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Tips

Tip #75

Multiple Lessons to be Learned

Good afternoon Folks. The Tampa Bay Region is continuing it's homicidal, destructive binge first noted in November. There is much to be learned from the mistakes of others and hopefully, we will be able to thrive, prosper and survive if we do not make similar mistakes. Please be sure not to put yourself in a position that I will be using you as an example of "what not to do!" I do have some good news, however. Knight's has a good supply of ADG Secure Gun Vaults. The lift up & drop down battery operated models with the key pad are $89.00 and the barrel key models, perfect for automobiles, boats, SUV's, etc.; are $39.50. Don't forget to show your discount cards since these are not sale prices! Also a quick tip of the hat to Marilyn S. Marilyn forwarded information reference the use of automobile VIN's to obtain duplicate keys from automobile dealerships and locksmiths. I checked with Chris Cooper of Best Lock & Safe (727-535-8242). I read Chris the email and he stated that based on his 25 years in the business, there is a remote possibility that an automobile key could be obtained in this fashion and that some makes would be more vulnerable than others. His final comment was that "it is not a bad idea" to cover your VIN with either tape or a piece of paper or cardboard to eliminate even that possibility. By the way, Chris is also a member of the survey team and offers all of my clients a 10% discount on services. See you at Knight's! Tnx Norm & Jane

St. Petersburg Times "3 teens in custody in Subway shooting" December 18, 2004

Three teenagers (19, 18 & 16 years of age) were arrested and charged in the December 5, 2004, Tampa Subway murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. The St. Pete Times reported that tips led to the arrests of the scumbags. The reported 18 year-old shooter was easy to find -- he was in jail on taxicab carjacking charges. The 16 year-old admitted that he was also armed but the 18 year-old actually did the shooting. The 19 year-old is the biggest "moroon" of the three. As the getaway driver, he received $10.00 of the $70.00 stolen. That was reported to be the same amount he would have made working at his Walmart job. Charges are felony first-degree murder and armed robbery! For $70.00 -- one dead and one wounded and three headed to life in prison!!

St. Petersburg Times "A second chance dissolves into life in prison" December 18, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "He set out on a new path, but it led back to jail" December 18, 2004

Folks, the proper legal term for repeat offenders is called 'recidivism.' The recidivism rates are one reason that Florida State law now requires that violent criminals must serve at least 85% of their sentences. I am a firm believer that the overwhelming majority (stats reveal 90% +) of domestic abusers, property, violent, drug, crimes against children and sexual crimes are committed by repeat offenders. Here are two perfect examples. The scumbag that set fire (arson) as a 17 year-old to Trinity United Methodist Church during the St. Pete riots in 1996 was sentenced to a boys village rather than two years in prison based on his expressed remorse and pleas for a second chance. Of course he screwed that up and committed 30 violations in a week and was then sentenced to two years in prison. Six months after release, he stabbed to death a frail AIDS victim with a serving fork and a pocketknife. He has been sentenced to life in prison for that heinous offense. This other mutt actually beat a 1998 murder charge in 2001 and stated that the three years that he spent in pretrial confinement would be the jolt that he needed to stay straight. Well, so much for that jolt. This scumbag settles a drug dispute on December 4 by doing a drive by shooting that led to two more drive by shootings that resulted in one wounded scumbag, one bullet grazed 14 year-old girl and the wounding of a 42 year-old woman. He must be a slow learner also! The point is simply this -- some criminal acts are more likely than others to lead to repeat violence. A tiger cannot change his stripes and a scumbag may be unable to crawl out of the ooze! Don't let them sell you a bill of goods that they are 'cured' and 'have learned their lesson!'

St. Petersburg Times "State alcohol agent is cleared in fatal shooting" December 18, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "Officer who killed gunman: 'I was there for a reason' December 18, 2004

The Florida State ABT (Alcohol, Beverage and Tobacco) agent that shot and permanently stopped that scumbag career felon on December 7, 2004, at Tyrone and Park Boulevard has been cleared and the shooting ruled justifiable by the Pinellas-Pasco County State Attorney's Office. There was never any doubt in my mind but I can just about guarantee you that the 42 year-old agent aged at least 10 years in 11 days. And this event was exceedingly well predicated with numerous friendly witnesses and a definitively felonious threat to multiple victims! I agree with the officer that he was there for a reason and that reason was to protect others from a crazed scumbag felon with a gun. We all owe this man a big thank you for being a sheepdog and protecting the sheep from the wolf! Please remember this -- even if you are involved in a good, legal self-defense shooting, your life will change and it will probably not be for the better! You know my philosophy folks -- it is easier to avoid it than to extricate yourself from it! Enough said.

