Is Anywhere Safe Anymore?

Reminds me, back before we had Backhoes R Us on speed dial (because there was no speed dial available on rural multi-party phone lines, Gramps had a farm. And on this farm he had a tank of diesel fuel to serve a tractor and other equipment. Now the story goes that Gramps may or may not have come home one day to find a couple men helping themselves to diesel fuel (not sure why since they were driving a gas powered vehicle). This possible event may or may not have offended Gramps to the point that he chained the men's vehicle to his tractor, which he may or may not have towed to a not-too-distant 400 acre marsh. Gramp's tractor did not have a backhoe, but it did have a front end bucket loader. When Gramps returned from wherever he may or may not have been the tractor was covered with mud. I only know this because I may or may not have had to wash down the tractor, which was odd because it wasn't muddy around the barn or feed mill or equipment sheds, at least not that time of year. If this all seems a bit vague, it's because it's impossible to know what may or may not have happened since no men or car were ever reported missing as far as the family knows. There were no reports of diesel or gas thefts at any of the farms up and down the valley. But one interesting thing happened the next time Gramps went to town. He bought his very first padlock and put it on the hose to the diesel tank, even though no locks existed on the doors to the farmhouse. Gramps really loved that John Deere tractor, and I did too.
 
In response to the OP, yes, I am. I choose where I go and what I do. I carry when I need to. I leave nothing of value in my vehicle. I stay away from sketchy areas. F*ck Seattle! And pity the poor MF that confronts me…if my stuff is more important than their life, so be it.
 
Roper said:
In response to the OP, yes, I am. I choose where I go and what I do. I carry when I need to. I leave nothing of value in my vehicle. I stay away from sketchy areas. F*ck Seattle! And pity the poor MF that confronts me…if my stuff is more important than their life, so be it.
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Unfortunately the DA would love to hold YOU accountable, my big city policy is flee and offer no assistance, and don't talk to the police.
 
I’ve had my house broken into twice, my vehicles three times and just last August walked in on a shithead stealing things from my parents house.....might not be fair but taking it out on the next one! (Hopefully it won’t happen)
 
This topic is frustrating as hell and I could talk on my soap box for hours on the reasons. The defund experiment in the greater Seattle area has had law enforcement leaving in droves. SPD is down several hundred officers officially but actually the number is higher than they will admit. King County Sheriff's Office (which has always been a very lean agency) is down over 100 deputies plus at least another 100 or more non deployable in the training pipeline and more retirements coming. KCSO has slashed entire detective units and is hemorrhaging with the rise in violent crime. Filing standards by the Prosecutor's Office has drastically reduced what actually goes to trial.

Whatever your feeling on pursuits, it has become a daily occurrence in King County where vehicles are fleeing on traffic stops. King County previously had a very strict pursuit policy but now with the unrealistic restrictions put forth by the state, criminals know they don't have to stop. Property crimes are not taken seriously by the courts whatsoever. Over the past couple years even if LEO's wanted to book someone on certain crimes they were prohibited by covid rules at the jails. So often times you hear the police did nothing but the back story often is they are limited by the system that the voters voted for. If you want change, pick your politicians carefully and pay attention to the judges you are voting in and hold them accountable.

Problem number one facing this entire region is the opiod crisis. Fentanyl is pouring in at record rates and overdose deaths are increasing at an alarming rate. You solve the opiod crisis you solve the homeless crisis, they are not independent of one another. Building more housing for addicts who don't want to move into housing is not the answer. OK, off my soapbox.
 
Roper said:
In response to the OP, yes, I am. I choose where I go and what I do. I carry when I need to. I leave nothing of value in my vehicle. I stay away from sketchy areas. F*ck Seattle! And pity the poor MF that confronts me…if my stuff is more important than their life, so be it.
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I just ordered a new thumb break, cocked and locked holster for my 1911.
 
jaredoconnor said:
All babies are born innocent; their environment turns them into criminals. Financially desperate people are exponentially more likely to turn to drugs, crime and so on. It all comes down to money. Human morality is a fairly constant variable, in my opinion.
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Everything in life has variables.
How one is taught to deal with the variables is key.
 
It is tough when so many laws make petty theft hard to pursue.

Keep a mattress in your truck at all times and maybe it can hold to the castle doctrine if you had to tickle someone.

Edit: Obviously I hope you could just ask them kindly to put back your things first heck maybe you even hug it out…
 
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charles sullivan said:
Sorry to hear about the theft. I have had a good amount of stuff stolen over the years. I understand how frustrating and maddening it is.

