THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN TO ME, BUT..

[Brian D.]

..rather, a criminal defense attorney I know socially, as opposed to professionally.

He was parked around the corner from the cigar shop near Findlay Market. He has a habit of lighting up a stogie outside his expensive SUV, then talking distractedly on his cell phone as he paces back and forth, mentally blocking out his surroundings. Yesterday, an apparent ne'er do well took the opportunity to jump into the lawyer's vehicle, to either steal it, or whatever valuable contents* could be quickly grabbed.

The lawyer saw this, and ordered the intruder out. Fortunately, although the apparent miscreant tried to explain his presence first, he complied and skulked away.

*The unlocked console or glove box contained a loaded Sig Sauer handgun. This situation could have ended very badly, to put it mildly.

So, the attorney came around the corner to where I was sitting, fifty feet away, and told me what had happened. My initial reaction was to rebuke him (mildly) for not keeping his doors locked, and his head on a swivel. There are further details I can fill in if this thread gets some responses.

[Brian D.]

Welp, almost 48 hours since this post and no comments. Gang, in the big automobile of life, I have lots more miles behind me in the rear view mirror, than miles ahead of me out the windshield. So do a bunch of you, to be honest. I'd love to get a little conversation going here about SOMETHING, ya know?

[cpg]

The only comment I can come up with is how much I hate leaving anything of value in a vehicle.
Was his destination the cigar shop? Is the shop "no guns"? I guess I'm wondering why he didn't carry once he left the car.

[Brian D.]

The cigar shop has no issues with carry, or else I certainly wouldn't be a customer there. Two or three of the employees pack. I think the attorney is of the belief that just owning a gun, and having it someplace in the general vicinity, is like a magic talisman against evil spirits or whatever. Before this fellow was a defense lawyer, he spent 15-20 years as a prosecutor, so his current mindset is baffling, to be honest. 'It can't happen to me!' think many folks who find out otherwise, someday.

[rimfireOH]

I check for new posts a couple of times a week—that’s my excuse for being slow to respond—and I’m sticking to it.

I guess I'm wondering why he didn't carry once he left the car.

That was my first thought, too. (And it’s a question I ask myself from time to time.)

[Brian D.]

I check for new posts a couple of times a week—that’s my excuse for being slow to respond—and I’m sticking to it.

I guess I'm wondering why he didn't carry once he left the car.

That was my first thought, too. (And it’s a question I ask myself from time to time.)

I can ask him. Could be because he's a snappy dresser and gun gear makes a dress belt sag and wear out too soon. Also friends, I don't know if you understand how strong that "magic talisman" mindset can be with some folks.

[cpg]

About 5 years ago, wife & I get invited to a kiddie birthday party in a local city park. I'm armed as usual, but concealed and not advertising anything. As the party goes on, and most people know I carry, a few start giving me crap about bringing a gun to a 5 yo's party and I just tell them at least one of us is smart enough. Before long, some teens come riding their bikes throughout the park and just yelling at people and acting in a way that got my spidey senses going. I thought maybe a fight was going to break out so we told everyone that we're outta there and they should quickly follow suit. About an hour after we left, gunfire broke out. Thank God they took my advise and left before TEOTWAWKI.
Yeah, I unfortunately understand the mindset you are talking about. People just don't think bad stuff will happen.

[Jim-in-Toledo]

“Don't Look Back; Something Might Be Gaining on You.”

[M-Quigley]

Welp, almost 48 hours since this post and no comments. Gang, in the big automobile of life, I have lots more miles behind me in the rear view mirror, than miles ahead of me out the windshield. So do a bunch of you, to be honest. I'd love to get a little conversation going here about SOMETHING, ya know?

I try (don't always succeed) in checking in at least once every other morning, but just now noticed this thread. Of the people I know who only car carry and hardly ever carry on the body, the main excuse is it's uncomfortable for them to carry all the time. They only want to carry on their person "if I think I'm gonna need it" (actual quote from more than one person.) None of those people who think they have the clairvoyance to know when they will need a gun have ever been able to predict anything else, like giving me the winning lotto number for example. It was reported in news sources back when the El Paso Walmart had a mass shooting of people, including LE, who were in the Walmart, were in a position to have shot the mass shooter but they left their gun at home or in their car, because "They didn't think that they needed to carry it" that day, or "Nothing like that ever happened their before."

