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Slims · 09-16-2010, 08:43 PM

My wife and I went out to celebrate a small achievement tonight. We had a good but subdued time with our new daughter.

We live at the end of a small dirt cul-de sac and as such nobody has any reason to turn down it unless they are going to our house or one of my immediate neighbors. It was also near midnight.

As we were getting out of the car I notice (finally) that a car has followed us and then turned into our driveway behind my vehicle.....

Edited because this thread has run it's course.

KirStang · 09-16-2010, 09:18 PM

They could have (a) been following you and/or casing out your home, or (b) they could have been lost and just following some tail lights up ahead (ever been really tired while driving on the highway--or an unfamiliar place really late at night?--I find I have a tendency to follow tail lights ahead of me.)

I've personally pulled in to peoples driveways to look at maps, and when the home owner opened their front door I would drive off.

Nonetheless, given the parameters of a high crime area, I'd make sure your wife carried, or, at the very least, remained in condition yellow. Did your wife pick up on the 'being followed' thing? I'm not sure about your wife, but I have a hard time convincing my fiance to remain wary (especially since I'm at the second most dangerous campus in the U.S.).

ChrisJericho · 09-17-2010, 01:25 AM

Well I don't know the layout of your neighborhood other that it's a dirt cul-de-sac like you mentioned but I agree with kirstang's "B" hypothesis.

Out in the suburbs here in WA there's a lot of tiny bendy roads with trees everywhere so if you made a few wrong turns it would very hard to find your way back to any main roads. A few times before I had a smart phone with google maps and I just had to follow some other cars that were driving around in hopes of following them to some main drag.

Of course this wasn't at night and of course I never pulled into anyone's driveway.

Might be best to assume the worst though. Your wife probably should be carrying anyway, especially since you will be gone for so long.

SirLance · 09-17-2010, 06:17 AM

You mention deployment, what is your specialty?

The_Dunedan · 09-17-2010, 06:35 AM

Sounds like that might've turned ugly in a hurry if somebody hadn't rolled on that car. We had something similar happen here about 18mo ago, and it turned out to just be one of my sisters idiot friends...but you never know. It might have just been some moron, but I know what your area's like and that's just not a chance worth taking.

Stay safe, mate.

Walt · 09-17-2010, 07:12 AM

Step 1:
What states is it legal to own a tiger, bear, or lion? | ChaCha Answers

Steps 2-5:

The_Dunedan · 09-17-2010, 07:38 AM

Dude, I knew I liked the way your mind works. Now, just gotta make sure the Polish Army isn't doing any cross-training in F-Nam that day, 'cause you know how they are about bears...

Slims · 09-17-2010, 10:25 AM

I fully support your plan, though Mrs. Slims is not amused.

remy1492 · 09-18-2010, 02:18 PM

I agree with being in condition yellow if there is a lot of crime. I always keep an eye out, its second nature.

I recommend The Gift of Fear

Amazon.com: The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence (9780440508830): Gavin de Becker: Gateway

The spec-ops snake eater guys in my survival class recommended it, and sure enough, it was a good read.

My wife and I have CCW but usually only I carry a 9mm. I do notice cars that don't belong on my street, odd people and people casing houses, garages etc...

If they are dead set on robbing you or getting you, they probably will. If they are looking for a crime of opportunity, I make it pretty tough. If a car follows me for more than a few turns I note the license plate, if I get real paranoid I TXT it to my wife just in case anything happens. In any doubt, NEVER GO HOME if you think they are following you.

Just recently I was down my street (quiet neighborhood) and noticed a guy in slacks pass all the houses and go straight to my neighbors house. (they are on vacation for a few months and I watch their house). As I walk back towards my house I ask him if he needed anything or was selling anything since he seemed to be casing the place by looking in windows.

