Sign Threatens Potential Car Thieves
Posted on 06/25/2002 11:14:13 AM PDT by mhking
Sign Threatens Potential Car Thieves
Homeowner Within Legal Rights
Posted:4:23 p.m. CDT June 24, 2002
Updated: 4:38 p.m. CDT June 24, 2002
BAYTOWN, Texas -- A Baytown, Texas, man wants thieves to leave his property alone, so he's hoping a threatening sign will get his point across.
The plywood sign says, "To the thugs that keep stealing my property: Warning, if caught you will be shot." It sits in Mark Totten's front yard on Danubina Street.
Totten said vehicles on his property have been broken into five times in the past six months. His wife's car was hit twice -- in February and March. A friend's car was broken into in November.
Totten had enough. He said the thieves stole CDs, mobile phones, bicycles and jewelry.
"I'm tired of people taken my stuff that I work for," Totten said. "I'm just letting them know that playtime is over. I don't want to have to take someone's life but I will. Hopefully, they'll know that I'm not playing."
Totten said he's worried that if the thefts continue his family will get hurt.
"If they're in my yard now, it won't be long, they'll be in my home," Totten said.
The Baytown Police Department said it's concerned over Totten's action, but the sign is legal.
"According to the penal code, he is within his rights," said Lt. David Alford with the Baytown Police Department.
According to Texas state law, a person can use force to protect his property if he believes its necessary to prevent theft at nighttime, to stop a nighttime thief from escaping with property or if the person believes that without the use of deadly force, he could get hurt or killed.
"We would like to try and find a better way to help him both recover his property and also maintain the property that he's worked so hard for," Alford said.
Police said they are increasing patrols in the area to try and reduce crime, but Totten said he's so tired of being targeted that he's planning to move.
I wish we could take the steps outlined in the article, but here in CA about all you can do is throw tofu at the perp.
|
||||||||||||||||||
He doesn't think these animals think that way?
If he plans to escalate the violence, he had better be prepared to go all the way.
God bless Texas.
/john
What is his other option besides submitting to the criminals?
/john
Almost all criminals are cowards who prey on the weak. They'll go find an easier target.
I am willing to bet they aren't bulletproof either.
I don't disagree with the path he has chosen. I'd do the same thing, but I'm not sure I'd give them warning with a sign.
That way, when one of 'em up and dies, everybody will know who did it. I'm a little stealthier than that.
I'm just hoping he is prepared for the inevitable response.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
95%