St. Petersburg Times "Tragedy lurked for friends on way to breakfast" December 21, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "Friends say victim tried to get away from Lexus" December 22, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "Hit-run victim now the accused" December 24, 2004

Here are two separate road rage incidents that occurred in Pinellas County and Pasco County within three days. Both are similar in that victims either died or were severely injured. Both are dissimilar because one victim primarily attempted to avoid the incident but in the other, the initial victim became the aggressor. The Largo incident occurred about 10AM with three friends in a VW when they became involved in a dispute with a young man in a Lexus. The chase extended three miles with the drivers apparently taking turns in aggressive behavior but the VW driver mainly attempting to get away according to witnesses. Finally the Lexus cuts off the VW which runs into a utility pole killing the 20 year-old female driver and severely injuring the 22 year-old and 18 year-old male passengers. Of course the Lexus driver is a cowardly scumbag and flees and yet to be identified. He is facing vehicular homicide charges when and if located. The other incident started with one driver bumping into another at a stoplight apparently causing minor damage. The at fault driver, a 43 year-old good citizen, fled for some unknown reason rather than stopping as required. The victim, a 38 year-old good citizen, loses his cool and chases the hit & run driver at 100MPH! The victim, who is about to become a scumbag, is on his cell phone with 911 providing direction of travel and the hit & run driver's, soon to be dead, vehicle description and license tag. The operator tells him to back off but he keeps pressing until the 43 year-old runs head-on into another vehicle driven by a completely innocent 48 year-old is also going to be soon dead. The 38 year-old driver has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. How damn stupid! Please remember, if involved in a road rage, call *FHP and try to leave the playing field. Don't drive home, don't drive to your business, drive to lights & people and don't forget -- the scumbag determines when the incident is over, not you! In the second incident, simply obtain a vehicle description, last known direction of travel and lice tag if possible and report to law enforcement and your insurance company.

AP Newswire "Costa Rican taxi driver shoots jokester in bin Laden mask" December 18, 2004

Some 47 year-old joker puts on a bin Laden mask and jumps in front of cars as a joke in San Jose, Costa Rica. This moron is carrying a pellet rifle and having a great old time. He jumps in front of a taxi driver who has a real gun. The joker then gets shot twice in the stomach by the cab driver who is apparently not an al-Qaida fan! Good double tap and a hell of a punch line!

St. Petersburg Times "Devastating loss for Community Before "December 27, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "Before killing, trash talk on cars "December 29, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "Another death shakes Robinson High" December 29, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "Teen held in slaying of Robinson student" December 30, 2004
St. Petersburg Times "Doster killing suspect named" December 31, 2004

Dadgum, more random, stupid murders. I still can't fathom some of the stupid, nonsensical reasons that scumbags choose to escalate to deadly force. The 21 year-old victim in the first case was simply sitting in the back seat of an Olds Cutlass at 2AM on December 26, 2004, in Tampa. There was a discussion with another group in an orange tricked out Infiniti over which car was better. The vehicle's driver but not the owner was a 28 year-old. During the course of the encounter, he gets out of the Infiniti, walks up to the Cutlass and fires five shots. One shot hit the 21 year-old in the chest thereby killing him. The Infiniti then takes over. The suspect was identified and will be charged with murder and attempted murder and is described as armed and dangerous. I feel that he is more like armed & stupid but that does make him less dangerous I guess! This second event occurred in Bradenton on December 28, 2004. This one makes even less sense if possible because the victim was 15 and the shooter 17. These CHILDREN were at a club that closed at 1AM. They then proceeded to a location on 15th Avenue for a block party where a fight started and then the 17 year old started shooting thereby killing the 15 year-old. The police listed the causative event as an argument between the two. Some argument! What in the hell was a 17 year-old boy, much less a 15 year-old doing out on the street at that time of the morning? Folks, I kid you not. Children need to be home and supervised. We should not be burying our children.

