What would you do?

I am much worse than a AX Murderer if somebody is that bad he wold be either runing for his life or on the ground waiting for the Sheriff or Corner.

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God must have loved stupid people because he made so many of them.

We have obvious cameras (and NON-obvious cameras) and signs informing people that if they have read the sign, they have been photographed and their picture is now stored on the internet. I'm also likely to walk out to meet people (including the meter reader and UPS drivers) before they even get to the end of the driveway. Part of it is the cameras, part of it a weird spidey-sense I have that someone is nearby. For some strange reason, we don't get bothered by people requesting help.

Check out some of the surveillance cameras at Walmart or Menards and if you have the funds proceed. When you see some of the short sentences criminals are getting even including battery with robbery it's no wonder the crime just keeps increasing.

And if you get a gun don't wait 'til there is an emergency to learn how to use it.

I agree with Nimrod but with one exception!
We never have had diesel, and NO I had no idea why gas cans (ime) are red! Never thought about it, never having diesel!
(My dad had to goto farms alot, and alot of the gas cans were metal, and yellow for some reason, but we didnt have diesel growing up either)....
but yeah never get into a car with a stranger.
And the dog(s) idea is a good one too!!!

I can tell from your account that you don't live near me. Often when visiting neighbors they will answer the door with a gun in their hand. It's very safe living out here, and that's how we stay safe. I would have had him stand back where it could see him and call the Sheriff's Dept. They are very helpful and would have given him a ride to his car. If he tried to leave they would have given him a ride somewhere else.

IF I had a wife, and IF I chose to drive him somewhere, Wife would be in back with gun.

It's a darn shame we can't trust people these days. I would have called law enforcement and let them handle it.

FWIW, if one feels capable defending themselves if it gets weird, you could case the guy back and get a surreptitious cell phone mug shot, any info out of him etc, license plate numbers. That way you got a lot of great info to give the cops, you can warn the neighbors and such. Maybe this guy is connected to other crimes etc...even offer him a lemonade and keep the glass if you really get your hairs up, get my drift?

Believe me criminals get the willys their way too...they're not stupid and if they think it's gonna go Deliverance on them they will move on. Where I used to live everyone kept an eye on strange vehicles (too far off the road for people running out of gas though, though there were some lost people), strange people, chatted them up while memorizing plate numbers etc. We were our own police response and we left our doors unlocked.

A protective blue heeler doesnt' hurt either ha! Seriously, case the criminals back at em, bet there'd be less crime. They go after the weak and unsuspecting and easy grab.

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THE BEGINNING IS NEAR
5-star double-rated astronavagatrix earth girl

I would've grabbed the gun on my way to the door. He would've left the gas can and headed off my property, especially since he walked past the no trespassing signs. And especially since the location of the property. He/it sounds fishy and I wouldn't have felt comfortable even getting out of my house let alone get in the care with him.

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Be a fountain, not a drain!

^()^
http://tubbsfarmstead.com/

THANK YOU !!!

I would have been a basket case waiting in you to get back - if you would have been able to pry my clutched hands from around your ankles. NO WAY would you have been leaving the house alone with this guy. Clearly he was up to no good.

Glad you're home safe and sound.

A lot of you are your own police response. Do you have a plan? Do you know how to nip something in the bud before it gets bad? what are you going to do while you're holding a gun on someone waiting 45 minutes for the sheriff? well really a deputy. Think your gun is really 100% guarantee if the other guy is stronger/tougher/smarter/crazier? what if he has a gun too? will your dog obey you? does your dog have sense to truly protect you and control the bad guy? what if he has backup?

if you're first thought is you're gonna cower in the corner...remember your neighbors probably know this too, not to mention the really bad guys can smell this. and your dog.

just throwing stuff out there.

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THE BEGINNING IS NEAR
5-star double-rated astronavagatrix earth girl

There is no 100% guarantee on anything, but if someone is in the house trying to harm me or my family I sure feel a lot better having something better than pleas and tears. Like I said previously, know how to use it BEFORE you need it. Makes me better at night.

