In February, four armed men in Chicago jumped out of a vehicle as a woman was walking to the train early in the morning, heading for work. The first assault and robbery lasted for over two minutes as they attacked her on the sidewalk, taking her belongings.

Trying to get help, she went into the street, but neither a CTA bus nor the two cars that went by stopped.

The assailants then returned and forced her to unlock her phone.

The police report said these guys were “laughing while this all happened,” and the bus driver witnessed the robbery.

Adriana’s daughter said, “They told her they were going to shoot her if she didn’t give them the pin,” and that “the next time they came, she thought they were going to kill her for the same thing.”

“Maybe I was a bit overconfident,” the woman said. “It never went through my head that something like this could happen to me.”

I can’t stress enough that complacency can get you killed, and if something happens, you will most likely be on your own.

4 out of 5 altercations are avoidable, so don’t become a target.

He tried to escape on the train (stolen cars are the preferred method in Chicago) but fell into the passenger car, and that’s where the cops found him.

This happened right before lunch at the Chicago Landmark Diamond Center in the middle of the shopping district of the Mag Mile. The police took the employee into custody, but no reported charges have been filed yet.

The store employee fumbled for his gun, and I can’t stress enough the need to get training and practice on a regular basis. The number of self-defense shootings in Chicago that have occurred this year is definitely outpacing last year.

CCL shootings are all already in the double digits, and that’s not good for tourism.

CNET estimates there will be $74 billion worth of packages delivered this holiday season, and the average American receives 3.5 packages a week.

Safewise said there were over 113 million packages stolen in 2022, and according to them, people only reported 21% of the thefts to law enforcement. That leaves a lot of unaccounted-for packages.

Someone sent me this video, and after some digging, a family in Detroit apparently fabricated the prank that went viral in February 2021. They had a few million people believing it was true, though, and rooting for the homeowner with his AR-15. The longer version of the video is here.

The question often arises about using potentially deadly force to stop someone from stealing our belongings. The answer, in almost all circumstances, is NO.

You need to be able to prove the person you used deadly force against had the means, opportunity, and intent.

The next question you should ask is: Is it a good idea to meet someone at your door like that, even if you are pointing a weapon down at the ground? Again, probably not the best plan, because things can quickly escalate out of control.

The video might be entertaining, but it’s not a good example of how to handle someone taking your Christmas gifts.

With any luck, Santa will later drop off a big load of coal on their roof as a gift from the Karma Gods.

In a twist of events, the man who defended himself as he was entering his home in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago has had his concealed carry license “revoked.” Fox News reports that the sheriff’s department contacted him yesterday and said it was because he yelled at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers when they were investigating the incident three days later.

Two men had jumped a fence and pointed a gun at Vince Ricci when he was entering his house, and a gunfight broke out. Ricci fired eight shots at the man who attacked him, and now that they synced both video views up, it appears his attacker was firing at him as he was running away. His five-month-old daughter and nanny were inside the home during the event.

In the video, Ricci says, “My situation is unique because it happened at my front door, all on camera. But this happens time and time again all over the country … People sweep it under the rug because it doesn’t behoove their political agenda. The fact is, evil will always exist,”

Some additional facts have come out since the shooting:

• Someone had broken into his home in June.
• A few months before that, someone broke his car into
• Criminals driving a Dodge Charger have been targeting other homes in the area.
• Someone broke into his neighbor’s house the night before his attack.

That would seem to be more than enough reason to justify carrying a gun for protection. Getting a CCW license in Los Angeles takes months and isn’t a simple process. It is called a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) in California, and you even have to prove you have “good moral character.”

‘After successfully defending my home and my family and my five-month-old child, California has now decided to suspend my Second Amendment [rights].’

The NRA said, “His decisive actions to protect his wife and daughter embody the core principles that NRA members fight for every day,” said NRA spokesperson Billy McLaughlin. “It’s reprehensible that California is shredding his Second Amendment rights after he defended his family. Gov. [Gavin] Newsom and [Los Angeles County District Attorney George] Gascon’s pro-criminal policies have transformed Los Angeles and the wider state into what resembles a war zone. The NRA stands with Vince and every responsible gun owner in California, firmly committed to defending their rights to protect their families and communities.”

They took his right to carry away, but the criminals who attacked him are still roaming the streets. Thankfully, he has video evidence to show he acted in self-defense.

Early Saturday morning, a group of four men got out of an SUV and tried to rob a 48-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman in Chicago. Imagine, once again, a story of violence out of Chicago.

One of the attackers was armed with a gun and hit the victim with it multiple times. He got a shot off, but the man fought back and ended up stabbing one of his assailants with something.

A source of CWBChicago told them one robber begged to get his gun back. “Give us back our gun!”

The victim wasn’t giving up the trophy (firearm) he deserved, and the group took off.

The Chicago police found an 18-year-old dead from multiple stab wounds lying in an alley about 15 minutes later. According to a witness, his “friends” had tossed him out of the SUV they fled the scene in.

CWBChicago reported they suspect the same crew of the following four other successful attacks that led up to this.

