I got robbed last night. I had some car trouble and was waiting for AAA to arrive when I was approached by three youths. The subsequent exchange went like this:
Punk: Let me see that phone.
Me: No
Then the punk slugged me over the head with something hard, and I dropped like a sack of hammers. When I came to, I was missing my cell phone, PDA and wallet. The wallet was found this morning near a Dumpster at a nearby apartment complex.
So I spent a very fun morning on the phone with my bank, and at the Houston Police Department’s Westside Command Station. The officers there were friendly and courteous, and very thorough in documenting my report.
It’s a shame that good cops are hamstrung by an administration that cares more about jaywalking-ticket revenue than they do about the knot on my head.
UPDATE: On the off chance that the Boys in Blue ever catch these guys, it’s nice to know they’ll be stamping out license plates in Huntsville for a long while. Texas isn’t very kind to robbers. Robbery is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony, which will earn you 5 years to life, and a $10,000 fine.
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89 Responses to “I’d call the mayor, but they took my phone”Search
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Probably a couple of them New Orleans Dudes lookin for somebody else’s Bling-Bling. Hope your noggin gets better.
Damn Matt, I’m sorry to hear that. You didn’t have a piece handy?
Wow, Matt. We’re glad you’re okay (relatively).
Another way this confrontation could have gone.
Punk: I said gimme the phone!
Me: You guys ever seen a 357 mag?
Result: No knot on your head plus the other fun stuff.
1: Wouldn’t surprise me. The guy sounded like a “Dirty South” gangsta.
2: Nope, Mikey. My application for a CHL is still pending.
3: Thanks.
Glad to hear you’re ok, Matt. Better tell the DPS to expedite that CHL app. I’d rather hear a news report on how an LST commando perforated some perps trying to deprive him of his property. Just don’t do like that DEA agent giving the gun safety lecture and shoot yourself in the leg. The perps won’t be impressed.
But a firearm, learn how to shoot it, and carry it! It will do no good in your glove compartment, you have to carry it!
7: I’ve got one and I know how to shoot it. I’m just waiting for that license to come back from Austin…
Waiting for a license to defend yourself?
You might wanna read Locked and Loaded.
http://books.lulu.com/content/54406
BTW, I am glad you are OK!
We do live in a dangerous city.
Sorry to hear your ordeal.
Another reason why we must legalise drugs.
What that got to do with price of tea in China? You may ask!!!! Everything!!!!!!
Our law enforcement is tied up arresting somebody who is minding his own business and walking down towards his home with a little bit of you know what instead of being out there focusing on real crime.
Talk about overwhelming social services by illegals, how about our judicial system clogged up by cases I just mentioned above.
my sincere condolences.
i’ve never been mugged before.
i’m curious. where you waiting for the tow truck standing outside your vehicle, sitting behind the steering wheel? What street or intersection were you at?
hope your head and psyche recover soon.
Man, I am sorry. I am glad you are OK.
Did it happen that fast? In that case, you may have not had enough time for anything else and your 357 may have been stolen too.
How long were you out?
I was at the corner of Memorial and Thicket out on the west side of town. My car was further down on Thicket, but I walked up to the corner to flag down the tow truck driver, since he was coming down Memorial. If I’d been standing by my car, they might have gotten that too.
Yep, it happened pretty quick. I turned around to see three guys walking up to me, about 2 steps away, and they surrounded me right away, demanded the phone, and WHUMP. I think I was only out for a moment.
Geez Matt; thank God it wasn’t worse. This pisses me off - these fn subanimals - they’re below animals.
Charles Bronson had the right idea in the Death Wish movies.
Glad you’re OK, Matt. The stuff can be replaced, but Matt Bramanti cannot.
Matt,
Your experience is why I recommend that people not wait until they THINK they need a license to carry. By that time, it may be too late for them. Glad you’re OK. This is why I teach a CHL class. Though I’d rather we didn’t have to get the govt’s permission to exercise a Constitutional right, it’s a step in the right direction. Alaska started with a permit system like ours, then went to Vermont style carry. VT has no laws against carrying unless you do it with the intent to harm someone.