Or I've heard, "If something happens while I'm away from my car I'll just go out to my car and get it and go back." You might I guess if the threat gives you the chance, and if someone hasn't stolen your gun from your car while you were away from it. And it had better be some kind of situation that justifies you in after getting away you go back to that dangerous situation. In some situations if you can safely get away you should stay away, not go back.

Some people even think it's a hassle to even bring the car or truck gun inside when they get home. For example, over at someones house and he wants to show me his new carry piece, but he has to go out to his (unlocked) truck because that's where he keeps it. He has another handgun for in the house use. I asked why 2 different guns and he claimed that way he doesn't have to bring a gun from inside the truck to the house and take it back out to the truck when he leaves. I guess that's too much of a hassle for him. I asked him if he was worried someone might go thru cars at night and find it? He claims he isn't because "This is a pretty nice neighborhood, we don't have that kind of stuff happen here."
I live in a nice safe area too, but I don't leave valuables in my vehicles, whether the vehicle is locked or not. The few times I have to drive somewhere and can't take a gun with me I have a hidden from public view lockbox that will at least slow down a smash and grab thief, and lock my vehicle.

I've occasionally asked these people if they ever considered something like a pocket size pistol, something that is comfortable to carry all the time, and the answers I get are usually "Those small guns kick a lot and are hard to shoot well" (true) and sometimes, "I don't trust a 380 or 32 or 25 or 22 to stop someone." I heard this sentiment expressed with even 9mm as well, with one person saying that it's not a true manstopper unless the round has a 4 in front of it" and if you don't carry a .357 or 40 or 45 you might as well not even bother shooting because anything less won't stop someone no matter how many times you shoot them or where you hit them, while a .357 or 45 will stop them dead in their tracks with just 2 shots or maybe even one. . I guess it's just a miracle I ever survived the 80's with just a .38 special.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt-dA5gJaHU

The last few years I've been doing extensive practicing with a well used LCP and discovered that it's capable of a lot better accuracy than most people give it credit for, at least up to 15 yards. No, it's not as easy to shoot well as compared to a larger compact 9 or 45, but anything larger usually won't fit in a front or back pocket. During the winter it's easier to conceal larger handguns, but during the summer I wore cargo shorts with a tucked in T shirt, and someone once asked me, "How come you're not carrying like you usually do?" You didn't leave it in the car did you?"

[M-Quigley]

While it's a good thing that the owner of the "Car gun" in the OP was there and able to scare off a thief, what would've happened if he hadn't been?
Here is some interesting facts concerning unsecured guns left in cars. Sometimes the thief uses the stolen gun in another crime, sometimes the gun is sold to someone who resells the gun to other criminals for use in other crimes. Between 2017 to 2021, 96% of stolen guns were stolen by private owners, and of those guns stolen, allegedly 52% were stolen from vehicles.

The guns least likely to be later used in a crime? Guns purchased at gun shows.

https://ammo.com/articles/stolen-gun-statistics

https://bjs.ojp.gov/document/suficspi16.pdf

[Brian D.]

Now that there have been some replies, and questions, the subject of this thread hasn't come back to the cigar shop, best I know.

[Aesinsp]

Sounds like denial, plain and simple.. even gas stations now remind me to lock my vehicle while pumping fuel.

It can absolutely happy anywhere, someone trying to get into an unlocked car that is.. at least he was still close enuf to address it quickly before he lost that firearm (or more!). That WAS his wake-up call. Let’s hope he answers appropriately going forward.

[M-Quigley]

Now that there have been some replies, and questions, the subject of this thread hasn't come back to the cigar shop, best I know.

I hope he doesn't stay away from the cigar shop or avoid it due to this one incident. What you described where someone gets into an unlocked car can (and has) almost everywhere. He got lucky though. Like Aesinsp said, hopefully that was a wake up call for him, and maybe educational for other people who might do the same thing. OTOH, some people don't learn from the mistakes of others, and don't think it'll happen to them.

[Brian D.]

By accident I discovered early on that my car would automatically relock the doors about a minute after I used the remote button to unlock them. Might be some way to negate that feature but I like it as is.

[schmieg]

By accident I discovered early on that my car would automatically relock the doors about a minute after I used the remote button to unlock them. Might be some way to negate that feature but I like it as is.

My MX5 does that after about 30 seconds if I don't open the door. Now, the CX5 automatically locks when you exit with the key fob in your pocket and move away from the car about five feet.