He nervously said no, and no he didnt need help then ignored me. I then asked if he was selling anything or with somebody. He then replied he was going around advertising energy savings programs, I asked if he had pamphlets, cards, anything. He didnt. I asked the phone # of his work, he didnt know it off the top of his head. I told him he can leave but I am calling the police just to check and he said ok. As I am talking to the police on the phone to come by, he walks off to another street. No car, no truck, no work vehicle. Odd. The cops who live by me also patrol by me so they were fast and picked the dude up a few streets down and he had the same story.

Who knows. Maybe he was legit, maybe my 6th sense was right and I shoulda blasted him like Greedo in the cantina. Either way it pays to be aware and not ignorantly blissful of your village.

ring · 09-19-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remy1492

If a car follows me for more than a few turns I note the license plate, if I get real paranoid I TXT it to my wife just in case anything happens. In any doubt, NEVER GO HOME if you think they are following you.

^Good advice.^
& the Gavin de Becker book Remy mentioned, is very well written.

Xerxys · 09-19-2010, 03:48 PM

Geez! If a car bumper rode my ass I wouldn't notice!

G5_Todd · 09-22-2010, 08:22 PM

Lots of things cross my mind,

My first thought was maybe you accidently cut someone off, but if they were angry enough to follow you, they prolly would have rolled down the window and spouted an insult at you...so i ruled that out....

2nd thought is worse, maybe have thought about doing some type of home invasion thing and wussed out at the last minute, but really most people looking to do that sort of thing is going to look for the easiest target possible, and someone sleeping would be easier than following someone home, unless they saw you had something they wanted...

third, maybe it was a teen ager messing around....

who knows....i am glad you are armed, just make sure when you approach a vehicle that your keep yourself in a position of tactical advantage...

Regards

Plan9 · 10-17-2010, 04:21 AM

Whoa.

How the hell did I miss this thread and the awesome Microsoft Paint masterpieces inside it?

09-16-2010, 08:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	Followed Home My wife and I went out to celebrate a small achievement tonight. We had a good but subdued time with our new daughter. We live at the end of a small dirt cul-de sac and as such nobody has any reason to turn down it unless they are going to our house or one of my immediate neighbors. It was also near midnight. As we were getting out of the car I notice (finally) that a car has followed us and then turned into our driveway behind my vehicle..... Edited because this thread has run it's course. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence Last edited by Slims; 12-05-2010 at 10:36 AM..

09-17-2010, 01:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisJericho eat more fruit Location: Seattle	Well I don't know the layout of your neighborhood other that it's a dirt cul-de-sac like you mentioned but I agree with kirstang's "B" hypothesis. Out in the suburbs here in WA there's a lot of tiny bendy roads with trees everywhere so if you made a few wrong turns it would very hard to find your way back to any main roads. A few times before I had a smart phone with google maps and I just had to follow some other cars that were driving around in hopes of following them to some main drag. Of course this wasn't at night and of course I never pulled into anyone's driveway. Might be best to assume the worst though. Your wife probably should be carrying anyway, especially since you will be gone for so long. __________________ "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-17-2010, 06:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
SirLance Junkie Location: In the middle of the desert.	You mention deployment, what is your specialty? __________________ DEMOCRACY is where your vote counts, FEUDALISM is where your count votes.

09-17-2010, 06:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Sounds like that might've turned ugly in a hurry if somebody hadn't rolled on that car. We had something similar happen here about 18mo ago, and it turned out to just be one of my sisters idiot friends...but you never know. It might have just been some moron, but I know what your area's like and that's just not a chance worth taking. Stay safe, mate. __________________ "I personally think that America's interests would be well served if after or at the time these clowns begin their revolting little hate crime the local police come in and cart them off on some trumped up charges or other. It is necessary in my opinion that America makes an example of them to the world." --Strange Famous, advocating the use of falsified charges in order to shut people up.

