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Last night I was retrieving some bags and cooler from the parking lot at the LaQuinta around 11:30 pm. Well lit parking, glancing up every 20 or 30 seconds or so (not exactly a safe part of town). As I was double-checking to be sure I had everything I noticed a middle-aged man looking at me several times as he was walking by on the other side of the next row of vehicles. He continued walking past my vehicle for several yards. As I paused to check on him again, this time acting like I was being sure I had everything - giving me a reason to turn back an look where he was - he had stopped on the other side of an SUV a few cars over, walked between two cars and was looking directly at me. I stopped and just stared at him for about 20 seconds until he continued walking the other direction. I had my gun side hand free and was prepared to shout a warning like "I don't have anything you want." But the situation diffused itself, thankfully. Situational awareness: I was going to and from my car walking in the middle out in the open, not right next to the cars so as to be in control of my space.

Dreamer42

Dreamer42 wrote:Last night I was retrieving some bags and cooler from the parking lot at the LaQuinta around 11:30 pm. Well lit parking, glancing up every 20 or 30 seconds or so (not exactly a safe part of town). As I was double-checking to be sure I had everything I noticed a middle-aged man looking at me several times as he was walking by on the other side of the next row of vehicles. He continued walking past my vehicle for several yards. As I paused to check on him again, this time acting like I was being sure I had everything - giving me a reason to turn back an look where he was - he had stopped on the other side of an SUV a few cars over, walked between two cars and was looking directly at me. I stopped and just stared at him for about 20 seconds until he continued walking the other direction. I had my gun side hand free and was prepared to shout a warning like "I don't have anything you want." But the situation diffused itself, thankfully. Situational awareness: I was going to and from my car walking in the middle out in the open, not right next to the cars so as to be in control of my space.

Dreamer42

He may have been making sure you were the one who was supposed to be in the vehicle and not stealing something.

Keith B wrote:
He may have been making sure you were the one who was supposed to be in the vehicle and not stealing something.

what i was thinking also -- but at least he was prepared and paying attention -- i would of probably asked him if their was something i could help him with when i noticed him watching me

I also thought that as a possibility or that he was also keeping an eye on you for the same you were watching him.

20-30 seconds is a long time to not watch someone in that type of situation.

IOW ... "You don't want what I have."

I would have made a less confrontational comment to him like 'Hey, how ya doing?', the whole time keeping my eyes trained on him. That would illicit one of two actions, either a personable greeting back if he is a good guy, or a hasty exit because he knows you are watching him and he no longer has the element of surprise.

True enough Keith and more than likely also what I would have done in this situation in real life unless the intent was obvious and it was about to get nasty. I was only being sarcastic.

C-dub wrote:I also thought that as a possibility or that he was also keeping an eye on you for the same you were watching him.

20-30 seconds is a long time to not watch someone in that type of situation.

IOW ... "You don't want what I have."

Exactly!

--Great SA! I don't think someone who is removing luggage at a hotel is something to be concerned with, trust your instincts. He was sizing you up, that's what set off your alarm bells.

Ive noticed that a lot of CHLers are WAY too paranoid and take the smallest, meaningless situations and blow it up. He could of just been a very nosey person, or like stated above , making sure you werent breaking in the car. He was probabl6 a fellow CHLer.Of he were trying to jack you, the perfect time would of been when you had your head down in the trunk.

9mmboy wrote:Ive noticed that a lot of CHLers are WAY too paranoid and take the smallest, meaningless situations and blow it up....

That sounds like a grossly over generalized, insupportable, and insulting comment. In fact, the actual CHL track record would clearly rebut your comment.

Jumping Frog wrote:

9mmboy wrote:Ive noticed that a lot of CHLers are WAY too paranoid and take the smallest, meaningless situations and blow it up....

That sounds like a grossly over generalized, insupportable, and insulting comment. In fact, the actual CHL track record would clearly rebut your comment.

I just call it situational awareness.

"He was probabl6 a fellow CHLer."

How was this conclusion arrived at?

he probably just thought you were hot

9mmboy wrote:Ive noticed that a lot of CHLers are WAY too paranoid and take the smallest, meaningless situations and blow it up. He could of just been a very nosey person, or like stated above , making sure you werent breaking in the car. He was probabl6 a fellow CHLer.Of he were trying to jack you, the perfect time would of been when you had your head down in the trunk.

in the OP's defense, we weren't there. AS WE ALL KNOW, sometimes you just a a sense that something is wrong. I've found to my regret, when I ignore that sens bad things happen.

Plus, we're CHLers, we are more paranoid. But "just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you."

9mmboy wrote:Ive noticed that a lot of CHLers are WAY too paranoid and take the smallest, meaningless situations and blow it up. He could of just been a very nosey person, or like stated above , making sure you werent breaking in the car. He was probabl6 a fellow CHLer.Of he were trying to jack you, the perfect time would of been when you had your head down in the trunk.

One read through a very comprehensive post from a cop titled "Street robberies and you" on another forum fixed a lot of my complacency issues.

Since when did being vigilant and aware become bad things?

9mmboy,

I don't think of it as Paranoid! I think of it as PREPARED & AWARE. "Paranoid" to me, means someone who is overly worried. When I carry, I'm the opposite.

Maybe in the early days, I was paranoid about printing or paranoid about purse carrying. Now that has all changed. I marvel at how ignorant people are that I have a gun on me. I have yet to spot anyone else carrying, so I'm sure they've been thinking the same of me. Lol. Really, now that I think on it, I'm not bothered to look for others carrying, I'm too busy looking for people watching me because I am prepared & aware. .