Yeah you're right... people that get robbed never get shot, even if they cooperate.

And I really don't think anyone here is suggesting that someone carrying a firearm should get into a gun battle with three armed robbers for $60.

 

The liability is the bean counter facts. You shoot someone that is robbing you, that person you shot was innocent until proven guilty. Criminal and civil suits are separate items (remember OJ?). You go bang, the company gets sued because an employee shot a someone's son/brother/daughter/dad, etc. If you miss a lot like Shorebird ( ) and a stray round goes into a bystander, then that's another lawsuit, not to mention the bad press.

Companies are in business to make money. Their decisions are based on profit.

 

Who would go into the Negro part of town with $60, pizza, and no gun?

 

Sounds like you have answered your own original question.

Good luck to you and be safe.

 

Everyone employed by a delivery restaurant that wants to earn a living.

 

As inappropriate as that statement is, let me clarify a little. The part of town where he got robbed is a lower income section, yes. However, it is not dominated by any particular race, and I have gotten many a good tip from that section of homes. There are several military families that reside there, for whatever reason- maybe they're saving for a new house and need lower rent, maybe they have too many bills and need lower rent. Point is, not everyone that lives in a lower rent section of town is a thug or a potential thief. Unfortunately for me, when I see that the pizza is going there, I automatically start thinking I am going to get stiffed. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised, however.
Good answer. We can't really refuse to go to a neighborhood based on the dominance (even if it's only 'perceived') of the hood by a race or class of people. We do have one neighborhood that we no longer deliver to after dark, as there were too many drivers being robbed (long before I started working there).

 

What colour were the men who robbed your colleague?

 

How could that possibly matter?

This is a family friendly site folks. Let's keep it that way.

 

I don't think I had a question about this other than how did he miss 3 guys wearing masks until it was too late?

 

Soooooo, what do you do if...
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d1d1e1; COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->... you get robbed at work?

 

Too open ended a question. Too many variables for me to answer. Maybe nothing, maybe jump them with my hands if they're close, maybe draw my weapon, maybe give them what they want, maybe give them a free ride to the morgue courtesy of the county.

Realistically, I've probably had more training in armed and unarmed combat than many here. The answer is it all depends on the situation and what's at stake, and how I interpret the info along with what opportunities present themselves.

If I'm holding a pizza box on a dark sidewalk and 3 masked men who are armed at arms lenght want $60, then unless I have a reason to believe harm will come to me, they get the money and I walk away. If I'm a little suspicious, the money gets thrown behind them. If they turn and watch the money, I drop the pizza and run. If they don't turn and watch the money, one gets a pizza in the face and I lunge for the other two before anyone can blink. You go for the face or neck in that situation because natural reaction is to put your hands up to protect your face. You have a pistol and I throw car keys at your face, there's a better than 50% chance you put your hands up to protect your face instead of shooting me. Of course once the keys are past, unless I have followed up with a relentless attack and not given you time to think, then I get shot. Not exactly a game you want to play unless there are no alternatives.

Not much time to draw in the above situation, which goes back to being alert and not letting 3 masked guys anywhere near you to begin with. Go sit on a bench in front of walmart for an hour or so and just watch people coming and going from the store as they walk across the parking lot. Ask yourself, if I was going to rob people, who would I target and who would I avoid. The people in la la land are the ones who are easy targets. They ones who stare back at you and are paying attention are the ones you would avoid. Act like the people you would avoid and that will help.

At least that's my rambling opinion.

 

Good answers all the way through your post, but this part is the most important, to me.

I'm a typically friendly guy, I acknowledge people I'm walking past, I say excuse me, pardon me, etc. I make eye contact with most of the people I come across. Not in a creepy way, just an "I see you" kind of way. It's become apparent over the last couple of decades that people tend to walk with their heads down, engrossed in their phones, ipods, etc. People simply don't communicate with strangers anymore.

I don't know if these things would have stopped the robbery the other night, Brian isn't very shy. I think a dark sidewalk and an opportunity are the triggers that ended up getting him robbed. You can bet your bottom dollar that I began to look at my surroundings a lot more thoroughly after his ordeal. I haven't had the need to refuse to go to anyone's house, though when the porchlight is not on, I tend to take notice of everything around: a regular suburban neighborhood, I go to the door (flashlight in hand). Not so nice a neighborhood, I'm looking around to see if there are people loitering nearby. I may or may not go to the door, or I may call the house and ask them to turn on the light, or come to the door if I don't feel safe (which are, technically, company rules).

One weapon I do carry, and one they can't refuse to allow me is my flashlight. I found a halogen flashlight with about 1million+ candle power. The plastic case wouldn't be much of a bludgeon, but the light in the eyes of a potential thief would likely render him harmless long enough for me to get away (or kick the crap out of him).

 

That's a good start. Your typical bad guy doesn't like to deal with someone paying enough attention to ID them.

I think part of that is because our public education system and "those in charge" have been teaching conflict avoidance. Don't fight, don't intervene, let the authorities handle everything. It's become subconscious. People don't want to be involved because they were taught not to.

If you're going to deliver in less than favorable neighborhoods in the dark, I'd take it one step further. In your mind, always play the bad guy and ask where would I hide if I were going to jump me. Use your light before you leave the car, look around with it. If the sidewalk doesn't provide a good path, park a little ways away and cut through the grass. And I'd worry just as much or more about walking away from the house back to the car with the money.

 

Bring your cell phone. If a place looks sketchy, or it's in a complex where you could get jumped, you can call the customer and have them come to your car.

 

Cell phones are standard fare these days. As I stated above, calling the customer in an odd, weird or dark neighborhood is taught to new drivers.

Anyhow, update: Brian was released from employment by Domino's for carrying too much money. He texted me a little while ago. Company policy, I guess, is that you are supposed to drop your money after each delivery. He failed to do that. I felt bad for him, but he knew he was supposed to drop everytime. Too bad.