09-17-2010, 07:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Dude, I knew I liked the way your mind works. Now, just gotta make sure the Polish Army isn't doing any cross-training in F-Nam that day, 'cause you know how they are about bears... __________________ "I personally think that America's interests would be well served if after or at the time these clowns begin their revolting little hate crime the local police come in and cart them off on some trumped up charges or other. It is necessary in my opinion that America makes an example of them to the world." --Strange Famous, advocating the use of falsified charges in order to shut people up.

09-16-2010, 09:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
KirStang Future Bureaucrat	They could have (a) been following you and/or casing out your home, or (b) they could have been lost and just following some tail lights up ahead (ever been really tired while driving on the highway--or an unfamiliar place really late at night?--I find I have a tendency to follow tail lights ahead of me.) I've personally pulled in to peoples driveways to look at maps, and when the home owner opened their front door I would drive off. Nonetheless, given the parameters of a high crime area, I'd make sure your wife carried, or, at the very least, remained in condition yellow. Did your wife pick up on the 'being followed' thing? I'm not sure about your wife, but I have a hard time convincing my fiance to remain wary (especially since I'm at the second most dangerous campus in the U.S.).

09-17-2010, 10:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	I fully support your plan, though Mrs. Slims is not amused. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

09-18-2010, 02:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
remy1492 Crazy Location: CA TX LU	I agree with being in condition yellow if there is a lot of crime. I always keep an eye out, its second nature. I recommend The Gift of Fear Amazon.com: The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence (9780440508830): Gavin de Becker: Gateway Amazon.com: The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence (9780440508830): Gavin de Becker: Gateway The spec-ops snake eater guys in my survival class recommended it, and sure enough, it was a good read. My wife and I have CCW but usually only I carry a 9mm. I do notice cars that don't belong on my street, odd people and people casing houses, garages etc... If they are dead set on robbing you or getting you, they probably will. If they are looking for a crime of opportunity, I make it pretty tough. If a car follows me for more than a few turns I note the license plate, if I get real paranoid I TXT it to my wife just in case anything happens. In any doubt, NEVER GO HOME if you think they are following you. Just recently I was down my street (quiet neighborhood) and noticed a guy in slacks pass all the houses and go straight to my neighbors house. (they are on vacation for a few months and I watch their house). As I walk back towards my house I ask him if he needed anything or was selling anything since he seemed to be casing the place by looking in windows. He nervously said no, and no he didnt need help then ignored me. I then asked if he was selling anything or with somebody. He then replied he was going around advertising energy savings programs, I asked if he had pamphlets, cards, anything. He didnt. I asked the phone # of his work, he didnt know it off the top of his head. I told him he can leave but I am calling the police just to check and he said ok. As I am talking to the police on the phone to come by, he walks off to another street. No car, no truck, no work vehicle. Odd. The cops who live by me also patrol by me so they were fast and picked the dude up a few streets down and he had the same story. Who knows. Maybe he was legit, maybe my 6th sense was right and I shoulda blasted him like Greedo in the cantina. Either way it pays to be aware and not ignorantly blissful of your village.

09-19-2010, 03:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	Geez! If a car bumper rode my ass I wouldn't notice!

09-22-2010, 08:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
G5_Todd Junkie Location: Reichstag	Lots of things cross my mind, My first thought was maybe you accidently cut someone off, but if they were angry enough to follow you, they prolly would have rolled down the window and spouted an insult at you...so i ruled that out.... 2nd thought is worse, maybe have thought about doing some type of home invasion thing and wussed out at the last minute, but really most people looking to do that sort of thing is going to look for the easiest target possible, and someone sleeping would be easier than following someone home, unless they saw you had something they wanted... third, maybe it was a teen ager messing around.... who knows....i am glad you are armed, just make sure when you approach a vehicle that your keep yourself in a position of tactical advantage... Regards __________________ "....and when you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." -General Franks

10-17-2010, 04:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Whoa. How the hell did I miss this thread and the awesome Microsoft Paint masterpieces inside it? __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."