Distracted victims

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Joined
Aug 1, 2022
Messages
2,024
Location
Communist Paradise of NY
The ATM that I normally use is in a rural area and is drive up only with a single unit. I will not enter unless I am the only one in line as I do my withdrawal usually just before midnight on my way home from work. When I buy gas for my truck I get it at my local independent fuel dealer and pay for it with cash. Situational awareness is a big thing and so many people are totally engrossed in their phone to the point of numbness to anything else. I actually saw a college kid step in front of a fire truck that had the lights, siren and bell all being used. The stupid idiot looked up from his phone as the truck almost hit him and then continued looking at his phone as he walked in front of the truck. This was probably 10 years ago and it has grown even worse.
 
Joined
Nov 30, 2022
Messages
4,435
Location
Maryland
The ATM that I normally use is in a rural area and is drive up only with a single unit. I will not enter unless I am the only one in line as I do my withdrawal usually just before midnight on my way home from work. When I buy gas for my truck I get it at my local independent fuel dealer and pay for it with cash. Situational awareness is a big thing and so many people are totally engrossed in their phone to the point of numbness to anything else. I actually saw a college kid step in front of a fire truck that had the lights, siren and bell all being used. The stupid idiot looked up from his phone as the truck almost hit him and then continued looking at his phone as he walked in front of the truck. This was probably 10 years ago and it has grown even worse.
Darwin Denied!!! It used to be that Oblivious idiots wouldn't make it to adulthood.
 
Joined
Nov 30, 2022
Messages
4,435
Location
Maryland
I haven't used an ATM since 2010. If I need something from the bank, I go to the bank.
The banks have all been closing branches to force us into digital currency. The nearest branch of the bank we have been with for 40 years is now almost an hour away!!! We would switch but with direct deposits and automatic payments etc our lives would be upended for months. Now they tell us we can go to CVS to deposit cash!!!
 
Joined
Mar 29, 2017
Messages
1,743
Location
Idaho
Situational awareness, we all have the means to do it. I still practice it almost anywhere all the time. I take it on the road, not for bad guys so much as just looking out for plain lousy drivers, vehicles with unsafe loads etc.
As for bad guys, whats a crook look like? could be anyone. Based on looks is a bad way, use behavior. Learn what's not the norm for the time and place.
Trying to educate my wife on what's a "dirt bag" and stay away from those. At home she caught on fairly well. On a trip to our beach house, we drove over to the harbor. She sees this old dirty guy walking away dressed in old rain pants and tee shirt. She says "They have bums down here too!" Me, no dear that's a fisherman. He has a boat docked and might be walking home after a long morning out in the ocean.
In Idaho we were visiting a small farming community, looking for property to buy. We stopped at the only gas station/store. She asks are those 2 guys bums? They got out of a beat-up ford pickup. They were really dirty, wearing the standard blue jean overalls. Me, no dear, those are farmers.
Put those 2 situations back in our neighborhood and yes they would likely be bums.
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,933
Location
missouri
" Am I missing out on something?"
Don't think so. I do understand that ATM's may be the only access some folks have to their bank. In that way, I'm lucky since the one thing that hasn't changed in my little corner of the country is access to my bank. I'm using the same bank I where I opened my first checking account 60 years ago. I've seen two generations of bank personnel begin and retire. We've had ups and downs but still both in business.
 
Joined
Aug 1, 2022
Messages
2,024
Location
Communist Paradise of NY
Yes. You are. Everyone needs the exhilaration and adrenaline rush of being robbed at gunpoint at least once in their life. :ROFLMAO::)
35 years ago I was working for a medical equipment company and was delivering a new autoclave to an inner city clinic. I had to park a block away and carry it down the street to make the delivery. 2 ghettoites ran up to me and stuck a small pistol in my face... They said.... "Gimme the microwave oven MoFo"... I handed it to them and then told the doctor about his "microwave" being stolen... He went ballistic and I started laughing... I not happy to have a gun stuck in my face but the doctor going off made it funny so I could laugh
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,933
Location
missouri
The most frequent source of distraction I see is the cell phone. I watched a Mother(?) looking at her phone pushing a baby carrier in a cart walk directly into the path of a vehicle last week. Driver laid on the horn, female jumped like a goosed rabbit, and then began yelling at the driver because the horn had woke the baby. GEEZ!!!
 
Joined
Mar 29, 2017
Messages
1,743
Location
Idaho
Staying away from ATMs also keeps your card from getting skimmed. The term is "skimming" look it up for better information. In a nut shell in the larger cities it's a popular way to steal your money. Mosty done at night and weekends at high volume ATMs. Bad guy puts a device into the ATM, when you put your card in it sits on top of the skimmer. It reads your card number. The ATM may work normally, and you never know it happened. They also place a pin hole spy camera watching the keypad to get your PIN. The device may only be in the ATM for a few hours. They retrieve the skimmer and using the camera time stamp to match the card number to the right PIN. Of course, they are seen on the security cameras doing this stuff but that is normally looked at during business hours. According to a PD det. who brought me up to speed about them, they show up at many different ATMs and locations. He said the ATMs inside an open business aren't normally where these will be placed.
 
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crstrode

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
268
Location
Badger Lake, WA
A reminder to be vigilant and not be one. It's getting harder to spot the bad guys.

Of course, some folks have loyal friends to watch their back . . .
smith n wesson.jpg

On the left is Smith, on the right is Wesson.
 

Biggfoot44

Blackhawk
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
829
As far as I can remember, I've never used an ATM. Never saw the need. Am I missing out on something?
Paul B.

IF you live/ work in proximity to your bank , And your schedule and lifestyle fits to casually pop in during the proverbial Bankers Hours , maybe not .
 
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