Posted on 12/09/2023 4:57:48 AM PST by marktwain
A car owner who came across thieves who were trying to steal his catalytic converter exchanged gunfire with the suspects in a Miami-Dade neighborhood early Wednesday, police said.
The incident unfolded shortly before 5 a.m. at a community in the 8100 block of Northwest 8th Street.
Miami-Dade Police Det. Andre Martin said a resident was in his home when he heard power tools in the parking lot.
The resident saw two people under his vehicle trying to remove the catalytic converter, so he armed himself and confronted the suspects, Martin said.
“When I went out to walk my dog at 4:45, I hear power tools going off and I go 'what the hell is going on?' I lean over my balcony and I see two guys underneath my truck working to cut off the catalytic converter," owner Luis Vega said. “They got out of the car and they had the gall to come walking. They wanted their tools because they knew they had their prints on them and I said 'no, that’s not going to happen.' So I came back up and I took shelter behind the wall. They go along a sidewalk. One of them crouches behind a pickup truck, points a gun and cranks out two rounds but of course I already took cover. What did I do? I returned fire and they ran.”
Martin said there was an exchange of gunfire, and the two suspects fled the scene in a vehicle.
"At this time we do not belive anyone was injured in this incident," Martin said. "But our investigators are working to determine all of the facts in this case."
Doorbell camera video showed two men lurking around and eventually crouching under the car. Another camera showed the men running away followed by what sounds like a gunshot.
“To enter into someone’s residence or apartment complex overnight and to damage their vehicle and steal something that we all work so hard for especially during this holiday season is a very selfish and cowardly crime and it is not something that we as law enforcement will tolerate," Martin said.
The men didn't get away with anything from the victim's car, but detectives are checking if any other cars were hit as another man who lives in the area said someone stole the catalytic converter from his wife's car early Wednesday.
Martin also encouraged residents to not engage with suspects.
"If you witness a crime we encourage you not to engage with the subjects, please call the police and we will be there to assist you in this situation as fast as we can," he said.
“If you witness a crime we encourage you not to engage with the subjects, please call the police and we will be there to assist you in this situation as fast as we can”
When seconds matter, police are just minutes away!
Should read "enterprising enough to steal a sawzall."
LOL! Yup, you can’t steal one without the other.
yep, just today they were defending suspects rights I reminded them the cops do have the right to ask for ID from anyone. during a traffic stop or street sweep.
When seconds count, police will arrive in mere minutes.
Swiping a cat-converter takes a couple of minutes. Swiping an EV battery takes days (complete disassembly of the entire vehicle).
I can’t say I have ever done the job, but I would chose a cut of wheel.
I would think the reciprocating saw would be a problem with the small clearances under cars today.
“If you witness a crime we encourage you not to engage with the subjects, please call the police and we will be there to assist you in this situation as fast as we can,”
😂🤣😂
No
An interesting thought about gun fights and taking cover is that the cover one takes best be bullet proof. Even a 9 mm self defense round will pass through six layers of automotive grade sheet metal. The projectile may be deflected off course a little and lose most of its energy, but nonetheless if it strikes home it could cause serious injury.
The engine block, wheels/axles do offer protections.
Hiding behind a wood and/or sheet rock wall offers zero protection. Brick, cement and other hardened materials offer great protection.
I recommend those of you interested in self defense practice on an old junk car. Have a cardboard human size target crouching behind it, try to guess its location and fire away. See how many of your rounds penetrate the cardboard target. You will get some idea which weapons are most effective. My favorite is a 45.
Sheesh- they were just trying to change the fellas oil for him, and he goes and shoots at them?
“ One of them crouches behind a pickup truck, points a gun and cranks out two rounds but of course I already took cover. What did I do? I returned fire and they ran.”“
These brain dead monsters come to a car parts theft with a gun AND they use it. BAck when there was a death penalty in NYS, holdup men would bring unloaded or otherwise un fireable guns to the job on the off chance that an unintended discharge could have them in the electric chair in three months. SMH.
Fortunately the car owner was armed. That's a statistic the Left doesn't want anyone to see.
I saw a video the other day where a thief drove up and left his car running while he was under a car stealing a catalytic converter.
Someone else saw what was happening and hopped into the thief’s running car and drove off.
I’ve read that some catalytic converter theft teams have taken to posting an armed accomplice nearby, in the shadows. He’s there to deal with the car’s owner, should he show up.
So while you might have the impulse to grab a gun and confront the thieves, it’s best to at least call the cops first. And don’t go rushing out in the open.
> Just a day or two ago, I received an email attempting to persuade me to pay a past due bill to Norton. <
That’s a common scam. A twist on it is when the scammer wants to give you a refund on an unauthorized purchase. It could be of a Norton Security package, an Amazon product, etc.
You say yes, you want the refund. They overpay you - say the refund is $500. They “accidentally” send you $5000. Then they demand that you “refund” $4500 to them in the form of gift cards.
The scam is accomplished by first allowing them to connect to your computer using software like AnyDesk. The scammer then downloads fake forms on your computer to make it look like you really did receive $5000.
It sounds crazy, but people fall for it.
If all criminals were killed before they could complete their crimes, there would be no crime.
The Chandler, Arizona police won’t even respond to a complaint unless the caller publicly identifies himself.
I’ve read that some catalytic converter theft teams have taken to posting an armed accomplice nearby, in the shadows. He’s there to deal with the car’s owner, should he show up.
I have seen the same stories.
In this state, leaving the safety of your house and confronting the thief will be prosecuted on the grounds that had you not left your safe house, no one would have been injured.
However there has been a recent trend on the part of sheriffs to “fail” to bring charges.
City cops, not so much.
Nevertheless, the laws on the books intend to punish citizens who take risks to protect property.
Know your state law, but even more important, take note of how your local prosecutors read and enforce the law.
Remember, we have courts because two lawyers can read the same document and arrive at totally different conclusions...and that is why judges and juries exist.
This is a massive problem where I live in So Cal - two of my neighbors have had their catalytic converters stolen. They also steal the tailgates off of trucks - my husband - and across the street neighbor - had the tailgate stolen off of his Frontier - police would barely take a report, said it was SO common.
I believe these thieves should be shot on sight.
Oh, Puleeze! By the time the police arrive (if they even do for a non-violent crime,) your catalytic converter
is extracted, the damage to your vehicle is massive, and the perps are long gone.
..and once the police arrive, they will say that there is nothing to be done.
The fault is not necessarily that of the cops but that of the Soros DAs.
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