I was recently looking at crime stats across the country. Some obvious trends become clear quickly. The West Coast has high property crime rates and low violent crime rates. The Southeast and rural western states have lower property crime rates and the highest violent crime rates. The Northeast has low property crime rates and low violent crime rates.

What is it that makes the Northeast a place where both violent and property crimes are low? I have absolutely no idea.
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I live in the Northeast and I have some pretty good ideas why our violent and property crimes are low compared to other parts of the country.

I live in a county in SE PA that has a population of 600,000+ people, 500,000 of which (myself included) live in the metropolitan area of our county’s largest city. I’ve lived here for over 50 years (but I have traveled throughout the US and other parts of the world.) I‘ve also spent 20+ summers in SW MT, and my best friend there is a WA resident.

I‘ve never had my home or vehicle broken into, and I’d have to do a lot of thinking to remember anyone that I know personally that lives near me that has either. I also often park my vehicle in rural and semi-urban areas throughout other parts of PA and NY state while fishing, camping, etc. without undue concern about them being broken into.

I can only remember seeing 3 people who were homeless living in my town. They were living in their cars at the time, but never left trash around their cars or on the street. All three were offered shelters to live in. Two accepted, and the other (who had some mental issues) declined. They never robbed or threatened anyone from what I knew. Two of them regularly came into the local YMCA where I was a member, they showered there, and used of the Y’s microwave to cook food.

We do have problems with crime and drugs around here. They’re everywhere. But, we deal with them.

I go to a large local fitness center most mornings where I often see and talk with 3 guys who are in law enforcement. Two of them are PA state police officers and the 3rd guy was a former state policeman who worked in drug enforcement there, and he now heads up the drug enforcement task force that‘s part of the county District Attorney’s office. I believe that anyone who sees and talks to those 3 guys would have the utmost respect for them, as I do. They each have great personalities, they are very physically fit, and are well trained (from what I can tell). We respect and support all of our local law enforcement officers. If they’re not performing up to our community standards, I expect we’d get rid of them.

Several weeks ago, I asked one of those guys what the PA law was regarding pursuit, i.e., when were police officers permitted to chase a speeding vehicle. He said each municipality In PA sets their own policy, but each state police officer can use their own discretion as to whether to pursue or not, depending on the circumstances, the public‘s safety, etc. He told me if he decides to chase a vehicle he’s going to catch it and, knowing him, I believe him. He works the night shift and his territory covers our entire county, and he said he knows every road in our county very well, better than most. I certainly wouldn’t want to try getting away from him.

Last week, our local television station (that covers the entire south central part of PA) showed pictures and talked about a homeless camp in Harrisburg, our state capital. There were a number of people that had been living in tents under a highway overpass. It was an eyesore with trash scattered everywhere, with also lots of rats around It. The city cleaned up, and they showed bulldozers and front end loaders doing the cleanup on TV. They wouldn’t specifically say on TV where the residents of that tent city went, “to protect their privacy”, but I suspect they were offered shelters to live in, or else told to go elsewhere (far away, I suspect).

There are at least 3 or 4 drug and alcohol halfway houses in my neighborhood. During covid, when I wasn’t going to the gym daily, I parked my car near one of these homes most mornings and walked a couple miles on a public trail that passed that house. I always left my car unlocked with the keys under the floor mat, and often saw one or more of the residents of that house who were also outside walking. As far as I know, all of these halfway houses are funded by local private individuals, businesses, and/or churches. I‘m not aware of any that receive government funding.

There always have been and always will be many people that are smarter than me, wealthier than me, and harder working than me, as well as some who are dumber, poorer or lazier than me. Nothing in life is equal, and I reject the thinking that our problems are the result of this inequality. I believe that the lord helps those that help themselves. Many of the wealthiest, smartest, and hardest working people, and corporations that I know are ones who contribute the most time, money, and energy solving our problems.

I believe that any person, or government, that tries to artificially equalize life’s natural inequities (through government taxation or otherwise) will invariably create more inequities and problems. (I will willingly lend a hand to those that truly need and want to use my hand, but don’t try to forcibly take a hand from me. You wouldn't be happy with the consequences. I promise.)
 
Crime Check did respond yesterday morning. I spoke with a nice lady that emailed me a link to file a report.
Just one hitch though...you have to have and pay for Microsoft Word, which I don't need, to open the link. :(
 
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