St. Petersburg Times "Man shot in drug deal faces charge" December 31, 2004

Remember the dope dealer from Tip #74 who was shot while attempting to sell drugs in Clearwater on December 13, 2004, and then his girl friend crashes the car taking him to the hospital? Well, he's back! Talk about slow learners my friends. Five days after this submaroon leaves the hospital, he is stopped in Largo for an inoperative tag light. Lo and behold, when the officer walks up, he detects a strong odor of marijuana and as he gets out of his vehicle, 47 crack cocaine rocks, valued at $750.00, hits the deck. He then admits to the officer that he planned to sell the crack. The Clearwater PD spokesman said "The lad doesn't seem to have the learning curve one might expect." I would express that differently -- what a dumb ass!

St. Petersburg Times "Front yard fight ends with gunshot" January 1, 2005

Five teenage girls are painting tee shirts in a garage in a neighborhood where houses are $350,000 plus on December 31, 2004. A 38 year-old drives by and stops. The girls were apparently afraid of the man and went inside to alert the 39 year-old home owner. He advised the 38 year-old to leave and he does so only to return 10 minutes later on a bike. The girls get the homeowner and they meet in the street and begin an argument. The younger man punches the home owner and the favor is returned. The 38 year-old then pulls a . 38 caliber revolver and points it at the home owner. The father locks up the gun, a shot is fired, the shooter disarmed and the police notified. The shooter is arrested and charged with attempted murder, battery, carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm in public. Now this is cool. The shooter's parents said their son is not a violent person but used poor judgment. Let's take that a step further -- both these mutts used poor judgment. It is apparent that there is neighborhood history with the shooter so why did the father feel obligated to confront him in the street? Why didn't he just bring the girls in the house, close the garage and call the police? I guess he never heard of the Retreat Rule! Lucky no one was killed.

St. Petersburg Times "Kidnappers break into safe, take jewelry" January 5, 2005

A St. Pete jeweler pulls into his driveway and is taken at gunpoint by two armed men. They forced him into his car and then left the area. They coerced him into giving them the combination to the store safe and then released him unhurt at the Howard Frankland Bridge. Later that night, his store is burglarized and $100,000 in jewelry stolen. It appears that for some reason, probably fear, the owner did not report the event due to fear. You have heard me speak of my concerns for safety at home and during transition points. Here is the reason! The owner should be happy to be alive.

St. Petersburg Times "Trooper shot after traffic stop" January 6, 2005

A 30 year-old Florida Highway Patrolman pulls over a driver at 10AM, January 5, 2005, for an expired temporary tag; about as "routine" as you can get. The driver weighs about 250 pounds and is a sex offender with a history of violence against law enforcement. He begins to violently resist and a major fight ensues, During the course of the fight, the trooper is bitten on the cheek, pepper sprayed by his own spray due to wind blowback and then shot in the thigh with his own . 40 caliber Beretta execution style. The trooper never gave up even after being shot -- continue the fight, continue the fight! The scumbag was arrested soon thereafter when he unsuccessfully attempted a car jacking. The critical aspect for you is to be sure to apprise the officer that you do have a firearm in the vehicle and follow the steps that I have outlined in regard to a traffic stop. As I have repeatedly stated, police officers only enjoy surprises on their birthdays!

St. Petersburg Times "They steal, she steams" January 7, 2005

I just love it when a citizen faces the risk of injury to fight over property. A 54 year-old woman, who uses a cane, is in her car in a supermarket parking lot when approached by two women. She opens her door to speak with the young women when one suddenly snatches her purse and runs away. She chases the 28 year-old woman and her accomplice back to their car, breaks the open window with her hands, retrieves her purse and backhands the thief. The woman is then arrested and charged with burglary of the conveyance and robbery by sudden snatching. Holy Cow Batman -- it is only property!

St. Petersburg Times On Line "Girl raped on way to bus stop" January 12, 2005

A 15 year-old New Port Richey was walking alone to her public bus stop by herself at 7:15AM. The day was foggy and a motorcyclist drove up, stopped his bike, dragged the girl into a narrow strip of woods just off the roadway and raped her. Brazen SOB! He is still on the loose and poses a threat to other innocent persons. He is described as a Hispanic male, 25 to 30 years old, about 5' 8' tall, 160 pounds, medium build, dark skin, smooth complexioned, black eyes and black shoulder length hair pulled into a pony tail. The scumbag was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, black cotton pants and white & blue New balance sneakers. He was driving an older model silver and black motorcycle. If you have any information, it is requested that Detective Bobby Hamm, 1-800-854-2862 x7446. This scumbag needs to be under the jail!

