Friend Robbed for Gas Money at L.A. station

[villager]

An email from a friend of mine... just talked with his wife (event sparked a bleeding ulcer he was wrestling with anyway...). Yeah, it really happened. FYI, etc.:



Hey,


I was robbed for the first time last night. I was going to see someone in jail who is tour manager for a band and I stopped at an Arco gas station on route.

Many are apparently using cash or debit cards on outside (as I did) and since gas prices have gone up so dramaticaly and many cannot afford gas (Road Warrior syndrome has begun!) and those who get gas are having to need mucho gas and have more cash for a tank. . the likelihood for having a perfect victim is here.

Many now simply cannot afford to use their credit cards because they are maxed out because of huge gas purchases and so go for the Arco thing at an up front cash discount and buy full tanks when they go to the trouble of getting gas.

Many just go for the auto cash discount at Arco just for the savings. All they have to do is see you putting bills in the little box and you may be the next victim. It is possible they may go after you if you use a debit too but it seems less likely.

Boy so many are going to get screwed, lose everything with no recourse to start over, when Bush's bankruptcy laws kick in in a couple of weeks. They have know idea what is coming! Snaked again.

Anyway, as I was pumping a guy came up snuck up behind me, put a knife to my neck, pulled me back and said "I will cut you". He reached into my pockets and got my wallet, pushed me down and then ran and jumped in his running car at the pump.

I got up and ran up to him as he started driving away and he seemingly reached for a gun and I backed off and ducked. He had aluminum foil on his Jeep Cherokee plate.

The police had a helo on it within 5 minutes but I do not know what happened after they took the report. They got him and the incident on camera apparently; they obviously need security.

It was a nightmare and still is but I survived thank God. First time ever robbed. He got it all wallet wise but little cash. A man's big nightmare, losing wallet or having it stolen. It is difficult to see the guy in jail on my time because the robber got my state bar card too.

The police said these incidents are happening more and more since gas prices have gone up. A guy was killed here yesterday after a guy got gas and ran off The owner ran after him and the guy ran him over and kiled him/

Apparently these incidents are occurring during daylight too. The key is that it is on premises periphery, perfect for wallet and purse snatching.

Life in a big city - isn't it fabulous? Nevertheless, I am grateful I amhere to warn you. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. . ..


s

[Aimah]

1. Gas Theft

I would suggest using your debit card at the pump. If they steal that you can call your bank and have it canceled. I'd also advise people to buy locked gas caps. My neighbor had his gas siphoned out a couple weeks ago.

[Mnemosyne]

2. * regime's greed is causing a rise in

crime. Putz.

Glad your friend came out okay. It sounded frightening.

[villager]

3. apparently it was. But this is the ultimate "free market" at work

I guess. The Bushistas should be pleased, no doubt.

[Mnemosyne]

22. Gawd they make me

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Fridays Child]

4. How frightening!

I'm glad your friend survived the attack. Hope he gets treated for the ulcer flare-up.

:hug: to you and your friend.

[villager]

5. well, thanks....

...on his behalf!

[devilgrrl]

6. Where in L.A.?

I'd the avoid that area if at all possible. What a chilling story. :scared:

[villager]

7. El Monte, I think.

Just got off the phone with his wife...

[devilgrrl]

10. I understand that El Monte is a rather tough neighborhood...

is that so?

I'm sorry about your friend, I hope he's okay.

[villager]

12. My understanding, too.

Personally, I probably wouldn't have stopped for gas there. Still...

[Nikki Stone 1]

20. Depends on where you are. There are lots of crime ridden areas in metroLA

I bought my first car in El Monte many years ago. There are a bunch of auto dealers down there.

[villager]

28. like that Kate Bush avatar, btw...

n/t

[seabeyond]

8. my friends house robbed yesterday, during day

her neighbor three times. man across the street, four times. this is an upper middle income neighborhood, in little ole amarillo, texas. all three homes were being renovated. workers.

dont pay people enough money, they are going ot be desperate. told my friend, just gonna happen more and more. get alarm system and/or a dog.

[BeHereNow]

13. Dog, hands down- Jindo Dogs are THE best guard dogs EVER.

I have owned a Jindo ever since I discovered the breed.
They are SO effective at guarding their masters
that many insurance companies will not provide
insurance to a household that has one...
I LOVE my Jindo- she is fearless and frightening
to all who come near.
That's the way I like it.
I PITY the person who would attempt to enter this
house or harass me in her presence.
Jindo, the 53rd National Treasure of Korea.

