Just a heads up, and a reminder for some who may need it.... sorry for the long post
Friday evening I was supposed to meet an individual to purchase a Sig handgun. I had been communicating with him via Email for a few days. Something seemed a little off on the guy, his emails were really vague and he wrote like a 1o year old (not judging, just an observation, people who are selling 1200 dollar Sig's are usually better communicators) and the email was clearly a secondary, the name that came up was a females name. I observed this, but I figured "meh, people like their privacy". Red flag number one.
He emails me yesterday afternoon and he said that he could meet me, but it had to be soon behind the Fred Myer in Hillsboro. He was really specific about behind the Fred Myer... red flag number 2. I didn't reply to the email straight away as I was busy with errands. By the time I replied it was 6pm. I told him I would meet him by the garden entrance at 700pm. I was already meeting a member from here at 5, somewhere else. He said ok and he would see me there, he would be in a white Honda civic 4 door. And he asked if I would be bringing anyone. Red flag number 3. I told him no, should I? Are you? and he replied "no, lol jus checkin man, see u at 7 by the garden part" (SIC).
So by this time I had already decided to tread lightly as my spidey senses were going all crazy. I finished up at my first meet up and headed over to Fred Myers. It was 5 pm ish. I pulled up and parked to the left away from the garden lot , where I could observe it amongst the other parked cars with relative anonymity, I had never told him what I was driving. I learned a lot in the Marine Corps about surveillance and counter surveillance and thought I would dust some of my teachings off.
At a little after 6 I see a white civic pull up, its riced out, whale tale, loud muffler, tint the whole "hey im fast and furious" look. occupied by 4 teenage boys. I thought, nah, no way....this cant be them. They park after the driver takes special care to park his car facing front out towards the exit. each time a "better spot" comes open he moves his car closer to the exit. Weird, I thought, that's what Id do too if I was anticipating the need for a hasty tactical egress...
around 630 the three passengers exit the vehicle. They are all dressed like thugs. Baggy clothes hats sideways or hoods up. It couldn't have been more stereotypically comical. They don't go into Fred Myers mind you, they take up positions randomly throughout the parking lot, each having line of sight on the driver and his car. then one proceeds to "hide" by crouching down behind a car, one walked around the building corner and the other was standing on the sidewalk by the road. smoking. wow. ok. the guy who said he was coming alone has 3 point over watch....
I watched for a while, and could see them watching their friend, trying really hard to look nondescript. I was laughing a little bit when the guy emailed me and said "hey Im here" I replied "ok man, im on my way" as soon as I sent that, he flicks his lights 3 or 4 times and his buddies nod and the one crouching behind another car pops his head up , gets a thumbs up from the guy on the sidewalk and go's back down like a gopher.
Needless to say, I didn't meet the guy, I emailed him and told him something came up and I couldn't meet him this evening. Even though I typically carry on Armslist meets, and was last night, It was hardly worth the risk / reward numbers in my head.
Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. I wonder what would have happened if I had rolled in there without paying attention to my gut feelings. any way, a cautionary tale and what not. stay safe guys, there appear to be evil doers afoot.
Friday evening I was supposed to meet an individual to purchase a Sig handgun. I had been communicating with him via Email for a few days. Something seemed a little off on the guy, his emails were really vague and he wrote like a 1o year old (not judging, just an observation, people who are selling 1200 dollar Sig's are usually better communicators) and the email was clearly a secondary, the name that came up was a females name. I observed this, but I figured "meh, people like their privacy". Red flag number one.
He emails me yesterday afternoon and he said that he could meet me, but it had to be soon behind the Fred Myer in Hillsboro. He was really specific about behind the Fred Myer... red flag number 2. I didn't reply to the email straight away as I was busy with errands. By the time I replied it was 6pm. I told him I would meet him by the garden entrance at 700pm. I was already meeting a member from here at 5, somewhere else. He said ok and he would see me there, he would be in a white Honda civic 4 door. And he asked if I would be bringing anyone. Red flag number 3. I told him no, should I? Are you? and he replied "no, lol jus checkin man, see u at 7 by the garden part" (SIC).
So by this time I had already decided to tread lightly as my spidey senses were going all crazy. I finished up at my first meet up and headed over to Fred Myers. It was 5 pm ish. I pulled up and parked to the left away from the garden lot , where I could observe it amongst the other parked cars with relative anonymity, I had never told him what I was driving. I learned a lot in the Marine Corps about surveillance and counter surveillance and thought I would dust some of my teachings off.
At a little after 6 I see a white civic pull up, its riced out, whale tale, loud muffler, tint the whole "hey im fast and furious" look. occupied by 4 teenage boys. I thought, nah, no way....this cant be them. They park after the driver takes special care to park his car facing front out towards the exit. each time a "better spot" comes open he moves his car closer to the exit. Weird, I thought, that's what Id do too if I was anticipating the need for a hasty tactical egress...
around 630 the three passengers exit the vehicle. They are all dressed like thugs. Baggy clothes hats sideways or hoods up. It couldn't have been more stereotypically comical. They don't go into Fred Myers mind you, they take up positions randomly throughout the parking lot, each having line of sight on the driver and his car. then one proceeds to "hide" by crouching down behind a car, one walked around the building corner and the other was standing on the sidewalk by the road. smoking. wow. ok. the guy who said he was coming alone has 3 point over watch....
I watched for a while, and could see them watching their friend, trying really hard to look nondescript. I was laughing a little bit when the guy emailed me and said "hey Im here" I replied "ok man, im on my way" as soon as I sent that, he flicks his lights 3 or 4 times and his buddies nod and the one crouching behind another car pops his head up , gets a thumbs up from the guy on the sidewalk and go's back down like a gopher.
Needless to say, I didn't meet the guy, I emailed him and told him something came up and I couldn't meet him this evening. Even though I typically carry on Armslist meets, and was last night, It was hardly worth the risk / reward numbers in my head.
Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. I wonder what would have happened if I had rolled in there without paying attention to my gut feelings. any way, a cautionary tale and what not. stay safe guys, there appear to be evil doers afoot.
is good sense.