One thing our sheriff stressed after a deputy shot a man with a knife- at 10 feet or less, a knife can kill you before before you can pull and shoot your gun. They demonstrated this on TV and over and over the deputy with the "knife" beat the one with the "gun". The TV reporters could not beat the knife either. The moral of that story is do not get in a car with a stranger, even if you are armed. It may be the last thing you ever do.

Actually it is closer to 21ft.
http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/T.../How.Close.htm

Did you at least get his vehicle description, license number etc. I would have stopped by the operations center you spoke of and I would gave dropped by your local police and have a discussion with them about it. They might gave an idea of this person and if you need to be extra vigilant.

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Always wear your invisible crown!

So I actually think what the OP did was smart. I work with many criminals, drug addicts and people with psych issues - and most of that is all mixed up together! The best thing to do is stay very calm, show no fear, show your boundaries and don't be condescending. It is VERY easy to set someone off, the OP's response showed no fear, he got him away from his property without agitating the guy. Guns and attitude can set someone off fast and can lead to retribution. A little risky to be in a car with him? Yes, but it really is a very small percent that are that psycho. A true psychotic wouldn't have taken the gas can and made up a story, they'd have been all over you from the get go.

I noticed a lot of you mentioned calling 911. Out here it's a long response time for the Sheriff's dept, 20-60 minutes a best. I'm guessing it's the same for a lot of you.

Now as I'm a female I wouldn't do he same as the OP, but I'll bet my husband would. He's too nice to everyone, picks up hitchhikers all the time etc... but he's also never had a problem with anyone and I suspect that has something to do with his non-paranoid but very strong confident energy. Or maybe it's just luck.

True, but why bet your life on it?

I am a old vet and one thing to remember is that you don't want to threaten a old man because he will kill you then call the sheriff. I am the most kindly man until you cross me I work hard on the image that "He will shot you for nothing".

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God must have loved stupid people because he made so many of them.

Mike, you are nice guy, a helpful person and quite frankly the world could use more folks like you. I would love to have helpful folks like you as a neighbor.

Having said that, I think you need to realize and accept that there are folks in this world who are bad people, people with Ill intent who would harm you or your family without much hesitation.

What you describe as "shifty behavior" is much worse than that in my opinion and just the beginning of the warning signs about this guy.

Property crimes are one thing, but when it has the potential to escalate to assault or worse against you or your family members, that's a whole different level of alert and action that needs to be taken.

Under no circumstances should you put yourself and the potential bad guy in a confined space (vehicle). The bad guys call this, "prime opportunity". You were already at risk with this guy just being on your property and acting the way he did, but getting in the vehicle with him put you at a substantial disadvantage in an already difficult situation.

Remember that your family needs you healthy and happy, the 'shifty' guy doesn't give a rip about you or your families well being.

I realize I didn't answer the direct question but I think other folks have covered that well.

Finally, thanks for posting this subject. It's not always a pleasant discussion but danger comes in many different scenarios and talking through these scenarios is helpful for many folks.

From the description of events, I am almost certain that it was an aborted robbery attempt. I note particularly that a drop off at a gas station is a lot different than a drop off at an easily found nearby vehicle.

Disengagement in such a situation is a first priority. Getting in a vehicle with the person is NOT disengaging and only increases the potential for harm.

I'm not saying that the following is either wrong or right, but a few years back an (armed) elderly neighbor was working on his fence when approached by a scruffy man with a outta gas story. The neighbor sized him up, pulled out a twenty dollar bill and told him not to come back that he would shoot him if he came around again. When I asked the neighbor why he had responded that way, he said that the twenty dollars was a cheap fast resolution to the immediate problem, he didn't want to have any more hassles, and the combination of his open carry and threat would likely be enough to prevent a recurrence. I've mulled over that response many times.

I do agree that being very calm and firm provides a grounding that can break through the scatter-brain chatter that people with mental health issues can have.