# 17
Before Matt gets into another misadventure we need to have him clonned.
19: That’s a really good idea. A whole bunch of clones. That way, if a Matt gets robbed, all the other Matts can surround the assailants and beat them to death.
#20,
So hypothetically, if you walked in your house, and you caught your wife in bed with one of your clones… oh nevermind, this is going nowhere.
Glad you are okay, Matt.
Just remember, you have all the permission you need to carry a firearm to protect yourself from thugs like these. It is called the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Do you think if we had open carry as they do in AZ this would happen?
http://books.lulu.com/content/54406
I have heard more stories just like this, or “near misses” this holiday season than any other. Very scary. Glad you are okay.
Does not seem like packing would have been much help for what you describe. Especially with people in front and back. No telling if they were also packing. At some point it is too late to pull the weapon.
A few weeks back my car broke down, already dark, and I had to walk about a mile to the closest place with a phone. I guess breaking down in a desolated place is safer these days.
No, I do not own a cell phone.
That’s okay, Jaime, I don’t either. Not anymore.
LOL
Technically I guess I do. It belongs to my wife. Also we have a TracFone that it is used primarily for the kids.
Usefull but I hate the getting online to purchase the air time.
sorry bout the bad luck - there is a warm spot in hell for folks like that. They will get theirs…
Good grief!! Memorial At Thicket? I guess my old “stomping grounds” has gone to the dogs, too!
Matt,
In the meantime I’d just carry around a smaller long gun under the seat (a short barrelled shotgun would do nicely). Those are completely unregulated in Texas.
Matt,
have you tried calling your phone?Tell whoever answers that you owe Matt some money and you need to meet him to pay it off. Then have the cops there to greet them. Good luck.
Heh. Nice thinkin, Gregg.
Alas, I’ve already called Verizon and turned off the phone. Hopefully the guy made enough calls already that Houston’s finest can track him down.
#31
Houston has gone to the dogs.
We had a riot a few weeks ago in Dan Patricks old neighborhood…Bear Creek.
I’m so sorry. I hope they didn’t clonk the genius out of you.
Matt,
since you got clocked on the head can you now hear am radio like Gilligan?
36: Aw, what a sweetie.
37: Why yes, I can. Let’s see what’s on KSEV. Dr. Laura!
Ummm Matt
While your CHL is pending
CARRY THE DAMN GUN
At night while waiting, have said gun in hand at the ready.
Sheesh kids today by ‘em books and buy ‘em books and what do they do? Chew the pencils.
BTW, I am glad you are OK!
Good thing you are OK! When Hurricane Katrina hit
I saw a lot of things that got me concerned and decided it was time to buy some guns. My house is
well armed now. I’m going to get my permit too, I wasn’t going to, but now hearing your experience I am. Thank you for sharing and if you find these guys before the cops do lets all get together and go vigilante on them. Can you imagine the headlines? LST…fill in the blank.
Boy Matt, while that’s not the ritziest part of Memorial Drive, it’s not exactly the ghetto either. I know that area fairly well, and it just goes to show you how bad crime is getting. It’ll be interesting to know if there are many Katrina evacuees living in nearby apts. Glad you’re ok. Carrying makes sense even if you don’t have the license yet.
Even if Matt had a gun it wouldnt have helped unless he is a fast draw expert and had the gun in a holster. The gun would be in his car or briefcase most likely. This punk walked up and did his thing. Matt would not have had time to say “hey punk,you just wait right there till I get my gun out and shoot your ass”.
Guns work if you have the time.But, if Matt did shoot the guy, an ACLU lawyer would have claimed the penalty for stealing a cell phone is not the death penalty and Matt would spend his life savings on legal fees. If Matt only had the magic powers of this woman. He would have gotten the punk with a twitch of his nose.
http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_tv/bewitched_047.jpeg
WOW Matt!! So sorry about this. I am from Houston and have always said there is no better place to live and I would not move. Now, though, crime has gotten so bad I will probably relocate ASAP. I live in a pretty good area, FM 1960 (north) but I can see things changing fast. Why can’t people get a job and stop feeling sorry for themselves. That’s why they rob and steal. Hope you get better soon. Start packing is my suggestion.
