How To Call The Police When You're Old And Don't Move Fast Anymore

[xseption]

I thought I would share ...

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George Phillips of Gold Coast, Australia was going up to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window.

George opened the back door to go turn off the light but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and he said "no". Then they said that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be along when available. George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them." Then he hung up.

Within five minutes three police cars, an Armed Response Unit, and an ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence and caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

[carrbowl]

OHhhh that is so smart!!!!!!!! I wonder what Mr. Horn would think about that!!

[Patti Edens]

He should have said, "I did" and then showed them the photo...

While I don't exactly approve of getting the cops out to a simple burglary when they might be doing something much more important, I do admire his quick thinking.

[Sideline]

http://www.snopes.com/crime/safety/response.asp

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

He should have said, "I did" and then showed them the photo...

While I don't exactly approve of getting the cops out to a simple burglary when they might be doing something much more important, I do admire his quick thinking.

If someone is stealing your stuff would that still be a "simple burglary" ?

[Cope]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

While I don't exactly approve of getting the cops out to a simple burglary when they might be doing something much more important, I do admire his quick thinking.

I don't either, but I don't want to have to clean my 1911 so I will call them any chance I get. Besides, it keeps insurance premiums down.

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

If someone is stealing your stuff would that still be a "simple burglary" ?

Yep. It would. Would I like it that my simple burglary was trumped by an aggravated assault or something else? No. But I would just have to trust the dispatcher to do their job, assess the situations needing help and get the help out to the ones that needed it most.

Now, if the "more important" call was at Dunkin' Donuts, that would be different.

I would also keep an eye on the perps and if they even looked like they were coming anywhere near my house next, I would call again - while making sure my shotgun and Glock were loaded with the good stuff. And no, I wouldn't go out and take care of it myself. But I sure as heck would be prepared to protect myself if needed.

[Huck]

As a dispatcher, I have taken calls like this. People will do or say things to try to get a police response quicker. Taking the law into your own hands can be dangerous. An armed suspect might shoot you before you can shoot them. Or maybe they are not armed but a trigger happy homeowner shoots the suspect as he sticks his hand in his pocket. Either way, most times its not safe for a person to try to stop a crime, yet they can be a good eyewitness for the police and not only protect themselves but others around them. Your life is more important then property in my own opinion.

[Jeff_Green]

Until the felon who committed burglary on your property decides it is a good hit and comes back when you are asleep. Do what you have to to protect your home and property from felons.

[Hanky]

I wish the police had time to nail the the car sterios that rattle my windows.

[Toad]

Well... with the castle laws and such, when the cops showed up at my house, they really would've been laying there dead.

To the police: If you're too busy, that's ok... I'll take care of it.

Toad

[Cope]

Originally Posted by Huck

As a dispatcher, I have taken calls like this. People will do or say things to try to get a police response quicker. Taking the law into your own hands can be dangerous. An armed suspect might shoot you before you can shoot them. Or maybe they are not armed but a trigger happy homeowner shoots the suspect as he sticks his hand in his pocket. Either way, most times its not safe for a person to try to stop a crime, yet they can be a good eyewitness for the police and not only protect themselves but others around them. Your life is more important then property in my own opinion.

Huck, maybe the OK City PD can respond to 911 calls faster than HPD. Our subdivision, like many in Houston, has resorted to hiring our local Harris County Constables for security. They can usually respond in < 5 minutes, but sometimes one is sick or on another call.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Cope

Huck, maybe the OK City PD can respond to 911 calls faster than HPD. Our subdivision, like many in Houston, has resorted to hiring our local Harris County Constables for security. They can usually respond in < 5 minutes, but sometimes one is sick or on another call.

Yeah we are pretty lucky I guess. We have staffing issues dont get me wrong, but if something is in progress, we are able to get at least 1 officer going that way.

[mwaldrop]

Hey Huck, if you know Jack Poe, say "hi" to him for me. As for our PD, if there is something in progress and people in your shed, most officers will drop any calls they have that are not life threatening or violent to get the bad guys.

Many of the reasons our officers are so busy is because they are intervening with parents who can't control their kids, taking reports from gas drive-offs, checking multiple false alarms at residences and businesses, and making sure feuding families obey their divorce decrees regarding custody. It doesn't take long of listening to a police radio to know that most of the reasons citizens keep officers busy is just nonsense from people not being able to get along and take responsibility.

Granted, there are some lazy officers out there, but too often the things that keep them from being immediately available are our own 'stuff'.

I just got home from working a Christmas Eve suicide - a former police officer - and so please forgive my rant. Most of our officers are good folks that work hard and do their best but they are just human and their is only so far any of us can stretch.

[Cope]

Originally Posted by mwaldrop

Hey Huck, if you know Jack Poe, say "hi" to him for me. As for our PD, if there is something in progress and people in your shed, most officers will drop any calls they have that are not life threatening or violent to get the bad guys.

Many of the reasons our officers are so busy is because they are intervening with parents who can't control their kids, taking reports from gas drive-offs, checking multiple false alarms at residences and businesses, and making sure feuding families obey their divorce decrees regarding custody. It doesn't take long of listening to a police radio to know that most of the reasons citizens keep officers busy is just nonsense from people not being able to get along and take responsibility.

Granted, there are some lazy officers out there, but too often the things that keep them from being immediately available are our own 'stuff'.

I just got home from working a Christmas Eve suicide - a former police officer - and so please forgive my rant. Most of our officers are good folks that work hard and do their best but they are just human and their is only so far any of us can stretch.

Mike, I know it's the same in Houston (and everywhere else).