So I was walking back from the store, and was walking though the parking lot of my apartment complex when I heard a loud bang and the sound of glass breaking. I looked around and didn't see anybody or hear anything. A few seconds later I heard a car door open. I'm fairly sure somebody was breaking into a car. I flagged a security car down and reported it, but somebody is going to be having a very bad day tomorrow. This kind of thing seems to happen to me a lot. I live in a semi-high crime area and often see/hear stuff like this. Once, I saw a drunk couple arguing and it turned into a full fledged fist fight. I saw somebody being chased across the parking lot once, followed shortly thereafter by a loud scream and somebody yelling "I cant feel my legs". I'm usually curious and try to get a look at whats going on, but I try to keep a low profile so none of the people see me.

So, does this kind of stuff happen to other people? What kind of stuff have you guys seen? What did you do about it? I usually try not to get involved if I can, maybe telling a security guard around the area and let them handle it.

I was in State College, PA for a 3 day weekend back in March. The first night I got there, it was Thirsty Thursday. I saw two fist fights that night. The first one I was literally walking past. The precursor happened as I was walking up, I thought they had resolved it while I was walking past, then it started up again as I walked away. The second one was at a distance (across and down the street) and all I saw was one guy running full on at the other. I kinda pictured what happened next.

I don't usually see stuff like that where I live. Nobody breaking and entering or stealing cars. Sometimes you'll see someone push someone else on a Saturday night. Both of them are drunk and looking for a fight, but the police and bouncers have the trouble areas sniffed out and are standing by, so it gets broken up pretty quickly. There is a pretty bad neighborhood just outside of the "resort" town I live near/in. Let's just say you wouldn't want to go through there at night and find yourself in a dead end.

My sisters car got broken into, and a few cars in the neighborhood were broken into not too long ago. Other than that, just normal things a teenager would see/know/I plead the 5th :whistling: . Haven't actually had an experience as visceral as yours however.

I am in no way deserving or capable of the power to deal out justice, so I leave it to those who delude themselves that they do.

When I see a crime, however, I usually just raise my voice, and maybe even refer to the criminal as "kids". Usually, petty criminals are so terrified of an authoritative voice (which they associate with capture) that they run off. Being well above six feet tall doesn't hurt, either.

This is a difficult topic: is it better to remove oneself from danger, or to attempt to protect the "victim"? I sure as hell don't know.

EDIT: I usually ignore entirely crimes relating to "substances". Experience has taught me that most "victims" can only be helped when they come for help themselves, and most perpetrators are some of the most dangerous types of criminals: those who consciously destroy lives and feed off of suffering. Those are better to avoid.

Tools: Alcohol, Mary Jane, brick, hacksaw, no brains. One night me and accomplice decided to go to a car dealership. Had eyes set on an '86 IROC-Z. Broke the window (bad move) got all of the keys and hacksawed the gate. It's a very fast car when the adrenaline is pumping. Found myself awakened with a .44 pointed at my head. Paid for it with some time. Eventually broke probation (after running for a year), went back to the can. Was on my way to prison when there was a stipulation I had found in the laws changing. Went on parole. A good friend had talked to the prosecutor and had relieved me of my burden. I have done nothing since then, 19 years ago. Real life kiddies, learn from it. :icecream:

'Not my business, not my business' is my creed on the issue. If I see something, I duck my head and start walking real fast.

Aaand,,, this topic led right to talking about illegal activities. *click* I know it was in the past, but I just don't see it going well.