That bites Matt…hope they nail the buggers!
I think that open carry is a better policy. Arizona does that….wear their six guns on their hips. Seems to me that is a bigger deterrent than concealed carry?
Does anyone have the numbers on the crime rate in Arizona before and after they passed their carry law?
An armed society is a polite society!
Beach_Bum
#43
Its about being in fear for your life…then you can take a life. Screw the ACLU! Upon any attack today you better be in fear for your life! Punks will galdly end you life for having the wrong look on your face.
Beach gets it!
AZ’s open cary is the way to go!
Matt, I am very sorry you had to endure this. I hope the police find those cretins quickly.
In just the last month, there have been one double murder and an attempted breakin resulting in the perp being shot to death by the homeowner, plus half of one builder’s 16 new townhomes and patio homes being built torched by an arsonist within a couple of minutes of my new house. Eventually, the city will get a grip on the spiraling crime rate, but not before it gets much worse. Outatown Brown’s legacy is haunting us bigtime. It will take some time to replenish our police ranks.
If Matt was packing in this instance it could have worked against him. 3 against one, and more or less a surprise attack.
As hard as it is to do, it’s better to give them what they want than risk your life. Even the little punks.
Matt,were these the punks?
http://bextruthfinder.blogs.com/mental_equilibrium/images/ugly.jpg
Holy Crap gregg that was a pic of my brothers!!!!!
Matt, I am sorry that this happened to you. The suggestion of getting a gun may not be a solution, though.
I had my own encounter with crime at 7:15am on the west side of Houston, going from my car to the front door of my place of employment. My perp had a gun. I cannot say enough about the police responding. They were professional, caring, and efficient. In seconds, they were able to identify the car as stolen (they woke up the surprised owner who as yet had no idea his car was even gone) and that the license plate had been stolen from yet another car. In minutes, they had an idea of who the perp was.
Our police are overworked, underpaid and underappreciated for the amazing job that they do every day.
The hell with a gun. Im going to get me one of these to take around town. Wonder if I need a carry permit?
http://michaeljpolignano.com/strongwoman.jpg
And you’d be at her/he/it’s beck and call…. right?
For those of you who haven’t ever experienced a robbery it is something you will never forget. In 95 I was robbed on North Shepherd, throat slit (they did a lousy job) , jaw broken and this was all in front of the North Shepherd substation. I will never return to that area. Congratulations Matt on coming out of it okay
There is a bumper sticker I like “Driver only carries $20 worth of ammunition”
Most Houston-area appraisers I have known always have a “Second Amendment” tool on their person, or handy while in the field, and I will overtly prepare to use it when anyone approaches unexpectantly, especially after dark.
A gun is useless at home, unloaded, and locked just to keep the PC crowd happy.
Owen has the right idea. Go get a 7-shot police riot gun. After a little practice, you can decide if you are more comfortable using slugs or buckshot.
These predators will typically use a car to try and block you, and several will be involved in the surprise attack.
As for those stalking women, one will hide under the car, and slash the woman’s achellies tendon so she is stunned and can not escape, and then throw her in her own car to rape, rob, and murder.
Had you been prepared, you would have not had to waste a day limiting your losses and damage to your credit, and, you likely could have saved the taxpayers oddles of money pursuing and prosecuting these banditos had you made them assume room temperature.
Matt, glad you are OK. My guess is that the thugs are probably known in the area and will be caught if you have most any description at all. It does show that even if you had a permit you have to watch your back constantly. I have heard stories of the sam thing happening in grocery store parking lots. Putting the groceries in the trunk and then THUNK. May they rot in HELL.
#53
i think I just threw up a little in my mouth
I hate it when one of our own becomes a stat.
It took the same type of incident (although I didn’t take one as bad as you) for me to get my CHL. One in the chamber / safety on.
