My truck got broken into

[Ryan McGuire]

In Pursuit of the Aggressor
originally posted at EnigmaCurry.com

I've been feeling pretty good lately, I have a decent job, a wonderful wife, awesome friends, and a new-found purpose in life: liberty activism in New Hampshire. In a world as messed up as ours, its been a profound comfort to have found such peace and purpose. But I've also been a bit startled recently including having feelings of helplessness, distrust, and insecurity.

My truck got broken into.

I had just gotten home from work and not 10 minutes transpired before I heard a loud crash and some rustling outside. As I rushed out the door, I saw someone had broken the window of my truck and was diving inside to grab my video camera. Before I knew it, I was several blocks away from my house, running full speed 10 feet behind the guy who was also running like hell. I kept chasing him, never quite closing the gap between him and myself until I ran out of energy. He turned the corner and I followed a bit more slowly. Knowing he was hiding, I looked closely in the darkness for him and I finally saw the guy dash from his hiding spot and continue running away. I said a few more unkind words in his direction as he fled, but there was nothing more for me to do. Out of breath, dejected, and quite frustrated, I walked back home. Kellie was already outside at this point wondering what had happened, we assessed the damage and confirmed that he had destroyed the passenger side window of my truck and managed to steal my video camera.

My Landlord had already called the cops and they showed up about 10 minutes later. Since they were there anyway, I gave them my take on what happened, although I had never really gotten a good look at the guy. I really didn't have much hope that the police would ever do anything (and in an ideal world we wouldn't have such agents of force). Kellie left to do her own reconnaissance at the corner store and surprised me when she told me that she saw the same cops doing actual detective work, questioning the store manager. Although I'm almost sure that these same men have violated the rights of peaceful individuals before, and will most likely continue to do so in their roles as agents of the state, I'm glad that they take their jobs seriously enough to want to protect peace when they can.

I don't really leave anything that valuable in my truck. The camera is a somewhat cheap Samsung SC-MX10, I had it mounted to my windshield with a Modifry camera mount (The mount got ripped out with the camera), this setup was supposed to record the cops if I ever got pulled over. Sadly, I never got to try that out. I'm sure that the way I had it mounted made it stand out as an easy target for a thief.

I called up my insurance rep as well as an auto glass shop and got things taken care of pretty quickly, the auto glass shop was even willing to drive out to my house the next day and repair it right there even while I went to work that day. I love how market competition makes this so easy.

In total, I'm out $200 for the camera, $25 for the mount, and $163.15 for the glass. Yea, $388 is kind of a lot. However I was much more irritated with the inconvenience of it all, as well as the knowledge that there are people right in my neighborhood that have no reservations in actively destroying their society. The reason I'm here in NH is to work towards creating a civil and voluntary society. Its one thing to disagree with my ideas, I'm used to that. Its quite another to find that you live in a community where some percentage of the people do the exact opposite; creating a society of violence and distrust.

I'm left with a renewed sense of the importance of security, including responsible firearms ownership and carrying whenever possible. I don't actually think that a gun would have been useful in this situation, especially after the incident was carried onto the open street at 12 mph, but knowing first hand that desperation has led people to such forceful actions, it makes me much more cautious.

[Rodinia]

I'm sorry to hear of your unfortunate incident. I hope you find closure.
But the choices of one individual do not nullify all the good stuff either.
A gun wouldn't have been useful, I agree. If you had pulled it out, you'd have had to be prepared to kill the guy. A video camera is not justification for murder in my opinion.

So, what would have helped? Well, you said you ran out of energy. Being a pragmatist myself, I would suggest an opportunity for physical training. Couldn't hurt.

[Ryan McGuire]

So, what would have helped? Well, you said you ran out of energy. Being a pragmatist myself, I would suggest an opportunity for physical training. Couldn't hurt.

agreed 

[FTL_Ian]

You can probably thank the War on Drugs for this.  Odds are the aggressor gave the camera to his dealer in exchange for some crack, meth, or heroin.

Sorry to hear about the bad news.   

[Russell Kanning]

but if you caught him ... what would you do?

When I caught a guy trying to steal my car .... I had visions of bashing his little head against the pavement. I don't think that would have been the right thing to do.

Truly a bummer that you had your stuph destroyed/stolen. I haven't even locked a car in Keene or elsewhere in NH.

[Russell Kanning]

In Pursuit of the Aggressor
originally posted at EnigmaCurry.com

I've been feeling pretty good lately, I have a decent job, a wonderful wife, awesome friends, and a new-found purpose in life: liberty activism in New Hampshire. In a world as messed up as ours, its been a profound comfort to have found such peace and purpose. But I've also been a bit startled recently including having feelings of helplessness, distrust, and insecurity.

why has the last sentence happened?

[FTL_Ian]

You may want to call local pawn shops and put them on alert.

[Ryan McGuire]

But I've also been a bit startled recently including having feelings of helplessness, distrust, and insecurity.

why has the last sentence happened?

Oh, not for anything other than the incident. It honestly makes me want to move somewhere more rural.. nashua feels too cramped. I live close to a lot of really nice people, but apparently close to a lot of bad people too.

[BaRbArIaN]

Good argument for a Taser maybe.

[Ryan McGuire]

but if you caught him ... what would you do?

When I caught a guy trying to steal my car .... I had visions of bashing his little head against the pavement. I don't think that would have been the right thing to do.

I probably would have roughed him up enough to get my camera back, but I certainly wouldn't have done any permanent damage. At least that would make him think twice about doing it again next time. As it is, I would imagine he's thinking "That was easy".

[FTL_Ian]

But I've also been a bit startled recently including having feelings of helplessness, distrust, and insecurity.

why has the last sentence happened?

Oh, not for anything other than the incident. It honestly makes me want to move somewhere more rural.. nashua feels too cramped. I live close to a lot of really nice people, but apparently close to a lot of bad people too.

Just so you know, I'd invite you to Keene but you should know heroin is big around here.

[Puke]

Bummer.
Shit happens that you can't really do anything about sometimes.

[firecracker joe]

sorry to hear about that move to the country and get a big dog.

[William]

but if you caught him ... what would you do?

When I caught a guy trying to steal my car .... I had visions of bashing his little head against the pavement. I don't think that would have been the right thing to do.

As it is, I would imagine he's thinking "That was easy".

I highly doubt that. Getting chased knowing the consequences if you get caught is scary as hell. Probably helped him run faster. There's a good chance he's thinking about what would have happened if he had been caught and that might be enough deterrent in the future. I agree with Ian, check the local pawn shops.

[FTL_Ian]

The cops should be checking the pawn shops, but odds are they haven't done it yet.