Comments on: How I Survived Two Armed Robberies (And How You Can Too) http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:09:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Len Penzo http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-35731 Len Penzo Sat, 07 May 2011 22:26:10 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-35731 Hi Susan. That's absolutely terrible; I'm so sorry to hear about your family's recent ordeal. Regarding recovery, I think a lot of it depends on the person. Your little guy may have a tougher time than you will, simply because he is so young. In my case, it's been so long now I can't remember exactly when I stopped getting those pangs of fear when I was out in public, but I'm sure it took me more than several months. I hope the authorities catch those responsible. Hi Susan. That’s absolutely terrible; I’m so sorry to hear about your family’s recent ordeal. Regarding recovery, I think a lot of it depends on the person. Your little guy may have a tougher time than you will, simply because he is so young. In my case, it’s been so long now I can’t remember exactly when I stopped getting those pangs of fear when I was out in public, but I’m sure it took me more than several months. I hope the authorities catch those responsible.

]]> By: Susan Stracuzzi http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-31112 Susan Stracuzzi Thu, 05 May 2011 01:07:27 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-31112 Ironically on the day you submitted this we were broken into by 4 masked guys with a shotgun and bat. they held my children by gunpoint and my husband and I were also held with a gun pointing at us. they demanded cash and gold. We are still dealing with the after math of terrror and my little guy has problems sleeping alone. I don't think our life will ever be the same. How long does it take to feel normal and not think about it? Ironically on the day you submitted this we were broken into by 4 masked guys with a shotgun and bat. they held my children by gunpoint and my husband and I were also held with a gun pointing at us. they demanded cash and gold. We are still dealing with the after math of terrror and my little guy has problems sleeping alone. I don’t think our life will ever be the same. How long does it take to feel normal and not think about it?

]]> By: Daniel http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2694 Daniel Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2694 Those are some absolutely unbelievable stories! Once is crazy, but twice?? Ridiculous. Do you know what ended up happening to those guys? .-= Daniel´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SweatingTheBigStuff/~3/F77zNtEeaDg/" rel="nofollow">Mailbag: What To Teach High School Seniors?</a> =-. Those are some absolutely unbelievable stories! Once is crazy, but twice?? Ridiculous. Do you know what ended up happening to those guys?
.-= Daniel´s last blog ..Mailbag: What To Teach High School Seniors? =-.

]]> By: Len Penzo http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2695 Len Penzo Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2695 Believe it or not, the thugs from the first robbery were caught about a half hour later (by my police officer Dad, no less!). On a side note, it turns out one of the guys had accidentally shot himself in the groin when he tossed his gun in the back seat of a second getaway car and it accidentally discharged, so he was in bad shape when he was arrested. All three were also wanted for murder in another incident. They all went to prison. I don't know their current status. As far as I know, the guys from the second robbery were never caught. Believe it or not, the thugs from the first robbery were caught about a half hour later (by my police officer Dad, no less!). On a side note, it turns out one of the guys had accidentally shot himself in the groin when he tossed his gun in the back seat of a second getaway car and it accidentally discharged, so he was in bad shape when he was arrested. All three were also wanted for murder in another incident. They all went to prison. I don’t know their current status.

As far as I know, the guys from the second robbery were never caught.

]]> By: kt http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2696 kt Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2696 two pieces of advice 1] a can of mase with you all the time or 2]a fully loaded 9mm. :) two pieces of advice 1] a can of mase with you all the time or 2]a fully loaded 9mm. :)

]]> By: Bret @ Hope to Prosper http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2697 Bret @ Hope to Prosper Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2697 Len, this was some pretty scary stuff. My brother also got robbed in a pizza joint. It was Christmas Eve and they stuck a shotgun in his daughter's face. Unlike what happened to you, they robbed all of the customers. Luckily, nobody got hurt. Len, this was some pretty scary stuff. My brother also got robbed in a pizza joint. It was Christmas Eve and they stuck a shotgun in his daughter’s face. Unlike what happened to you, they robbed all of the customers. Luckily, nobody got hurt.

