A good reality check...

[woody]

Originally Posted by Fresno First

Maple & Behymer

Thanks. Don't get out there very often.

[brightside]

Originally Posted by Fresno First

So tonight I made a run to the neighborhood store to get some smokes and had an uncomfortable situation.

99% of criminals smoke and frequent neighborhood stores, so to avoid this situation in the future, consider buying cigs by the carton at WalMart, or quitting smoking all together. Only kidding. Great situational awareness on your part.

[Old Timer]

After returning to southern California after 20 years in the mid-west (metro Chicago area) it was disconcerting to have somebody speak to me on the street. In California it is just people being friendly. In Chicago, if somebody speaks to you on the street he is either going to mug you or arrest you!

[rudigan]

Originally Posted by Fresno First

So tonight I made a run to the neighborhood store to get some smokes and had an uncomfortable situation.

Here's the low down...I live in the 'preferred' area of town with low crime and rarely any violent incidents. The neighborhood Shell station is less than 5 minutes from my house and I usually make an early evening (7p-8p) 'smokes run'.

I like to think of myself as a person that is aware of their surroundings and tonight was no different. When pulling into the parking lot I noticed a guy standing about 30 yards from the entrance of the Shell but gave him no thought. He looked to be no more than 27 years old and it's a common place for teens and twenty something's to loiter in the area. I am an avid listener of talk radio and sometimes get caught up in the topic even after a few minutes of listening. The subject tonigh caught my ear and wanted to hear the final comments before the commercial break when I pulled into the parking lot. So I parked and listened to the remaining segment of the radio program (3-4 minutes) then shut off my car. When I opened my door I noticed he was about 10 yards closer to the entrance from when I first saw him but he still didn't raise a flag. As soon as I got out of my car he yelled at my "hey man, do you burn?", I replied with a quick "no" (flag went up).

So I continued into the store to get my smokes and noticed he walked in front of the door a couple of times then came in. When I asked the cashier for the cigarettes he got in line behind me but it was a little too close for comfort (about 18" away). I immediately went in to level yellow, changed my stance and my hand went directly by my pocket. I had at least 40 lbs. on him but his actions didn't make me comfortable. When the the cashier placed the cigarettes on the counter the guy said "that's a good choice", I acknowledged his comment with a nod, paid and left.

Although nothing happened and probably would not have, this experience reminded me not to be complaisant even in your own neighborhood.

Just wanted to pass this on for what its worth.

Used to live there. That station and the surrounding area is usually no worries, pretty nice area, just some young kids hanging out there, skateboarding, pizza, etc. But there have been on occasion multiple break-ins (lots of victims in one night), stolen property, grilles and other parts taken off cars in their driveway, etc. This was north of Behymer and on both sides of Maple. Almost nowhere to totally avoid crime anymore. Glad it didn’t turn into anything serious.

[Slabsides]

Good heads up Fresno First.

[cyberhh]

Originally Posted by RECON

Reminds me of a time I used to live up in the hills, lots of nice older folks and the tweeker bunch. My wife and I were kinda out of place, late 20's early 30's and no dope growing in our yard, or meth lab, or on SSI. One night I drove to the local 500 sq. ft. market to get some beer. It was dark, and not very well lit. I come out of the store jump in my truck and start to put the key in the ignition when I notice someone sitting in the passengers seat. I don't know why it didn't freak me out to much. I looked and him (all I could see was a silhouette) and said "what the F**k are you doing". He says "ah your not the guy I came here with", I say "no sh*t" he promptly left the truck. At the time it didn't bother me at all, just some drunk tweeker dude. I think nowadays it would have a different effect on me. Would scare the hell out of me. (I think having kids doe's that).

Which hills did you live in, cause it reminds me of the hills where I used to live as well.

[RECON]

Originally Posted by cyberhh

Which hills did you live in, cause it reminds me of the hills where I used to live as well.

Up in Yankee Hill, Concow area.