Car jacking in Maine (Portland, South Portland: violent crime, hotels, live in)

[Petertherock]

I am sure anyone who lives here in Maine heard about the attempted car jacking on 95 in Gardner. So much for no crime in Maine. Yet another reason why you should keep your doors and windows locked. In fact my boss said it's about time for all of us to carry concealed weapons (with a permit of course) because even though Maine may not be a Boston or Orlando it certainly is getting worse.

Just last night there was 6 South Portland cruisers and 3 Scarborough cruisers at one of the local hotels by the mall looking for 3 men possibly armed with guns who assaulted someone in one of the rooms and did a lot of damage in the hotel. They ended up catching these crooks Moderator cut: use of a name implying a religious link to this event is not acceptable so at least they will be off the streets for a few hours. But this certainly isn't the same crime free Maine that I hear about on these forums.

[Kalela]

I watch the news regularly both on NBC and CBS and I did not see them cover this country? Any sources? I mean links to news sites like the Herald?

[Petertherock]

Well, it was all over the news yesterday. Here is the link to WCSH6 web site story...

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=76506 (broken link)

[Bydand]

Never heard a peep of it up here. Sounds like a rather botched job, glad the guy is OK. It CAN happen, just not likely to, that is why it makes the news.

[Abbymoulton]

I haven't said much lately, BUT...this one I just couldn't stop myself. You heard of this "all through the state"? Crime in Maine is far from a big problem.
I logged on the the Florida site this AM and the First three threads are
"WOMAN, 8 yr. old girl found dead outside mall."
"Man sets 2 women on fire during robbery"
"crime/gehtos in Tampa"

I live in Naples, Fl. (for 5 months and 10 days more) and our news reports murders, robberies, car jackings, kidnappings and bodies found news reports EVERYDAY and no one is ever surprised or shocked about this.
MAINE. HERE I COME!!!!!!!!

Count your blessings and REMEMBER...... "There is only one reason the grass is green here..........more S__T.

[7th generation]

I believe was a crime of opportunity.
In the latest Downeast,under north by east,the FBI has released it's Uniform Crime Statistics report and Maine recorded the top spot with only 115.5 violent crimes per 100,000. Compare that with North Carolina,which came in dead last with 765.5 crimes per 100,000.
The victim stopped on the interstate and allowed a stranger to approach his car. Concealed weapon permit or not,dude would have been laying beside the road and wishing he had never tried to rob me.

[deerislesmile]

Am I the only one thinking that if 3 armed men come and try to rob someone staying at a motel... that the person staying in the room was perhaps dealing drugs? Though I don't doubt that they could be just attackiing a random stranger in hopes of some big score of cash or valuables... my first thought would be that they knew who they were visiting and what they could get by robbing them, or that when push comes to sell they didn't agree on the price or quality. Happens every day in Portland- people come up from Mass (usually) and sell heroin or Oxy-Contins out of a motel room for a day.

[flycessna]

When I was Police Officer there were many incidents that didn't make the news. People were always asking me..........."What was going on at such and such place the other night, I saw 4 cruisers and a ambulance"? Well the reality is 99% of the time things take place with out anyone ever knowing. Its very possible what Petertherock is saying is true. Things like that (hotel incidents) happen all the time...not really that big of a deal.

[Zymer]

I don't think that anyone has said that there is NO crime in Maine...just less crime...a lot less, comparitively speaking, than a bunch of other places.

I believe that it has *always* been time for all good citizens to be armed, both for defense against common criminals and over-zealous government. A population who gives up their arms, whether by choice or by force, is defenseless and forced to depend on the good will of armed criminals and governments. History and experience show us that such dependence has never been particularly wise.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Zymer

I believe that it has *always* been time for all good citizens to be armed, both for defense against common criminals and over-zealous government. A population who gives up their arms, whether by choice or by force, is defenseless and forced to depend on the good will of armed criminals and governments. History and experience show us that such dependence has never been particularly wise.

OK you can stop now. BOTH logic and the Constitution in one post. You are making the rest of us look bad. Good post, I would give you rep for it, but I have to spread the love first it says.