Confrontation with a car thief.

[byronius]

Walking my dogs last night, in my little liberal California town, I was surprised to see a man furtively peering through the window of a late-model Explorer with a flashlight.

He saw me watching him, and immediately turned off the flashlight and walked around to the other side of the vehicle, as if hiding. When he saw that I had stopped, and was still watching him, he came out from behind the car and started to walk down the street past me.

"What are you looking in people's cars with flashlights for, if you don't mind my asking?", I said.

He turned and started walking directly toward me. I was taller, but he weighed a solid 350 pounds, and he wasn't fat.

"I do mind you asking," he snarled. (That's not a Davis answer. That's a Woodland answer.)

"Well, you just answered my question. I'm just gonna go call the cops, all right?" I replied.

"You don't have to do that," he said.

He moved toward me, speeding up, and got to within about six feet away from me -- it was apparent that he was going to rush me, dogs or no dogs -- but then Athena and Sprinkle both growled. Athena lunged toward the man, being the dominant sister, a trait I have often bemoaned, but not on this night.

He seemed to finally notice that I was walking two big black labs, and that they weren't people-safe -- he veered away angrily, and walked down the street.

I watched him get into a big black dually pickup with a big tow package on the back. I waited to get the license plate number -- he saw me watching, and roared down a side street to escape identification.

I ran the two blocks home and called 911. Later, I was back on my walk, and I decided to knock on the door of the fellow who owned the Explorer. He was grateful, but he wasn't surprised -- apparently a Cadillac had been stolen four doors down last week.

Drunk college kids have been the only trouble I've seen in this neighborhood for the eight years I've lived here.

Signs of the times.

[givemebackmycountry]

1. I think that you met...

REPO MAN

[byronius]

4. I asked the car owner if that was possible -- he said it was paid for.

Nice house, too -- I would have expected a Repo man to identify himself, and certainly not to charge at me.

[wolfgangmo]

15. Not a chance

That was not a repo man.

A repo man wouldn't have; a) attempted a battery, b) worried about the cops coming, c) ran away. Repo men have a legal right to do what they do, they don't have to break the law. They just need to rack up the car and drive away.

This guy was not a repo man.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Are you sure he was a repro man?

[qanda]

3. You are very lucky that he wasn't carrying a gun

I applaud your bravery but next time you should probably call the cops first. Oh, and I hope you gave those dogs some extra treats.

[byronius]

7. Oh, yes. And lots of extra pets.

[Uben]

5. My lab woulda killed the guy!

He woulda licked him to death! That's about as aggressive as he gets. Glad yours was a little more aggressive and snarled.

[YOY]

8. If you ever have the misfortune of being threatened you would see a change in the animal.

I've seen it in my lab (long gone she is)...

[Uben]

16. You may be right!

He is very, very attached to me (rescued from a shelter three yrs ago). He is a house dog, super intelligent, and very easily trained. I would not be surprised to see him go crazy on someone he sensed was threatening me, but so far, he just acts like a very amicable pet. He does bark when someone drives up, but I think it's to let me know someone is here.

[uppityperson]

6. Glad you were safe and thanks for reporting it.

[hlthe2b]

9. Loveable, yes... but my (now deceased) Lab would respond

if I raised my voice... That is all it took. I never worried driving around at night even in carjack prone areas of Atlanta and Denver with that beloved girl.

My current lovely gal, an Aussie Lab mix would likewise defend me in the car, with little doubt, but she is a bit more on edge and might respond unnecessarily, so I am cautious. Dogs are the best... Absolutely

[monmouth]

10. Your the kind of neighbor that would be welcome anywhere. Good on you...n/t

[soothsayer]

11. Owner could have gotten insurance $$ and bought a hybrid

Now he's screwn thanks to you!

[byronius]

12. Always lookin' on the bright side of Life, hey?

[H2O Man]

13. I'm glad that you are okay.

A dangerous situation, for sure.

[byronius]

18. A picture of Sprinkle:

[H2O Man]

19. Beautiful!

One of our dogs, which is "mixed," looks and acts "all Lab." Of the six dogs we have, he has the best personality, as far as being in a happy mood every minute, and being great with kids. Still, I have no doubt that if he felt that someone was posing a threat to a family member, he would be very different.

I've had two Labs over the years; one that a relative gave his wife for Christmas in 1980, that she didn't want, and my father's when he passed away. Great dogs.

[depakid]

14. This is why a good aftermarket security system ins always a good investment

Learned that the hard way.

Twice.

[aikoaiko]

17. I applaud you for confronting criminal behavior -- more people should

There are risks, but the more people do it, the less places criminals have to operate.