• The gang stole the SUV they were using around 4:15 a.m.
• They robbed a man around 5:22 a.m., but since he didn’t have any money, they took off with the ultrasound machine he was carrying for work.
• Wasting no time, they tried to pistol-whip and rob another man at 5:25 a.m. This victim threw his morning coffee at them.
• The fourth victim had their wallet and keys stolen around 5:41 a.m.
• The fifth person on the list ended the crime spree around 6 a.m. when he stabbed the one attacker.

Over the past few weeks, the number of people no longer standing around and putting up with the out-of-control crime is rapidly increasing.

In one instance, a mob attacked a couple in a Tesla, and they got away by plowing through some cars to safety.

In another confrontation, right outside an upscale downtown Chicago hotel, a man turned the tables on someone attacking him. He chased the guy down and repeatedly punched him until his wife pulled him off.

I think we have skipped past vigilantly justice and gone straight to FAFO.

I don’t usually let myself go down rabbit holes in my personal life. I try to stay on track with my main focus, real estate, mortgages, and development, with a little crypto for fun.

But I don’t think it would be fair to write my regular blogs without at least sharing a little “insider information” for my loyal followers on my “situation” that happened last week. It was February on the way to REVN (Real Estate Vancouver Investment) in my hometown of Vancouver, WA.

I just got gas and noticed my left front tire was a little low. I was in a rush and needed to get across town, so I was only going to add air to the front left. When I was getting out, I noticed my briefcase was sitting on the passenger seat with a couple of new homebuyers’ applications I had just signed that morning, along with some financial information from my clients that I needed to scan. I thought to myself, DO NOT GO IN THE STORE AND LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED.

So, as I was getting air in my tire, a vehicle drove by and dropped off the assailant around the corner. The assailant quickly ran up as I bent down by the rear tire, jumped in the car, and started the engine.

I heard the door close, and I remembered MY BRIEFCASE!

It Was 30 Seconds

I opened the door; he put it in reverse and floored it as I lunged at him, and as the car flew backward, I kind of crumpled up on the dash/window. When I came down, I was able to shove it into park. He took one swing and knocked off my glasses, and that’s when I knew I had one chance, and this was a life or death situation.

I went straight into a headlock with my left arm while taking a couple of punches. I reached down to grab my gun that I usually carry only to realize I left it at home but came back with my finger in his temple, yelling, “I have a gun, and I’m going to blow your F#&$in brains out.” I kept throwing swings while ripping off his face cover and hat to get a good look at his face.

He had a change of thought, and his last words were, “Let me go, let me go.”

I Refused to Be a Victim

I am fortunate this ended the way it did, and I realize I took “a risk,” but I have no regrets and refuse to be called the “victim.” Like most men, I’m approaching this with a “fix it” mindset and using this negative experience to make a positive impact in Washington State instead of leaving. I’M STANDING MY GROUND.

Why Take the Risk?

Being robbed and having someone try to carjack you is a terrible feeling that is hard to explain to anyone who’s never been in that position. It can wreak havoc on your sense of security and create fear that can linger forever. I empathize with anyone who has been in this position, and the fight today goes out to those who were stolen from in the night.

I appreciate those who have reached out to join in on a calvary to go clean house, but vengeance will not fix the problem.

The State of Washington Went Too Far

The state went too far with changing laws to protect the bad guys. They allowed the media attention and pressure from George Floyd, BLM, and the WOKE to push to defund the police, restrict them from pursuing bad guys, and enable the thieves to prosper by stealing cars to use for transportation and not being able to pursue them when they drive by. (See HB-1054, and we are working on HB-1363 to at least allow a police officer to pursue without getting a superior to approve.)

Stolen Vehicles are Used to Commit Other Crimes

These stolen cars are driven to rob stores and residences. They usually dump the vehicles when they sell the goods to purchase drugs. As drug use increases, so does mental illness, homelessness, and crime.

The state and local governments want to increase taxes to pay for the homeless issues, but they could be upstream if they focused on stopping crime before it ruins the state or more people get killed.

The mainstream media, as usual, cut out my “opinions” on the crime. With news stations in the northwest, freedom of speech is not a thing.

By Bill Black

Bill Black is a Senior Mortgage Broker at NW Funding Group Inc. He has 16 years of experience in the mortgage industry and provides tailored mortgage planning solutions in Washington.

The mayhem is because a judge dismissed a case against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a motorist while he sat in his car last month.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said, “In keeping with our oath to seek justice, we will move to have all criminal charges, including Murder, reinstated against this defendant.”

“This had nothing to do with the protests. What we had tonight was a bunch of criminal opportunists take advantage of a situation and make an attempt to destroy our city,” Commissioner John Stanford said in a news conference.

In one video, some girl yells, “Keep yo phone out, keep yo phone out” like the cops are doing something wrong. The people recording some of the robberies acted like it was some big game.

These are a few of the many videos showing the rioters swarming over different locations.

