I could have prevented a robbery today ...

[Warbie]

... but didn't.

I was on my way to B&Q to get some super glue to fix my Big Daddy that arrived with the drill snapped off. About 300 meters from the shop a guy came jumping out of a bush and charged towards me, massive plastic suitcases in each hand. It looked quite comical - his trousers were half falling down and he kept looking over his shoulder and nearly tripping up. Shortly after, 3 guys wearing B&Q shirts (B&Q is big DIY chain in the UK for you foreign guys) jumped through the hole in the hedge, hot in pursuit. As he got closer I could make out that the suitcases contained drills, which must have been pretty large considering the cases they were in. Anyways, he got closer and closer, gasping for air - he must really have wanted some drills - and ... I stepped to the side and let him go right passed. The guys from B&Q gave me a very dirty look as they ran by.

I always thought in this situation i'd trip the bad guy up - especially after seeing Spiderman - but it didn't even cross my mind. It makes me wonder how i'd act in other situations. There was one thread about how you'd act if an old women collapsed a while back - i'd like to think i'd help, but am not so sure now. It would have been so easy to take him out in an awesome clothesline.

I'd make a poll if I knew how to do it - what do you think you would have done and am I a big pussy?

 

[Beerdude26]

No, it just didn't cross your mind immediately. If the guys shouted: "Stop him! He stole that stuff!", and THEN you went out of his way, then you'd be a pussy

 

[Tyguy]

dude, that would of been hilarious, plus it would of been an AWESOME story for years....way to be a wimp!

Then again, its drills....who cares

 

[knut]

Maybe he wants to build himself a Big Daddy. :O

Mmm. I dunno what I'd of done. A close mate of mine helped in a situation like that, though, when [stereotypically] an old woman got her handbag snatched from her. He chased the person all across town and eventually they dropped a bag, but it turned out the robber had a fake empty bag with him, and by the time my mate had checked it out the thief was already long gone.

 

[Uriel]

:S

It probably was a natural reaction, but you should have helped.

 

[Solaris]

Perhaps he was a fellow revolutionary striking a blow at the capitalist fat cats.

I'd have tackled the BandQ people.


loll

 

[Warbie]

No, it just didn't cross your mind immediately. If the guys shouted: "Stop him! He stole that stuff!", and THEN you went out of his way, then you'd be a pussy

I knew full well that he'd stolen the drills and why the guys were chasing him, it just never occured to me to stop him. And yeh, it's just drills, but I doubt i'd have reacted any diferent to big wads of cash.

 

[CptStern]

meh running the risk of being injured for something that will be replaced by insurance and costs the big box store next to nothing isnt worth it imho

and the rent-a-cops can go screw themselves ..the most you would have got is a "thanks buddy" (I'd have demanded the drills or at least given the rent-a-cops $20 to look the other way)

 

[Sulkdodds]

I like to think I've had tripped the guy up, just 'cos I'd get to trip someone up without recrimination.

- he must really have wanted some drills -

Drills are really valuable, and people like to steal them - especially powerful ones which can be very expensive. Many of them have diamond bits which is also big money.

- especially after seeing Spiderman -

The robber is blatantly going to sneak into your house and drill your family to death.

 

[<RJMC>]

if you found your family dead by injuries caused by drills then sure you will repent

and what the hell is a big daddy?

 

[Tyguy]

if it would of been wads of cash, id probably trip him, take the cash, and run

 

[Asknoone]

Sometimes you just don't think when it happens, and simply step aside. I like to think I'd have tripped him up...surely it was a busy street, and an absolute mob of people went charging after the guy?

 

[Dekstar]

Nah it's ok for instincts to take over in a situation like that. You just know how to act in future

 

[Warbie]

Sometimes you just don't think when it happens, and simply step aside. I like to think I'd have tripped him up...surely it was a busy street, and an absolute mob of people went charging after the guy?

Nope, it was on a thin pavement between a long hedge and a busy road with nobody but me and the B&Q guys for 100s of meters in either direction.

On reflection - a trip or clothesline could have seriously ****ed the guy up. He was running like crazy and a fall would have sent him either onto concrete or into oncoming traffic. Considering how increasingly litigious this country has become in recent years it was probably the right move. Still, I do feel like a pussy :/

And yes, if my familly get drilled to death I shall never forgive myself!

