AAR Break in, Manchester 2012

[Ad'lan]

So, at 1145hrs what is now yesterday (Saturday 17th March), I was trying to write an essay (emphasis on trying), when I was interrupted by my flat mate (Who I shall refer to as Soccer).
"I think someone is messing with your mates room" or words to that effect, and as I walked to the end of the hall, I saw through the window, my mates' (who, I shall refer to as Bastion) window was smashed.

It was about then that adrenaline kicked in, I dashed out the back door in only my slippers, as I saw a dark figure with a rucksack in hand running away from the scene.

Me and Soccer quickly gave chase, raising a heu and cry as we went, past security's little hut, and I realised he was cutting right towards the goods gate. This is the only place on the right hand side that doesn't need student fobs to get out, as it has only an 8' fence. We cut him off from the shorter fence on the other side that would let him out right in Moss Side.

Soccer is a faster sprinter than me, but I know the layout of the area better, as I stayed in these halls before, in my first year. When the runner cut right, I continued straight, and oddly enough ran past my friend Bastion and his housemates out on the balcony of another flat at a party. I really picked up speed taking a wide corner into the car park, and I slammed into the runner as he was halfway over the gate fence.

I held onto him proper, while he struggled. He was going for his pockets and threatening to kill me, that he had a knife. I backed off a little, but held my grip. In hindsight I should have either gone in closer and pinned his arms, or released completely and gone for some strikes.

Quite quickly, other students who'd taken up the chase joined me, and we managed to first pin him, then get him on the ground, taking a limb each. Too many cooks spoil the broth, and when someone had each of his limbs, I backed off, and borrowed a phone, someone had dialled 999, but wanted me to talk to them.

Security arrived, and after that it was just waiting for the police, then going down to the station for two hours to give my statement. I can't believe how much had to be hand written, but such is bureaucracy.

Turns out the runner was on release from prison and wanted for a burglary in the midlands, so he's going away for a while automatically. I'll probably be called to court for this at some point, but theres no indications we'll be anything but praised. The Cops and Security were all pretty impressed with us, catching the thief with the stolen goods in his grasp.

So yeah, another Ad'lan lives in "Interesting Times" stories, but it again shows that not all the trouble I get into in manchester is unavoidable, I just don't look before I leap.

[Laager]

We live in interesting times.....glad that no one was seriously injured or hurt and that the perp is going to go away for awhile, although I do not think the perp is going to change his ways anytime soon.

[shrapnel]

Exciting! Glad you're ok, and that you caught the guy.

[duodecima]

Glad that turned out well!

And at least if the essay doesn't turn out, you have a great reason - "Well, it was going to be brilliant, but then I was interrupted by having to catch a burglar..."

[Mall Ninja]

Did he actually have a knife?

[shrapnel]

Glad that turned out well!

And at least if the essay doesn't turn out, you have a great reason - "Well, it was going to be brilliant, but then I was interrupted by having to catch a burglar..."

Tell the teacher that the mere mention of your essay topic gives you flashbacks and chills, and that's why you haven't finished it. Then cry a little, to prove you mean it.

[Tetra Grammaton Cleric]

Good job Ad'lan.

-

[the_alias]

Fuckin A!

Score one for the good guys. Well done mate!

[Ad'lan]

Did he actually have a knife?

Apparently he had a stanley knife. In trying to get it out of his pocket, or at some point during the struggle it dropped on the floor and smashed the other side of the fence.

Thanks for the kind words guys.

[Fletch]

Bloody Neds, eh the_alias, Ad'Lan?


Well done Ad'lan, glad you're OK and it all turned out well for you and your friend - have you had a chance to establish /why/ your friends place was broken into?

Did he have pretty things on display, or was it just a random B&E?

[Ad'lan]

Bloody Neds, eh the_alias, Ad'Lan?


Well done Ad'lan, glad you're OK and it all turned out well for you and your friend - have you had a chance to establish /why/ your friends place was broken into?

Did he have pretty things on display, or was it just a random B&E?

Well, we're on the ground floor, so easy target. All our windows have restriction locks on, so they only open 6" or so. I think Bastion left his open, and the BG pried it open with something, either way the window got totally smashed, so I'm not sure.

