he pulled money out of a bait wallet filled with dye. They called a formation. The dye was a piwder that was activated by moisture. Like perspiration. And we watched as he rubbed the invisible purple dye all over his face. He was caught.
 
Locked area for employees. And locking front doors. I've seen video of robbers being locked in stores they attempted to rob. But this was in third world countries and required a higher level of bravery and cleverness. And they probably don't have the liability issues we do here.

Many highend jewelry stores have double doors. With a locked vestibule between them. So you have to be buzzed in thru the first set of doors. Then wait in the locked vestibule to be buzzed thru the second set of doors.

At some point our cities are going to look and operate like a maximum security prison.

I like the locked in approach, but I also saw a video about security fog machines the other day.  Just hit a button and the room fills with fog, giving employees cover to escape to the back of the store and potentially disorienting would-be thieves.  I'd like both together even better. 

Then again, what I would like best is for the underlying systemic issues to be addressed by the powers that be which should significantly decrease many of the reasons behind these kinds of behaviors, but that's really just a pipe dream.

[DarkAxel]

Settlements that aren't willing or able to protect their commerce die. That's been a historical truth for every settlement in history, from the smallest hamlets to the largest cities.

[flybynight]

 I mean, you can't just shoot them

Why ?  When court justice fails the citizens it's sworn to protect. ROL is absent. Thieves have been shot since guns were invented. As both punishment and deterrence.

[echo83]

There were a number of mob robberies in Philadelphia earlier this week. They used cover of peaceful police protests to make organized strikes against phone stores.

The *rob mobs* seem to be happening in a lot of cities.
I wonder what the best strategy would be for store owners to stop that crap? I mean, you can't just shoot them, and the "lets find them through security video" strategy rarely results in arrests or return of merchandise.

In LA they have had to form a task force just dedicated to this. Some of the larger heists were being done by specific groups of people. All wearing masks of course. So yes, identifying them is difficult.

Solutions?:

Pepper spray? Armed guards with pepper spray? Or pepper spray with dye in it? That later would identify robbers. And possibly ruin the merchandise from being able to be resold? Remember invisible ink? That was a real thing. They caught a guy in my unit in the military stealing out of wallets with it. After he pulled money out of a bait wallet filled with dye. They called a formation. The dye was a piwder that was activated by moisture. Like perspiration. And we watched as he rubbed the invisible purple dye all over his face. He was caught.
 
Locked area for employees. And locking front doors. I've seen video of robbers being locked in stores they attempted to rob. But this was in third world countries and required a higher level of bravery and cleverness. And they probably don't have the liability issues we do here.

Many highend jewelry stores have double doors. With a locked vestibule between them. So you have to be buzzed in thru the first set of doors. Then wait in the locked vestibule to be buzzed thru the second set of doors.

At some point our cities are going to look and operate like a maximum security prison.

Lots of these mobs are opportunistic, but the pre-planned and coordinated ones are the next-level scary ones. 

A friend of mine is head of security at a hotel in Boston, and a few summers ago tuned into his scanner to listen to the reports from local police departments of what was basically a convoy of criminals coming to Newbury Street from outlying communities. They travelled in cars, and pretty systematically worked their way down the street that night, hitting all of the high end stores. 

He could hear the smashing glass, and described them like a group of locusts coming down the street. His description was absolutely awful. I think what saved him was opening the lobby of his hotel to Boston police and making sure they had a place to rest and rehydrate. 

Before the police arrived, he saw an attempted carjacking and intervened to help the woman whose car was being stolen. He did so only because he was armed, walking the hotel perimeter, and the assault was taking place directly in front of the hotel. When he drew on the two carjackers, they fled. They had already pulled her out of her car and were ready to run her over. They took her car and crashed it further down the block, he brought her to the lobby to recover and call a friend. 

Truly scary stuff. 

[Moab]

I've written about this before. But a car load of guys came into our town a couple minths ago. And broke out the front windows of 6 different businesses on our main street. And stole everything the6 could. One donut shop lost over 10k in cash. The town bought him out if all his donuts every morning for several weeks.

The daylight carjackings here last summer required an LAPD task force. And follow home robberies. Gangs had groups that would work this almost everyday. 


https://youtu.be/48a-8oSfpok?si=aPAxrZsGApTYS0DK

[Moab]

I mean, you can't just shoot them

Why ?  When court justice fails the citizens it's sworn to protect. ROL is absent. Thieves have been shot since guns were invented. As both punishment and deterrence.

