Random intimidation/ hispanic gang ? (Tucson, Oro Valley: apartment complex, high crime, house) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

tigniggy · 01-26-2013, 02:34 AM

I was driving the other day near Wilmot/Grant and a white beat up truck started to tail me. I pull into my apartment complex, through my rear view window I see two mexican men inside ~30 yrs old and one clinches his fist and points it at my car. I park, get out of the car, and notice that they parked about 200 feet away, staring at me. One of them gets on his phone. I call 911, and after talking to the operator they drive off. I didn't cut them off or provoke this behavior...I've never seen them before in my life. What are they doing ? Was I just targeted for something ? I'm scared because they know where I live.

colcat · 01-26-2013, 04:35 AM

Have a licence to carry a gun? If not, you should get one. It really decreases your chance of being a victim.

CheyDee · 01-26-2013, 07:03 AM

I'm sorry this happened. I wouldn't be happy if it happened to me.

I have to wonder though... If you thought you were being followed, why would you lead them back to your house and why would you get out of your car?

observer53 · 01-26-2013, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheyDee

I'm sorry this happened. I wouldn't be happy if it happened to me.

I have to wonder though... If you thought you were being followed, why would you lead them back to your house and why would you get out of your car?

Right. That's exactly what police advise you not to do. Drive to a poiice station, or some other VERY public place, and then call for assistance, or then get out and go where there are lots of people.

tom4416 · 01-26-2013, 07:33 AM

I'm not a huge fan of people carrying weapons as I've seen up close and personal how ineffective 90% of the population is with a firearm during times of high stress. Plinking targets on the range is a whole lot different than pulling your weapon on a fellow human. Even cops who train constantly often can't hit a suspect that is less than twenty feet in front of them because of the adrenalin rush. Much better, IMHO, is heightened situational awareness and knowing the proper response (like getting tag numbers and driving to police stations instead of home).

If you want to carry, then take some intensive training and practice, practice, practice. Not remembering how to release a safety during a conflict insures the weapon is worthless and has now made you fair game to the criminal who probably did remember to release the safety. Until every aspect of handling a weapon becomes second nature, requiring no thought, it's essentially more of a liability than an asset. Just because a state has very liberal carry laws doesn't mean the average citizens should be walking around armed. I fire 5000 rounds a year through my primary weapon and thousands more through various sportsman guns I own. I can field strip and clean my pistol in the dark and still doubt my ability to react rationally in a true life or death situation (which is exactly what you create the instant you draw your weapon).

borregokid · 01-26-2013, 08:35 AM

Seems pretty strange unless it was at night and they mistook you for someone else. Wilmot and Grant seems like its a pretty good part of town. Anything can happen late at night and race doesnt matter. There are night people and there are day people. If you go to bed early you probably dont realize Tucson in some neighborhoods has a completely different life.

tumamoc · 01-26-2013, 10:24 AM

Perhaps you were about to be robbed or carjacked. I doubt they will come back, as the opportunity has passed.

tigniggy · 01-26-2013, 10:49 AM

It happened in broad daylight. I thought they were just tailing me and didn't realize they were pointing/targeting me until I was puling into my apartment while I glanced in my rear view mirror. I got out of the car because I had a handsaw in the trunk which I couldn't get to if I was inside the car.

Anyway, I do have a gun and plan to install an alarm in my apartment.

The increasingly bad news is that I think they live in the same apartment complex so I can be a target anytime. I hate Tucson.

Bummer · 01-26-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigniggy

It happened in broad daylight. I thought they were just tailing me and didn't realize they were pointing/targeting me until I was puling into my apartment while I glanced in my rear view mirror. I got out of the car because I had a handsaw in the trunk which I couldn't get to if I was inside the car.

Anyway, I do have a gun and plan to install an alarm in my apartment.

The increasingly bad news is that I think they live in the same apartment complex so I can be a target anytime. I hate Tucson.

Interesting, Tigniggy . . . "I hate Tucson"

By any chance are you of the opinion and/or implying this type of behavior is a Tucson thing or exclusive only to Tucson?

If so, I'd hate to rain on your parade but . . .

tigniggy · 01-26-2013, 11:58 AM

Bummer: I'm not implying anything. Just stating a fact. I've been here 4 years and compared to where I've lived before, this behavior much more common in Tucson and it's spread out all over the city (less so far north in Oro Valley etc), and not just concentrated to a few high crime areas. Maybe its time to move to Oro Valley ?