Did I mention the fact that I LOVE Jindo dogs?
BHN
http://www.kang.org/Jindo.html

[seabeyond]

15. thanks, nice to share info, but....... unfortunately i live across street

from two pits, in past three rotweillers, and i have with two little kids. these dogs get out often, and not way nice. think it is wrong to bring these dogs into a neighborhood with kids. i have a mama beagle mix in back yard. she will bark and go crazy if anyone comes near. may not tear a person up, but will make a ruckus and make us aware. people tend to not like attention drawn to them if they are breaking into house. with the alarm, not likely a person is going to continue a break in.

and........i am glad you LOVE your dog. as you should

[HeeBGBz]

17. Jindos? Are they kind of orange/light rust brown color?

I think they had 4 of those up for adoption at a local Petsmart last week. I think that was the name of the breed.

[BeHereNow]

18. Some of them are-

I would never advise more than ONE per household
though.
Unless they were raised together and had already established
pack order.
Jindos prefer to be the single dog in a house.
Their devotion to the master is legendary and they
do not like to share their human with other dogs.
However, my Jindo adores my cats...Jindos are very keen
on understanding other members of the family and
friend circle- they just do not tolerate other dogs in that
circle as a rule.
If you adopt one, you MUST go to obedience training and
set the pack order firmly. For the dog's safety.
Jindos are completely independent thinkers-
very much like owning a wolf, and for their own safety,
they must be taught to stay, etc...
Owning a Jindo is not for everyone.
It is a lifelong committment because once
a Jindo has bonded with you, it will not bond with
anyone else. They literally fall in love with their owners
and would kill for you.
BHN

[Conservativesux]

9. You need to watch your surroundings at all times in the cities of post ..

pro-kkkorporation BushAmerika.

Anything looks out of place get the hell out of there.

Crimes like this will be going up as people get desparate and foolish when they run out of work and cash to pay the bills.

Thank you, GWB !!!

[villager]

11. George W. Bush -- Beyond Thunderdome

Yeah, "thanks" "W..."

[Conservativesux]

16. Yup, ya gotta love all that "Compassionate Conservativism".......

that * spoke of pre-selection back in 2000.

Talk about your oxymorons !!

But thats what "the people" selected in November 2004.

9/11, tax cuts for the wealthy, Katrina, 3.00/Gal gasoline, job cuts, wage cuts, union busting, social protections programs gone, lying over and over again, and these idiots voted for "W" again?

I cant believe the American people are that stupid.

[classof56]

14. This is one more reason I am glad I don't live in a self-serve state.

So sorry that your friend went through this awful experience and the warning is timely, because there are many places where we could find ourselves in harm's way. The rising prices of almost everything will result in more dangerous situations, I'm sure. But when I drive up to a gas pump I am waited on by an attendant and either hand him/her my gas card or go inside the station to pay. Both ways, I feel pretty safe and being an elderly female, that's pretty important to me. Guess there are only two states in the country without self-serve, and as I'm liking it more all the time.

Be careful out there!

Tired Old Cynic

[Nikki Stone 1]

21. I thought New Jersey was the only state that did not have self service

Is that the case or no?

[wackadoo wabbit]

23. Oregon, also, only has full serve

At least that was the case when I lived there

[Nikki Stone 1]

24. I wonder how many full serve only states there are

I've never lived in one. I just know that a friend of mine in Jersey never pumps his own gas.

[wackadoo wabbit]

27. I'm fairly certain that Oregon and New Jersey are the only two

I believe I read that somewhere; and I know that of the 40+ states I've driven through, they've all been self-service except for Oregon and NJ.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

30. OR is still full service. nt

[classof56]

29. Oregon's the other one. Every time it comes up for a vote,

it goes down to resounding defeat. I suspect, like having no sales tax, that will never change. Or I hope it won't!

[Nikki Stone 1]

19. Was he in downtown LA?

A friend of mine was robbed at knife point in broad daylight in downtown Los Angeles at an ATM back in 1987. He moved to the West Side shortly afterward.

LA has a lot of crime, but I imagine gas prices have made things worse.

[villager]

25. see above posts -- El Monte is south of downtown

But yes, there's a reason "Blade Runner" was set in Los Angeles...

[Nikki Stone 1]

26. I saw that after I posted. Thanks!

Agree w/you in the Blade Runner.