It feels like citizens are on there own in Los Angeles right now. The number of cops you see are way less. And the number of non responded to crimes are way up. As discussed above most of the crimes are committed well within any possible police response time as well.

I discussed last year why I felt it necessary to start carrying a knife here. Everywhere I go. Not that that is a great defensive weapon. But just as a last ditch item. They did start issuing ccws in LA for the first time in MANY decades. Which shocked everyone. But the need far surpassed any concerns about public safety from ccw's. 

For several reasons I have not gotten one yet. But am about to install another lockbox in my vehicle for carrying one there. I used to have a lockbox in my Yukon. A simple 5 button combination. That when set right requires only two buttons be pushed at the same time to open. 

There also seems to be an overwhelming influx of legal and illegal immigration. Of folks from third world countries with very different cultural views on what is and isn't acceptable violence/behavior. This cities proximity to the border and it being so easy to cross. Makes it a mecca for very desparate people stuck in very violent, very different places. 

Simple traffic issues can turn into something violent in a second. And I think there is a large population here driving without any US license. If any license or driver training at all. Most traffic laws are ignored just about everywhere. When driving in an extremely unsafe manner. Most don't even know they are ignoring typical US driving practices. I was almost stabbed during one of these instances last year or the year before. Our DMVs are also notoriously easy to get licenses from. Overwhelmed and understaffed with subpar employees.

[echo83]

I mean, you can't just shoot them

Why ?  When court justice fails the citizens it's sworn to protect. ROL is absent. Thieves have been shot since guns were invented. As both punishment and deterrence.

There also seems to be an overwhelming influx of legal and illegal immigration. Of folks from third world countries with very different cultural views on what is and isn't acceptable violence/behavior. This cities proximity to the border and it being so easy to cross. Makes it a mecca for very desparate people stuck in very violent, very different places.

Simple traffic issues can turn into something violent in a second. And I think there is a large population here driving without any US license. If any license or driver training at all. Most traffic laws are ignored just about everywhere. When driving in an extremely unsafe manner. Most don't even know they are ignoring typical US driving practices. I was almost stabbed during one of these instances last year or the year before. Our DMVs are also notoriously easy to get licenses from. Overwhelmed and understaffed with subpar employees.

I agree 100%. I spent some time in the Dominican Republic on a relief trip. I loved my time there, and I loved the people. Driving, though...the drivers outside of the city were absolutely winging it. Even though our driver was a local, we were nearly run off the road a number of times. 

A few cities near me have a growing immigrant population from the Dominican Republic, and the lack of awareness of typical driving practices combined with the slow police response is a pretty deadly combination. If you do get hit, there's a high probability that it will be by someone without a license, without insurance, and without the knowledge that they were in the wrong. 

I am not trying to single out a particular group. I know that integrating into a new country is difficult. (I know that it's even more difficult when you don't really want to integrate, but that's a different discussion.) I know that illegal immigrants are here from all over. I'm simply saying that the driving mannerisms a few towns over were exactly like the driving mannerisms I had to take two flights to experience in person. 

[Uomo Senza Nome]

They did start issuing ccws in LA for the first time in MANY decades. Which shocked everyone. But the need far surpassed any concerns about public safety from ccw's.

Pointless now. You can't carry anywhere with the new laws.

There also seems to be an overwhelming influx of legal and illegal immigration. Of folks from third world countries with very different cultural views on what is and isn't acceptable violence/behavior.

Are they coming from central Africa? The overwhelming numbers I see committing the crimes on video are black. We have a had a few central Africans appear here lately from Niger. They seem to be fleeing the revolt by going through the open border with Mexico.

The number of cops you see are way less. And the number of non responded to crimes are way up. As discussed above most of the crimes are committed well within any possible police response time as well.

Well of course. San Fransisco is short 25%, LA is short 15%, Alameda was so short they offered a bonus of $75,000 on top of $110K a year salary to sign up with them and still didn't make their numbers. Some police in Oakland make $500K-$600K a year with overtime from working 80 hours a week in what is essentially a war zone and they still can't hire enough people.  Only 10% of their police actually live in Oakland.

The police will only respond to a call if they can. Many times they will not be able to because none are available.

Personally I think anyone would be nuts to sign up to be police these days, especially in California. The media and your civic leaders all hate you. Everything is now expected to be done with 20/20 hindsight. California repealed part of qualified immunity so you can get sued for doing your job.

