Random safety tip I just thought of

[atxgun]

I was thinking of scenarios where you might get robbed and they ask for you wallet, or maybe your carjacked and the seemingly clever criminal demands your cellphone, as most everyone has them nowadays, so you can't quickly call the cops.

I for one have several old, dead models lying around and figured I would start carrying one around in my jacket pocket if such a scenario arose so I would still have my technological life line to send people after that jerk asap.

Of course this is a gun forum but not every real life scenario will allow you to use that tool at your belt. If you are caught off guard and have an assailant holding a gun to your temple it's unlikely you'll be able to outdraw them.

I'm just trying to account for every possibility and thought of this, hope it helps someone out. If this seems trite to you then perhaps a significant other that is unwilling to carry might use the suggestion.

[KaiserB]

I was thinking of scenarios where you might get robbed and they ask for you wallet, or maybe your carjacked and the seemingly clever criminal demands your cellphone, as most everyone has them nowadays, so you can't quickly call the cops.

I for one have several old, dead models lying around and figured I would start carrying one around in my jacket pocket if such a scenario arose so I would still have my technological life line to send people after that jerk asap.

Of course this is a gun forum but not every real life scenario will allow you to use that tool at your belt. If you are caught off guard and have an assailant holding a gun to your temple it's unlikely you'll be able to outdraw them.

I'm just trying to account for every possibility and thought of this, hope it helps someone out. If this seems trite to you then perhaps a significant other that is unwilling to carry might use the suggestion.

Some phones can be programed that when you hold the "9" down it dials 911. I could see holding down "9" for 3 seconds while handing the phone to the crook. 911 would receive a triangulated cell location with a 911 hangup. This would attract attention to the area and help would at least be on the way... albeit minutes away rather than seconds.

[atxgun]

Some phones can be programed that when you hold the "9" down it dials 911. I could see holding down "9" for 3 seconds while handing the phone to the crook. 911 would receive a triangulated cell location with a 911 hangup. This would attract attention to the area and help would at least be on the way... albeit minutes away rather than seconds.

Interesting, I didn't know that.

Another advantage to actually keeping your phone might be that if your wallet got jacked could be that you would be able to call the CC companies with the phone #s you had previously stored for such an event and alert them of the theft after talking to the police. I think you have like 3 days to report before you liable for charges. But a quick response on that front might give the authorities a heads up on the perps direction.

Maybe it's just me but I place a very high value on certain electronics. Not because they're cool gadgets but because they have information stored that could not be repurchased. I would much prefer someone to steal my tv, stereo, dvds, couch and bed than my laptop alone. Yes, I do have backups for most but there's always some lag time in between backups. Theft aside hardware failure is much more likely anyway.

Likewise my phone is my roledex :)

[nitrogen]

911 would receive a triangulated cell location with a 911 hangup.

Also, realize you might not need to have cell service for this to work. Most carriers will route 911 calls even if you don't have active service.

Some cellphones are better than others for this. Sprint is one of the best, because thety combine radiolocation e-911 with GPS, so you get the best of both worlds.

[atxgun]

Actually I don't know why I didn't extrapolate this thought further to having a decoy wallet as well. Heck, maybe I'll even have an exploding dye pack in there that's activated by my real cell phone... or is that too James Bond-ish?

[Excaliber]

Actually I don't know why I didn't extrapolate this thought further to having a decoy wallet as well. Heck, maybe I'll even have an exploding dye pack in there that's activated by my real cell phone... or is that too James Bond-ish?

Yes.

[stevie_d_64]

These are really neat ideas...Up and to the point where you may get shot (if that happens to be the weapon of choice the criminal is using at the time)...

Remember...Decoy works best in these cases when you use your "weak" non-shooting and draw hand to provide said "decoy" wallet or cellphone...And the other is used to do the "other" thing...

Timing being the most critical aspect of this situation...

All of this is dependent upon the skill, condfidence and training/practice of the individual...

If you are contemplating this, this may be as a result of a previous experience where you lived to think about "what would you do if it ever happened again to me" senario...Or it happened to someone you know close to you, and you begin to plan for this to happen to you...

I would probably just keep my head on a swivle, be ultra aware of what is going on around me at times where I believe I would be most vunerable, and do my best to not be in places or situations where the odds are better than usual for an opportunity for this to happen...

All of that with the understanding that there are fewer and fewer places where Joe Q. Public is not vunerable these days...

Just my two cents...

[Purplehood]

The problem that I see possibly arising is that in the heat of the moment (stress, panic, whatever you want to call it), it may not occur to you to pull the dummy cellphone or wallet.

[Keith B]

The problem that I see possibly arising is that in the heat of the moment (stress, panic, whatever you want to call it), it may not occur to you to pull the dummy cellphone or wallet.

In my case it would be "You forgot to pull the wallet or cell phone DUMMY!"

I have thought about this type of distraction, but would prefer to distract them with the real item and go for my weapon. Kinda like the Boston Legal mugging with Denny Crain, except I aim center mass.

[Skiprr]

Just a FWIW on the data protection front: my BlackBerry defaults to a password-required status after 10 minutes of non-use. Ten incorrect password entry attempts, and the data is erased from the device (not disastrous for the real user: it can be easily re-synched later from the original information sources, like Microsoft Exchange). It can immediately call 911 when it's in password-protected mode.

The constant (seemingly) password entry can be annoying, but I like the added data security.

[bridge]

Our master and supreme commander, Bill Gates, realized that stolen windows based PDA's would be an issue. He, in his infinite wisdom, provided the capability to do a "remote wipe" of these devices in the case of loss or misappropriation. If you device is setup on an exchange server with the necessary settings your admin can kill it remotely.

So, that takes care of the electronics...it does not address the new pair of shorts I'll need if someone puts a gun to my head in order to steal my phone or wallet (and I can't get to my piece).

[ErnieP]

If you are right handed, and use a decoy you can produce with your left hand, assuming the BG is facing you, and at the same time use your eyes to look to your left (beyond) the BG as you are producing the decoy. This eye movement will cause many BGs to look to their right, away from you, to see "what you saw", thus giving you at least another second to present. It may also cause the BG to move his weapon to a position that is not pointing to you, of if close enough, allow your left hand/arm, to knock the BG's weapon arm off you as you engage. Best to take advantage of everything you can.

[NcongruNt]

Since we're talking scenarios here...

I seem to recall testimony here from a CHL instructor, who had a student involved in a self-defense shooting. From what I remember, he was in his vehicle and was blocked in/approached by several BGs. The leader pulled a gun from outside the driver's window and told him that he was stealing his vehicle. The good guy threw his keys on the ground in front of the BG, distracting him long enough to draw and fire, taking out the armed BG. His buddies left in a hurry.

This can certainly be applied to a robbery scenario, by "accidentally" dropping the phone or wallet (under guise of nervousness). Such a distraction could give you enough a time edge to draw and fire.

Decoy wallets have been discussed here before. While I think it's a good idea, I do not have the free pocket space for such things. I do keep any cash I carry in a separate location from my wallet, having learned my lesson long ago from lost/stolen wallets. A separate DL/CHL holder is also a good idea. Credit cards are easily enough canceled and replaced, but going without a CHL or DL is much more of a pain.