Matt, I am very glad you are okay. We can replace things, but we cannot replace you.
I hesitated to write this because I don’t want any of you to get any ideas of being a hero. Here it is:
I have a friend who retired from HPD after 36 years. He was a detective with Special Thefts when he retired.
He stopped by Chili’s on 290 near Mangum. He parked his car facing the freeway and away from the restaurant. When he got out of his car, he was confronted by a guy in a car who had pulled up and blocked him. The guy was heading west. He pulled a gun with his right hand and aimed the gun across his chest. After asking my friend for his wallet, my friend refused. The guy still asked, “give me your wallet.” At that point, my friend ask him if that was a real gun. The perp looked down on the gun in surprise and my friend was able to duck around the perp’s car and escape. He wouldn’t have been able to do this if the guy wasn’t pointing the gun with his right hand over his chest. He could not have hit my friend because he was in an awkward position. My friend ducked around the guy’s rear end and escaped going car to car until he got into the restaurant when he called police. The perp had fled. Because my friend was a detective with 36 years on the force, he was able to pick this guy out and they guy is now in prison. (p.s. he was an illegal alien).
beach_bum,
actually it was Samuel Clements that said “an armed society is a polite society”. . . .aka Mark Twian. . .
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~jpetrie/Heinlein.html
#62 - Interesting, Wil! Whose right, you or Mountainman…
Anyone who has read Mark Twain knows that he was not given to such crassness. Twain was far more clever and acerbic. One of my favorites: “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. “
#64 - Great quote!
If I say it more than twice its mine….LOL
Beach_Bum
Not only is Houston becoming a crime laden city, it has trash everywhere. Drive along I-10 from Katy to downtown, nothing but trash from feeder to shining feeder. Pick an exit, any exit and drive down it. You will see trash everywhere.
Mayor White is quickly morphing into Mayor Lee. P. Brown and Houston is following in NYC’s crime footsteps, before Rudy Guillani became mayor.
At least Mayor White got Houston traffic moving again. If he does everything else as well, we are in great shape.(Sarcasm intended)
Just another example of the clinically infectious disease, Worthless Politician Syndrome. It spreads outward from Washington DC and effects the entire country. Bird flu is nothing compared to this.
The only problem is, it is the voters\citizens who are becoming deathly ill from this disease.
Main symptom, is uncontrollable nausea and anger whenever a politician speaks.
Well said, Phil. That reminds me of this.
#11. LMAO! Now its illegals!!! haha
You contradict yourself! You say you dont want police tied up arresting people who are minding their own business! So why do you want them going after illegals when they should be focusing on REAL crime?
lol
#69
Are you in favor of the illegal invasion?
#69
Illegals arent minding their own business.
If they were they’d be in their own country!
Build the wall and they wont come!
Sneaking into a sovereign nation IS real crime. Let’s say a guy breaks into your house. Do you start reacting (firing, calling 911, screaming bloody murder) as soon as you see him, or do you wait until he rapes your wife and grabs your TV?
Breaking in is certainly a real crime, whether its breaking into a house or a nation.
Matt,
We are releived to hear that you are OK.
Sorry for entering late in the discussion, but what did you learn from this unfortunate experience?
If this were ever to happen again, what will you have in your hand or pocket; in addition to the cell phone?
There are hand guns that are smaller than your hand.
rj
Guys, we have commented a blue streak on illegal immigration in response to Tejano. He neither reads the links, nor does he accept the facts that we give him. It is not useful to argue with him, IMHO.
Good analogy, Matt. Tejano will still not understand nor will he honestly converse with us (we?) conservatives on this matter. BTW, illegal immigration is the only thing Tejano comments about.
Sorry I’m running a little late with two topics that concern me.
Matt, sorry about your misfortune. I think I saw these ‘dudes’ on Memorial. If fact they run in packs, I see them daily. If you ‘pack’, be prepared to use it, don’t just wag it about. These people will take your weapon to use on you.
On illegals, build that fence, I will go…to help construct.