]]> By: cm http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2698 cm Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2698 Chilling stories! Daniel, thanks for asking your question, because Len's answer makes the first story far better! (and it was already good). Sorry you had to go through those things--twice--Len, but great you and the other victims came out of them both fine. Chilling stories! Daniel, thanks for asking your question, because Len’s answer makes the first story far better! (and it was already good). Sorry you had to go through those things–twice–Len, but great you and the other victims came out of them both fine.

]]> By: Mark http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2699 Mark Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2699 Thanks for sharing your stories. I'm sure those were very intense, traumatizing situations. As for Feder's rules, I cannot fully agree with them (aside from the fact that he's an ex-thief). A complete lack of resistance is not always the best answer. You never know if the criminals are just there for the money or if they have other intentions. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy%27s_massacre That incident happened a couple blocks from where I grew up. I remember when it happened. Yes, it was quite disturbing. Sometimes criminals have more on their mind than just money. I personally believe in the right of the individual to protect themselves. In the heat of the moment, the police will not be there. Their only job is to catch criminals after the incident. That's why I have taken steps to train and educate myself on how to react in dire circumstances like the ones you described. I carry a concealed weapon for just those extreme situations. Now, in both the situations you listed, I would have done the same thing you did most likely. But what if the robbers began to execute people or began leading people into a back room for some unknown purpose. At that point, I'm content to know that I would have had additional options to act towards the safety of my family and would not have been forced to sheepishly hope for the best. I'd recommend reading this article by Jeff Snyder. It's an excellent piece on the matter: http://jim.com/cowards.htm Just my thoughts Thanks for sharing your stories. I’m sure those were very intense, traumatizing situations. As for Feder’s rules, I cannot fully agree with them (aside from the fact that he’s an ex-thief). A complete lack of resistance is not always the best answer. You never know if the criminals are just there for the money or if they have other intentions. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy%27s_massacre
That incident happened a couple blocks from where I grew up. I remember when it happened. Yes, it was quite disturbing. Sometimes criminals have more on their mind than just money.
I personally believe in the right of the individual to protect themselves. In the heat of the moment, the police will not be there. Their only job is to catch criminals after the incident. That’s why I have taken steps to train and educate myself on how to react in dire circumstances like the ones you described. I carry a concealed weapon for just those extreme situations.
Now, in both the situations you listed, I would have done the same thing you did most likely. But what if the robbers began to execute people or began leading people into a back room for some unknown purpose. At that point, I’m content to know that I would have had additional options to act towards the safety of my family and would not have been forced to sheepishly hope for the best.
I’d recommend reading this article by Jeff Snyder. It’s an excellent piece on the matter: http://jim.com/cowards.htm

Just my thoughts

]]> By: Evan http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2700 Evan Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2700 WOW DUDE THAT IS NUTTY! I glad everything worked out for you. Where are you from? Bad area, or was it just bad luck? .-= Evan´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/myjourneytomillions/feed/~3/sSQnMFyAShU/" rel="nofollow">Most People that Tell You They Don’t Want to be Wealthy are Lying</a> =-. WOW DUDE THAT IS NUTTY! I glad everything worked out for you.

Where are you from? Bad area, or was it just bad luck?
.-= Evan´s last blog ..Most People that Tell You They Don’t Want to be Wealthy are Lying =-.

]]> By: Jennifer Barry http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id1135-how-i-survived-two-armed-robberies.html#comment-2701 Jennifer Barry Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:48:56 +0000 http://lenpenzo.com/blog/?p=1135#comment-2701 Wow, that's an epic story! It's fortunate no one was hurt. Sadly, I predict the US economy is going to have another serious downturn soon and the incidence of violent crime will go up as a result. Wow, that’s an epic story! It’s fortunate no one was hurt. Sadly, I predict the US economy is going to have another serious downturn soon and the incidence of violent crime will go up as a result.

]]>