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Gun owner vehicle marking

wnroscoe

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 12, 2006
3,907
56
NW Louisiana
I received an interesting email today, thought I'd share it with you guys, esppicially those in south texas.


Gun lovers public service announcement: While I was in a Texas gun store today, my car was tagged on the wheel in the parking lot. The gangs do this on wheels or bumpers at gun stores, shooting ranges, gun shows etc. Later when you are parked at a restaurant, hotel, or other location that’s less well guarded or under video surveillance, other gang members spot the marker and break into the car for a quick gun grab. This is so RAMPANT in San Antonio where we were for a National shoot this summer, the Sheriff of Bexar County came out to brief the 400 participants of our competition. Too bad three teams had already been victimized the first day. This is the first I’ve heard of this in Texas . Please pass this info along to your 2nd amendment list. Daily check you car, truck or motor home for unusual painted dots, marks, check marks or other strange looking symbols that are not normal to your type vehicle. It could prevent you from being a victim of robbery, or even save your life if you catch the thief in the act.
This next comment from a Gun Site instructor:
I don’t know how widespread this is becoming, but the info regarding the NSCA Nationals in San Antonio is correct, as all of us who compete in sporting clays know. Competitors there were having their vehicles marked with a small adhesive dot on the rear license plate or rear bumper, then followed for miles and having their vehicles quickly and efficiently broken in to when parked for lunch etc.
Some crews were working the parking lot at the Nationals itself. 27 high end shotguns were taken there recently. They know when 1400 shooters with high $$ competition guns are in town.
BTW I shot with a young man who was trying out a new gun at the Nationals. He and his father lost all their guns and equipment while making a quick stop for lunch at a BBQ place in Corpus Christi the month before.
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

Thanks for the heads up. My shooting partner and I have been on several trips in the last 4 years and we are very careful of where we park and where we eat. If we stop for a pit stop one watches the vehicle and we take turns. If we stop to eat we park where we can keep an eye on the vehicle at all times. If they are marking cars a man would have to be on his toes. Stay vigilant.
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

I got this e-mail in December from a buddy of mine.

There was nothing on Snopes about it, so I sent it in.

I got a reply from them today thanking me for the submission and passing on this link:


"Thanks for asking about that. We just wrote about that very topic. Here's a pointer to our article:"

http://www.snopes.com/crime/intent/gunshop.asp

It's busted. But was the first time I ever sent anything into Snopes. And they actually followed it up! Funny that this post appears today... because I got the e-mail from Snopes just this afternoon.

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

Roscoe, that sounds a lot like an internet hoax to me: Like the headlight flashing warning, or the gang members training to shoot cops in the 'V' made by a white T-shirt above the vest.

Can we verify it in any way? Do gangs go train with guns to shoot cops? Do they drive around flashing their lights or looking for vehicles marked in this way? How do they know that a gun is in the car? Is that really how they get their guns? Where did the e-mail come from?

I'm not calling BS, I just want some credible corroboration.
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

Two words Graham

"Situational Awareness"

I was an LEO for close to 10 years, this story doesnt surpeise me. Dont think for one second that theifes, liers and beggers arent staying awake at night try to come up with the next best heist.

Just trying to remind evryone to be more aware of their surrondings.
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

Busted, but how far out of the realm of possibility could it be?

Think about it, it's not too hard to imagine parking at a gun show, getting followed home, and bang, your house is cased for a future break in.

Situational awareness is right.......
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Two words Graham

"Situational Awareness"
...
Just trying to remind evryone to be more aware of their surrondings. </div></div>Being aware is a good thing.

According to Gallup, between 38% and 51% of Americans report (admit to) having a gun in their home. So, in this country attendance at a gun store or gun show is as much evidence that you have a gun as it is evidence that you want to acquire one. Perhaps in Europe, or in Canada, people who are looking to steal guns would be interested in targeting the homes of those who attend collector shows. But after many years in law enforcement I've found that getting followed <span style="font-style: italic">from</span> your home is more of a precursor to a break-in theft by an organized group.
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

Busted or not its a good reminder.
Do you live where you can shoot in your backyard? BAM! You fire a gun in the yard. Every neighbor you have knows you own guns. Every person they talk to about that asshole neighbor that shoots his guns knows you have guns. Rinse and repeat. With the amount of people that know I own guns I don't feel secure even when my pets are locked in the safe. Of course it would take a damn fool to come up to my place and attempt a robbery. Its an E&E nightmare for a crook.
Theiving from a man you know is probably armed at all times is a negative EV move in poker terms. If a crook does his homework many of us are probably safer than we might imagine. Still we need to keep our eyes open for everything in our environment that even remotely looks out of place.
 
Re: Gun owner vehicle marking

I agree with you whole heartedly about checking your vehicles for the stray marks. What people need to realize is that they dont need to be leaving firearms in the vehicles regardless of the situation. For the most part there is always time to leave your guns secured with another person or a secured facility.

I have taken many reports in the past where even law enforcement officers leave there firearms I their personal vehicles overnight and they get broken into. That's just another gun that can be used against all of us on the streets.

This is some good information and I will start telling the guys at work to spot check their vehicles as well. I will also look into that report of the guys in Corpus to see if there are other cases here like that. This is my neck of the woods. I had not heard of that one yet. Thanks for the good info. !!!