 

[PvtRyan]

Great power comes with great responsibility. However, you don't have great power so you don't have great responsibility either. You're in the clear buddy.

 

[Baal]

Don't you guys remember Spider-Man 3? The robber he could have stopped didn't even kill his father!

Or something like that, I think

 

[Asus]

Don't wanna get sued by the robber for injures now...
Was a safe move. Don't like safe?

 

[The Monkey]

I'd make a poll if I knew how to do it - what do you think you would have done and am I a big pussy?

You have been here for four years and have 7000 posts, and you don't know how to make a poll? D:

 

[Warbie]

To be fair, he probably could have just grabbed the guy instead of tripping him or whatever.

Sod that. I'd be far more inclined to send the guy flying than hang onto him. He was loads bigger than me, looked like a nutta and probably wouldn't have taken kindly to me hugging him for 20 seconds while the B&Q police arrived.

You have been here for four years and have 7000 posts, and you don't know how to make a poll? D:

Nope - never wanted to make one before.

 

[PvtRyan]

Don't think a poll will do much good. You really don't know how you'll react until you've been in a similar situation, perhaps the thought of tripping the bastard doesn't even occur to you in the heat of it.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

I'd have stepped out of the way, out of instinct and initial confusion. Everyone wants to have the chance to play hero but in reality it's usually just dangerous to do so.

 

[Warbie]

Don't think a poll will do much good. You really don't know how you'll react until you've been in a similar situation, perhaps the thought of tripping the bastard doesn't even occur to you in the heat of it.

Probably right. I liked the 'Great power ..' post above btw, made me feel less of a girly. We can't all be a superhero.

 

[Nemesis6]

Generally, don't get involved in stuff like that, it's just not worth the potential 9mm bullet lodged in the cerebellum.

 

[Que-Ever]

Perhaps he was a fellow revolutionary striking a blow at the capitalist fat cats.

I'd have tackled the BandQ people.


loll

I eagerly await the drill revolution :|

 

[Instinct]

A CRIMINAL APPROACHES
what do you do?

Hell, I'd have moved out of a way. I once hid a shoplifters stuff under my table once, without even registering that the stuff was stolen. He was followed in by two police men and a hoard of security staff. Good times.

 

[Stormy]

To be fair if you did trip him up he probly would sue you for GBH or something silly like that, stupid ****ing laws and stupid country.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

Sounds like a natural reaction. What's the point in risking bodily harm over a couple power tools from a rich store, and he's already being chased.
The one exception is purse snatchers. I think a lady in distress would put your man helmet on without thinking.

Wasn't your fight, mate.

 

[leib10]

No, it just didn't cross your mind immediately. If the guys shouted: "Stop him! He stole that stuff!", and THEN you went out of his way, then you'd be a pussy

.

 

[JFry]

You did the right thing. They were shooting a movie, you would have ruined the scene.

 

[Insano]

You should have done a barrel roll. Perfect opportunity...

 

[Moto]

Dude, screw helping some big name corporation recover some drills by stopping a thief. For all you know, the guy could have been armed and you could have lost your life over practically nothing. The most they would have given you is a nod of appreciation and a thank you. You did the right thing in my mind. It's not worth it to be the hero and get killed or injured. If the guy is dumb enough to think he can get away with running out of the store while carrying two huge boxes, he's dumb enough to shoot you as well.

 

[MJ12]

what About My Uncle, Did You Give Him A Chance!?

 

[Dan]

with great power comes great responsibility

 

[Muffin Man]

If there are any drill related deaths in the next couple weeks, you're going to feel like a real asshole. That aside I probably would have done the same thing. There's always the chance I would have tripped the guy, though, it depends on the day.

 

[Smoke]

Don't you guys remember Spider-Man 3? The robber he could have stopped didn't even kill his father!

Or something like that, I think

Uncle.

 

[Bad^Hat]

I'd have stepped aside. **** playing hero for a bunch of shitty drills.

 

[Baal]

Uncle.

Stoning will commence today at 5:00 PM GMT.

I am not worthy of this world for such a mistake