St. Petersburg Times "Brothers capture stalking suspect" January 14, 2005
St. Petersburg Times "Stalking suspect faces new accusations" January 16, 2005

Every once in a while the good guys actually win! This event just makes me feel warm all over. This scumbag started stalking a 14 year-old girl in December 2004. She advised her parents that he was becoming bolder during his morning encounters and changed to a different bus stop. Her parents were also very concerned and started walking her to the bus stop in the morning but not in the afternoon since his pattern was always mornings. He changed his pattern on January 12, 2005, and was waiting for her after school and tried to box her with his Saturn. The child ran home and told her parents and a police report was filed. The father and uncle accompanied the girl to her bus stop at 6:40 AM the next day and guess who is there? You got it -- scumbag! Now the father and uncle were so enraged that they chased the scumbag down and beat the crap out of him before handing him over to the police. His picture definitely reflects that he took a "whupping" my friends and was described as "a bloody mess of cuts and bruises." Oh, by the way, he had a large hunting knife in the car this time! He was charged with aggravated stalking on a child under 16 and attempted kidnapping. There were two other reports; one involving another 14 year-old girl and an adult woman. Bye bye scumbag -- have a nice life in prison! My only concern is that the parents failed to report the incidents as they occurred and lost almost a month that could have proven to be a major error if not a fatal error! I recommend that you immediately report these events and try to nip them in the bud!

St. Petersburg Times "Two found dead in Plant City home" January 16, 2005
St. Petersburg Times "Deaths leave questions for friends, family" January 18, 2005
St. Petersburg Times "Couple may have known their killer" January 21, 2005

A 37 year-old man and his 26 year old-wife were found dead in their home run Plant City business about 1:30PM January 17, 2005. The victims were selling vehicles from their home and advertised the cars for sale on the Internet. The police report no leads but believe that the murders were tied to the business. What a surprise! In my opinion, anytime you advertise any product or service and direct strangers to your home, you are taking a tremendous risk! You may know who they appear to be but you sure as God made little green apples have no idea who they really are! This may be a classic case of killed by invitation. I particularly discourage the selling of autos, as well as boats, furniture, Etc., as these victims were doing, from your home. I have done so but simply put in a telephone number and arranged to meet in a public place during the hours of daylight. That is the same reason I use a PO Box for the business and had our address removed from the telephone book. I am not immune to being located but I sure want to make 'em work for it. Of course, it will be a miracle if they get in thanks to motion detector lighting, fences, good alarms, locks and Mylar but the real miracle will be getting out if Jane and I are home!

St. Petersburg Times "5 arrested in attack on neighbors" January 20, 2005

Incidents of this nature are the reason that neighbors are reluctant to either report or become involved in neighborhood problems. A Tampa multiracial couple and their three children were being kept awake by a loud party. At 1:30AM, the police arrive and ask the party goers to keep it down. A white female was charging up and down the hallway banging on doors demanding to know who called the police. The woman of the apartment admitted that she did and then the gang of five attacked. To make things just peachy, one of the gang has neo Nazi tattoos so you can figure the orientation, motivation and attitude for what happens next. The scumbag gang breaks in the door, vandalizes the apartment and batters both occupants while using racial slurs. This is the dark ages my friends! All five are arrested and charged with various offenses to include burglary of an occupied dwelling, battery, aggravated battery and hate crimes. Gee, I was greatly surprised to hear that most of the groups had crimes of violence in their past! Too bad the couple weren't my students!

St. Petersburg Times "Man accused of stalking at bus stop" January 26, 2005
St. Petersburg Times "Man accused of stalking girl, 15, near her bus stop" January 29, 2005

A 39 year-old man stalked a Largo Middle School student at her bus stop for several months before they finally caught him. The Largo Police began investigating a week ago after another parent advised them that her daughter was being stalked by the scumbag. The police then interviewed several other students who supported the allegation. The police setup at the bus stop at 4:30PM and sure enough, the pervert shows up and approaches two female students. Gotcha! He was charged with aggravated stalking, a third degree felony. When the police searched his car, they found several adult pornography magazines, a dagger, a switchblade and two other knives. There was a similar incident in St. Pete where an 18 year-old twice approached a 15 year-old girl within a week and asked for sex. The police set up on the bus stop and sure enough, this scumbag approached her and made sexual remarks. Ooops -- her neighbor on the bench was a St. Pete plainclothes officer. The 18 year-old was charged with aggravated stalking and is now sitting in jail on a $20,000 bond. Law enforcement will definitely work if given the opportunity! My major concern in the first instance is why did it take several months to make a complaint? Did the student apprise her parents or another adult? Did the parents or other adult fail to respond? If not reported, why not? The second situation occurred, was reported and resolved in one week. Folks, please talk with your children and let them know it is OK to express their fears and concerns about these matters. It is just so dadgum common!