I am glad in many ways that the Black Lives Matter group succeeded in gutting the police. I just feel they didn't go far enough. It's unfortunate that their actions directly resulted in the opposite outcomes for their desired goals of protecting black lives and civil rights. Many more black people have died from lack of police enforcement than were killed by the police in this century. If the police were gone completely than there would zero deaths from police and the rest would work itself out after a few years after people relearn how to live with each other and that the repercussions for their actions can be permanent. No need for police and courts and expensive legal systems.

I live in a state with very liberal self defense laws and some of the best gun laws in the country.

[Moab]

They did start issuing ccws in LA for the first time in MANY decades. Which shocked everyone. But the need far surpassed any concerns about public safety from ccw's.

Pointless now. You can't carry anywhere with the new laws.

There also seems to be an overwhelming influx of legal and illegal immigration. Of folks from third world countries with very different cultural views on what is and isn't acceptable violence/behavior.

Are they coming from central Africa? The overwhelming numbers I see committing the crimes on video are black. We have a had a few central Africans appear here lately from Niger. They seem to be fleeing the revolt by going through the open border with Mexico.

The number of cops you see are way less. And the number of non responded to crimes are way up. As discussed above most of the crimes are committed well within any possible police response time as well.

Well of course. San Fransisco is short 25%, LA is short 15%, Alameda was so short they offered a bonus of $75,000 on top of $110K a year salary to sign up with them and still didn't make their numbers. Some police in Oakland make $500K-$600K a year with overtime from working 80 hours a week in what is essentially a war zone and they still can't hire enough people.  Only 10% of their police actually live in Oakland.

The police will only respond to a call if they can. Many times they will not be able to because none are available.

Personally I think anyone would be nuts to sign up to be police these days, especially in California. The media and your civic leaders all hate you. Everything is now expected to be done with 20/20 hindsight. California repealed part of qualified immunity so you can get sued for doing your job.

I am glad in many ways that the Black Lives Matter group succeeded in gutting the police. I just feel they didn't go far enough. It's unfortunate that their actions directly resulted in the opposite outcomes for their desired goals of protecting black lives and civil rights. Many more black people have died from lack of police enforcement than were killed by the police in this century. If the police were gone completely than there would zero deaths from police and the rest would work itself out after a few years after people relearn how to live with each other and that the repercussions for their actions can be permanent. No need for police and courts and expensive legal systems.

I live in a state with very liberal self defense laws and some of the best gun laws in the country.

I'm hopeful that the ccw laws in CA will be struck down with the mag ban, assault weapon ban and firearm list. But I'm even more hopeful I won't live here by then.

I think there are immigrants coming here from all over the world now. As the border is wide open. Although it always has been. But the vast majority are from the south of us. Where life is cheap. And violence and driving norms are very different. It's largely this population in LA that ignores traffic laws, participates in street takeovers and is involved in a large percentage of the violence. Not to mention the almost free reign of the drug cartels. There are probably no statistics on this. And I am talking in generalities. I fully admit. But you routinely get confronted by people who are angry at you and looking to fight. When they think they have the right of way. But legally they don't. They just seem to have no understanding of basic traffic laws. And an overwhelming attitude towards violence 

It's just something that is just glaring after living here for 29 yrs. There were always certain parts of town you stayed away from. But by and large you were left to feel fairly safe. But now, it seems like no matter where you are there are angry violent types. A much more aggressive attitude. Less patience. And frankly more fear. I think I've mentioned I no longer shop at our local grocery store. They've had to hire armed personnel to roam the store. But the pay is so low even the store employees act like they are on work release from the local prison. And this is where the average rents are $5000-$6000 per month.

The police in our town used to be overstaffed, well equipped, and quick to respond. Now I rarely see them. I know there is a shortage and pay has been increased. But there are far richer communities south of us. That pay much more. And I think the job has gotten so thankless that many don't want it. Unless your getting gold rush money. Which I don't blame them for. 

Not to mention, who would want to live here? No matter how much you were making. I can not tell you how inhospitable it has gotten. I used to feel safe in our small isolated beach town. Granted two miles away you would not want to be walking after dark. But now I would question anyone walking in the dark on our main thoroughfares. 

[Uomo Senza Nome]

But I'm even more hopeful I won't live here by then.

Wherever you go, remember what led to this juncture in the road. Don't bring the same ideas with you when you go somewhere else or you won't be welcome there either.