?#BREAKING: Large Crowds of people have started Riot and Loot multiple stores as Citywide Rapid Response has been Activated

?#Philadelphia | #PA

Philadelphia Police have activated a citywide rapid response following large crowds of people gathering and rioting, and engaging… pic.twitter.com/ronKIax9rO

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 27, 2023

One person who goes by the name of MEATBALL was live-streaming herself, and then when she gets caught by police, she says, “Yo we ain’t got nothin to do with this.” She had live-streamed herself, yelling, “Everybody must eat, everybody must eat,” as people tore the security doors off a store.

How the night started for Ms. Meatball

Vs.

How it ended#Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/nJJ35qmsgo

— Lucky (@TheMagaHulk) September 27, 2023

This isn’t a protest; this is an excuse to wreak havoc and have some demented type of fun. Absolute total mayhem, and it’s great to see the excuse Mayor Johnson of Chicago uses of “disenfranchised youth” is spreading across the county.

There had to be thirty shots fired after the guy yelled at these guys stealing someone’s catalytic converter in Chicago on Saturday. One of the robbers is running across the road, firing at an upward angle at someone who had yelled at them. Illinois banned any handgun magazine over fifteen rounds, and there was no reload during the incident. Once again, proving the criminals don’t care about the law.

Catalytic converter thieves were caught by a citizen, after being caught they began to fire shots at the citizen near the 5600 block of N Milwaukee.#ChicagoScanner pic.twitter.com/GwVOX76doU

— 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner (@CPD1617Scanner) September 24, 2023

One person on Twitter said, “Don’t worry about it. Insurance will cover it. Besides, it’s a manufacturer problem.” The manufacturer reference was probably because Chicago recently filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai. The lawsuit claims an enormous spike in auto thefts in the city is because automakers didn’t use anti-theft technology in their cars.

The lawsuit says that an enormous spike in auto thefts in the city is because automakers didn’t put anti-theft technology in their cars.

“The impact of car theft on Chicago residents can be deeply destabilizing, particularly for low- to middle-income workers who have fewer options for getting to work and taking care of their families,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The failure of Kia and Hyundai to install basic auto-theft prevention technology in these models is sheer negligence, and as a result, a citywide and nationwide crime spree around automobile theft has been unfolding right before our eyes.”

“This is about saving lives and preventing the violent crimes that these stolen vehicles are used in,” said Interim Superintendent Fred Waller. “As law enforcement, we are doing everything we can to prevent these thefts, but these vehicle companies must also be held accountable.”

When the police aren’t around, you’re on your own. This is also another good reason why a person defining themselves should be able to have a high-capacity magazine.

Deputy Terry Ely noticed that the cab in front of him didn’t move forward when the light turned green while his patrol car was stopped at a red light. After the traffic light changed to red, Ely got out of his vehicle to see what was happening.

“I stood in the back to try and hear the conversation ahead of time, so I knew what I was getting myself into,” Ely told WFMZ-TV. “At that point, I heard the driver say, “Just please don’t shoot me.”

Victor Martinez-Herrera, 18 years old at the time of the incident, had what appeared to be a handgun and demanded money from the taxi driver.

“Give me all your money, man! Give me everything you got,” the suspect demanded. “I need it all right now if you don’t want to die.”

The driver, Ralph Valletta, handed the suspect a whopping $11. Deputy Ely arrested Martinez-Herrera, and police later learned the weapon was a pellet gun.

The cab driver told the deputy, “Oh my God, you’re a lifesaver,”

Martinez-Herrera faced criminal charges, including robbery, terroristic threats, and simple assault.

When your rider gets in with a hoodie and mask pulled as tight as possible, that is a HUGE red flag. If I were the cab driver, I would not have left him in the car to begin with. That is terrible situational awareness on the driver’s part.

The cabbie was in a bad spot with few options since the attacker was behind him. Being attacked from behind is difficult to defend against, and the driver should have kept the pass-through shut.

Rideshare drivers being robbed is on the rise, and there have been multiple cases where they have successfully defended themselves. Still, it’s not a position I would want to be in.
It’s not like a criminal will listen, but keep your finger off the trigger when you’re waving that damn gun around.

After an incredible day of meetings and a brilliant panel at TikTok HQ in Los Angeles, I went for a walk along the boardwalk to enjoy the sunset and unwind. After just 5 minutes, an aggressive individual confronted me, shouting for no apparent reason. Instinctively, I tried to avoid him, but unfortunately, out of the blue, he rushed at me and punched me very hard in the face.

It was an enormous shock. There was lots of blood, a broken tooth, significant swelling, and a deep cut on my lip. Some people walking by kindly looked after me while I regained my composure, and then the police came to arrest the individual.

Unfortunately, even though the perpetrator was still there, it turns out there was very little the police could do to make a difference. They could only arrest him and send him to prison for one night. After that, he would most likely return to do the same to others. It’s an unfortunate virtuous cycle, and the current system is not set up to improve it.

So, the moral of the story, and the reason I am sharing this, is to tell people to be extra safe by keeping their distance if approached by anyone who may appear aggressive, even in a very public setting.

With crime rates increasing across cities worldwide and with the dilemma all of us and the police face, what do you think needs to change to discourage crimes like this?

By Edward East

Ed is the founder of Billion Dollar Boy