St. Petersburg Times "Hospital nurse's aide loses job, goes to jail after showing gun" January 26, 2005

This incident occurred in a major hospital in St. Pete. A nurse's aide has a gun on hospital property, a major offense in the facility. Another employee saw the 47 year-old man with a firearm and notified security guards who detained the man. They have an argument and the soon to be ex-employee and newly anointed scumbag points his gun at one of the security guards and flees on foot. The police run him down, take him into custody and seize a . 22 caliber revolver. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a third degree felony, and being held on $10,000 bail. Oh, he was also fired! By the way, he was issued a CWP in June 2000. I think we can safely say that just went away also! He will be of the 001869% of CWP holders who have committed a crime involving a firearm after licensing. That, my friends, is a most impressive record! Oh yeah, not one of my students!

St. Petersburg Times "Maybe he would try to steal a kiss" January 26, 2005

Nimrods are not limited to the Tampa Bay Region. I am not sure if that makes me feel better or not. Two men rob a woman in New Castle, Delaware. One of the scumbags must have an unbelievable ego. He calls the woman from his cell phone to apologize and ask her for a date! She of course calls the police and gives them his cell phone number. He is soon arrested and then charged with second-degree robbery. Boy, he really must hate it when his dates play hard to get!

St. Petersburg Times "High tech less of threat in ID theft" January 27, 2005

Identity theft has always been considered a high-tech threat but recent surveys established that high-tech isn't the major threat we all feared. That's a relief! Actual thefts are attributed to:
       28.8% Lost wallets/checkbooks/credit cards (Author notes -protect those items and don't leave in autos-many stolen in auto thefts-if stolen report immediately and close accounts. You should keep a safeguarded list so can do so efficiently)
       12.9% Accessed as part of a transaction (Always pick up your copies and do not leave credit card slips on tables if full number appears-cross cut shred)
       11.4% Friends/acquaintances/relatives (Secure those items-particularly vulnerable at home)
       11.1% Don't know/refuse to answer (Gee-possibly places they don't want someone else to know about?)
       8.7%    Corrupt employee (Safeguard and limit access-institute controls to reduce exposure and initiate frequent account reviews)
       8.0%    Stolen paper mail/fraudulent change of address (Use PO Box or locking mail box-require that issuers contact you for address change approval)
       7.4%    Obtained some other way (Beats me!)
       5.2%    Computer spyware (Install good computer security to include firewalls, Anti-virus & spyware, passwords and keep current & up to date)
       2.6%    Taken from garbage (Don't put in garbage unless put through cross cut shredder-we use for everything with name/address/accoun numbers etc.)
       2.2%    Computer viruses/hackers (Same as computer spyware)
       1.7%    E-mails sent by criminals posing as legitimate (Be suspicious and use anti-Spam filters and controls-remember duck theory and seek advice)
There are several excellent resources:
      1. Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org
      2. Identity Safety Quiz www.idsafety.net
      3. Javelin Strategy & Research www.javelinstrategy.com
      4. Florida Identity Theft Resource and Response Center myfloridalegal.com/identitytheft
      5. Federal Trade Commission www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ and ID Theft Hotline toll free (877) 438-4338

St. Petersburg Times "Shots ring out after dispute; three injured" January 28, 2005

Why not wrap up with a mass shooting of three scumbags by some other scumbags probably due to some kind of drug dispute. This occurred in St. Pete and started with an unreported armed robbery of a cabbie. The two scumbags went into a house and about 3:30AM, a gunfight erupted. The wounded were a 16 year-old with a lengthy arrest record dating back to when he was ten, a 31 year-old ex-felon and a 29 year-old with arrests for crack sale and possession. The 16 year-old, who just happens to be the father of a one year-old girl and a four week old boy, was shot 10 times and is listed as critical. All three had drug arrests in their files. Drugs and Guns folks -- just another day in the doper's world!

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