Between New Orleans and illegals, its dang scary for the rest of us.
Now, worse, my apartment manager will do nothing about this situation, involving NO and illegals. I KNOW THEY RUN SCARED, lock themselves in the general office and rest of us are on our own. Security, I have yet to see (they say we have one on call 24/7.
Therefore the reason for the 357 WITH license. Take the course people, learn to shoot and buy the gun.
Again, be prepared to use it.
Matt, Sorry to hear this :(. I am glad you are alright though, next time just had them the phone it can be replaced but you can’t!
Let’s turn this table around!
It’s rare they catch these guys but if they do. . . file a lawsuit against them, for your medical bills and hardship
#71.
LOL, sure build the wall! Waste billions of dollars, they will still come!
#72. Big difference buddy! They are stealing nothing from you! BTW I guess you all know how the natives must of felt when your ancestors came over!
#74. Same to you! You fail to view the facts that I post up! Common sense explains my point, but after I post then nobody comes back for more! LOL I guess they see the truth but they have to remain silent knowing they have no argument! Actions speak louder than words or links! lol
79- Whatever.
#80. Ah, what a typical answer! lol
Please keep it up!
Why don’t we use illegal immigrant labor to build the wall to keep them out?
#78: Read it again. Even if someone breaks into my house and asks if they can wash my dishes for $2/hour, that’s a crime. And that’s effectively the same crime as illegal immigration.
Just read about your ordeal. I agree totally with Daniel James. I am a strong supporter of the Constitution. The one that simply enumerated the Rights given to us by our Creator (and I am NOT talking about Civil Rights, which are nothing more than privileges granted to 14th Amend. Citizens by the State). I am talking about the Second Amend. and the Ninth Amend. (In case someone doesn’t comprehend the Second).
I understand why folks get the CHL ( so as not to be bothered by the State baby sitters who think we aren’t smart enough to protect ourselves) however, your situation is a prime example as to why the CHL is a detriment.
1) We have the God-given Right to self-protection and the “authorities” can’t be every where at once. And they’ll be the first to tell you, they are not here to protect you the individual. They purpose is to enforce codes and slip-laws. To collect revenue for the municipality.
2) Once you have voluntarily traded your Right for a license (License: A privilege, permission to do what would otherwise be illegal to do without the permit/license…hmmm consider a marriage license..but I digress), you have forfeited your Right and are now bound by the State’s consideration as to whether you continue to carry that “weapon” (a firearm is not a weapon..this is where they trick you).
Oh well…..we march on and Hitler is spinning because he was born too early. He’d have a heyday now. He Ol’Bushy-boy could have a private party with the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act as the “Guest of Honor”.
Glad you are OK.
Sherry
#82 & #83
You are both way off! Here is an easy solution, why not have INS do their freaking jobs? They know where everyone is at, why not pick them up? It is their job!!!
#85,
So if we had enough INS agents to run around and pick up every illegal immigrant in this country, I wonder how much that would cost. Or do you think that there are enough agents to accomplish that task already and they’re just sitting on their thumbs? I imagine there are many INS agents who could take you to task on that one.
An alternate explanation could be that you don’t generally support your opinions with facts or figures and people don’t generally find those types of arguments productive.
#86. You are very incorrect! There are plenty of agents, and we aren’t talking about rounding everyone up at one time, it would be done over time! They did it in the 70’s why not now? lol cant you see the Politicians want them here, no matter how much you cry they are going to do nothing about it! In the 70’s they were rounded up, arrested, hair shaved off (to identify those who had already been arrested) and shipped off to their country! They paid for the bus ticket too!
But that is not going to happen these days! But yes we do have enough INS, we could always use more! But there is no scarce of them either, same as police, you can never have too many but we have enough.
LMAO I dont need website with superficial tables stating a viewpoint that someone wants you to believe. Again common sense would suggest otherwise!
Tejano said:
Murders are up 23%. Does that sound like “enough” cops for ya?
Common sense (to me) would suggest that opinions based in fact are more valuable than off the cuff comments.