He had a laptop on his chair, but not exactly on display. Plenty of other tasty morsels on view that night.

[phil_in_cs]

good job, buddy!

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Thank you for not letting people like him run the world.

[Regular Guy]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Thank you for not letting people like him run the world.

^^That. Good show, chip chip, pip pip.

[Ad'lan]

I'm finally starting to feel the adrenaline burn out, again thanks for all the kind words. Were there any better ways I could have dealt with this situation? What would be the different situation in America, what if I had access to firearms?

[nateted4]

Rough call, but I think you're right that you should have pinned him more securely when he threatened you with the knife. All's well that ends well.

[TC]

Good job, fella! Hope your flatmate keeps you well supplied with beer henceforth!

[Regular Guy]

I'm finally starting to feel the adrenaline burn out, again thanks for all the kind words. Were there any better ways I could have dealt with this situation? What would be the different situation in America, what if I had access to firearms?

I don't think you could have handled it better. You call the police, you had help, you disarmed him and he's going to jail. Full win.

It depends on the state, some states say you can detain a fleeing felon some you can't. Only a few states would allow you to shoot him while he flees. I believe Nevada, Texas, and Arizona. I could be wrong. I know Nevada law allows that, especially if he's armed.

Personally, I would have made distance if he said he had a knife and just directed the police to him.

[yossarian]

What would be the different situation in America, what if I had access to firearms?

That varies from state to state. In my state I believe that you could plug him as soon as he threatened to kill you*. As long as you had good reason to believe him and could convince the prosecutor that you were chasing him to retrieve your stuff, not murder him for taking it, and he escalated by threatening lethal force. Texas has "Right of fresh pursuit" that allows you to chase down someone that you witnessed committing a crime. In other states you might be required to track him down and give the owners manual and warranty card for the laptop that he just stole.


As others have said, good job. Tell one of your mates to buy you a beer for me



*Of course what is legally acceptable and what is morally acceptable may be two very different things.

[crypto]

What would be the different situation in America, what if I had access to firearms?

In almost every state the situation would have been no different. You could have confronted him with a firearm in your home, almost everywhere. But, after he fled, he didnt pose a imminent threat to your life, and you couldn't sprint after him with drawn gun without becoming the aggressor.

In a few states, you are allowed to use deadly force to protect your property, but in this situation, with him turning tail and clearly fleeing, it would have been a dicey shooting even in those states.


You did a great job, as I see it from my armchair.

[TheLastRifleMan]

Good going, chief! Glad you caught the dirtbag red handed. I do feel for you for all of the legal entanglements you will have to face in the future.

[Paladin1]

Good job, glad everyone is Ok.

[BigDaddyTX]

I'm pretty sure in Texas I'm allowed to shoot you if you're trying to leave my property with my possessions, but IANAL, and shooting someone in the back is just bad juju even if it is legal, but people do get away with it here, even defending a neighbors property.

Shitty cut and paste, but what's pertinent from: Texas Castle Doctrine

The actor's belief that the force was
immediately necessary as described by this subsection is presumed
to be reasonable if the actor:

(B) to prevent the other's imminent commission of
aggravated kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual
assault, robbery, or aggravated robbery

(C) was committing or attempting to commit an
offense described by Subsection (a)(2)(B)

(c) A person who has a right to be present at the location
where the deadly force is used, who has not provoked the person
against whom the deadly force is used, and who is not engaged in
criminal activity at the time the deadly force is used is not
required to retreat before using deadly force as described by this
section.

[crypto]

Yeah, Tejas is the quintessential 'shooting the cattle rustlers' state, but I wouldn't want to try my luck with a district attorney shooting a fleeing thief, over some crap thats covered under my homeowners insurance anyway. My $500 deductible is well worth not having to risk appearing in front of a grand jury for shooting a dude in the back to get my Xbox back.

[Regular Guy]

My $500 deductible is well worth not having to risk appearing in front of a grand jury for shooting a dude in the back to get my Xbox back.

Everyone should read this. Then read it again. And then sticky it somewhere. Yeah, don't fucking risk your life/serious legal shit storm for things that are easily replaceable.