Neighbor stopped RV theft in progress

Humm, it would have been a tough decision for me. I may have done something to try and prevent it (yelling, screaming, etc.) but, I would not have chased the guy down. No use in getting hurt. Heck, the doctor bill for a broken foot would be more then the cost of the trailer.

Another thing to consider is that Bob could be charged with assault for tackling the thief. He will probably not be. But, if the guy hit his head and died as a result of Bob's actions you can be sure that Bob would be setting in jail.

Around here I would be more worried about getting arrested myself then anything else.

Majorgator - I didn't misinterpret. My point is that I am not going to require a gun pointed at my head to give up a wallet. Getting in a car with a stranger - yes; giving him my wallet - no. Especially if I have a child with me.

My wife usually tells me what to do. With this in mind, I usually end up pausing, before I do something rash. I know my wife wouldn't want me to risk my life to save something that can be replaced. However, she did mention that I should save her little dogs no matter what. We'll see.

Pirate wrote:
So you are saying a person being raped is the same as a trailer being stolen? I'm not and wouldn't respond to either scenario in the same manner. My response was directed specifically toward property theft. And yes, I will NOT risk my life for someones personal property.

No, I did not equate these as being the same thing, and you're really stretching it. Its just an example of the complacency our society has developed when it comes to whether or not someone should intervene when they see an obvious crime taking place. Another example of personal property theft is a car-jacking. Mom puts the baby in the car seat and walks back inside to grab her purse. When she comes out, the car (and baby) is gone. Imagine how comforted the mother would be when you told her it was OK, because you saw the thief and can give a description (instead of trying to intervene). Hooray for your heroism.
(not directed at you or anyone else, just giving an example)

toedtoes wrote:

Personally, I don't need someone to prove they're willing to kill me for my wallet - my life is worth so much more than anything in my wallet. I'm not willing to throw away my life, or anyone else's life, on a misplaced sense of pride or macho-ism. "If you want my wallet, you're going to have to kill me" is NOT something I would ever say.

You either misinterpreted my statement or your trying to make an inference that isn't there. I never said I'd die for my wallet. You walk up to me, pull a gun at close range and demand my wallet, you're gonna get it. But criminals aren't always armed. Try to mug me without displaying your intent to do harm, and we're going to have something to talk about. We can't just cower away and submit ourselves to the will of a criminal.

Most criminals these days pack a heater and wouldn't hesitate to plop a slug into your forehead and leave you drooling on yourself for the rest of your life.

"pack a heater" Terms from the 70's cop shows. Maybe they are doing monkey-shines or shenanigans too, better 23-ski-doo outta there then.

majorgator wrote:

Pirate wrote:
This outcome could have easily been totally different.

The neighbor risked his life for a $20K trailer. Most criminals these days pack a heater and wouldn't hesitate to plop a slug into your forehead and leave you drooling on yourself for the rest of your life.

The neighbor was an idiot IMO. He should have parked his vehicle in front of the the thief to block him in and then run for his life.

Chasing after a thief is just asking for death.

I'm beyond belief on how many people are cheering for this guys irresponsible behavior.

Save your heroism for defending a persons life, not their trailer.

You're kdding me, right? "Most criminals" these days pack a heater? Where do you get that from? The facts of this incident basically prove your entire statement to be inaccurate.

Running away from danger is part of the problem these days. People don't have the courage to stand up for what's right or confront someone who's doing wrong. A man could be raping a woman, yet the 2 dudes over there in their mid-20's wearing skinny jeans and reading Twitter will pass right by because they don't want get involved over fear for getting hurt or confronting a bad guy.

Since when does someone's life have to be at stake to stand up against a wrongdoer? Before you take my wallet, you're gonna have to prove to me that you're willing to kill me for it. Then again, there's nothing in my wallet that's worth the bad guy dying over.

So you are saying a person being raped is the same as a trailer being stolen? I'm not and wouldn't respond to either scenario in the same manner. My response was directed specifically toward property theft. And yes, I will NOT risk my life for someones personal property.

majorgator wrote:
Since when does someone's life have to be at stake to stand up against a wrongdoer? Before you take my wallet, you're gonna have to prove to me that you're willing to kill me for it. Then again, there's nothing in my wallet that's worth the bad guy dying over.

To me, there is a HUGE difference between my choosing to chase down the guy who tried to steal my trailer and my neighbor choosing to chase down the guy who tried to steal my trailer.

If I choose to put my life at risk to protect my property, then I take both the risk and the guilt. If you choose to put your life at risk to protect my property, then you take the risk and I take the guilt.

I don't want someone else getting hurt or killed to protect my property. I don't want my neighbors being "heroes" for my belongings.

I also think there is a difference between doing what you can to prevent or stop a crime and choosing to go after the bad guys after they've been chased away. Bob had prevented the theft - there was no reason to tackle the guy and risk his (or his daughter's) life.

Personally, I don't need someone to prove they're willing to kill me for my wallet - my life is worth so much more than anything in my wallet. I'm not willing to throw away my life, or anyone else's life, on a misplaced sense of pride or macho-ism. "If you want my wallet, you're going to have to kill me" is NOT something I would ever say.

Welcome to Florida. If your not speeding, don't expect to see a cop.

Pirate wrote:
This outcome could have easily been totally different.

The neighbor risked his life for a $20K trailer. Most criminals these days pack a heater and wouldn't hesitate to plop a slug into your forehead and leave you drooling on yourself for the rest of your life.

The neighbor was an idiot IMO. He should have parked his vehicle in front of the the thief to block him in and then run for his life.

Chasing after a thief is just asking for death.

I'm beyond belief on how many people are cheering for this guys irresponsible behavior.

Save your heroism for defending a persons life, not their trailer.

You're kdding me, right? "Most criminals" these days pack a heater? Where do you get that from? The facts of this incident basically prove your entire statement to be inaccurate.

Running away from danger is part of the problem these days. People don't have the courage to stand up for what's right or confront someone who's doing wrong. A man could be raping a woman, yet the 2 dudes over there in their mid-20's wearing skinny jeans and reading Twitter will pass right by because they don't want get involved over fear for getting hurt or confronting a bad guy.

Since when does someone's life have to be at stake to stand up against a wrongdoer? Before you take my wallet, you're gonna have to prove to me that you're willing to kill me for it. Then again, there's nothing in my wallet that's worth the bad guy dying over.

Deleted