Ali Baba returns

[giantlaser]

slownewsday and I woke last night to a battle outside our house.  Two thieves (Ali Babas) dressed in black were sneaking around the back garden of our neighbor.  It isn't clear who fired first, or how it started at all.  What is clear is that the guards on my roof (over our bedroom) opened up with multiple rifles in short automatic bursts.  The thieves may

Comments

[octal]

Amusing that this happens the day before I show up :) Webcams on the perimeter would be fun, too.

I think I'll try to get a III + IV vest for the car; is it worth bothering with a coolmax and a IIA concealable?

Also, battle dressings seem like a REALLY good idea.

Pistol? Why not the AK?

I've never really had a problem with confronting people with a gun while naked; if it shocks them for even a second, it's a plus for me. Heh.

What are "warning shots"? As in center-of-mass hits on the targets, which the others find out about before attacking again?

[giantlaser]

Vest is your call - the hard part is finding one. I don't wear one, but Jayme was issued one by her company.

We carry battle dressings and tampons (stick them in wounds) at all times. 1/3 of my normal man-bag (read: European Carry-All, or purse) is devoted to bulletwound care.

I went shooting with the AK a few days ago. It performed poorly - aim is fine, but after 30 rounds it heats up and jams frequently. I won't carry a weapon that's going to get me killed at a random time in the future.

Killing is a very serious thing here. Even if they are thieves, we pay fassel if we kill them. So you give them a chance to flee before taking serious aim.

A real attack is one thing. Simple thieves are another.

[travisd]

If you capture them though, can you demand ransom for their return?

[giantlaser]

Uh, yes. :) But it's not a wise business to get into. Our engineers are far too vulnerable as they travel around to make a profit on ransom possible.

[valiss]

Another note-to-self: emergency shoes. Nothing like trying to flee from a building when glass is all over the floor.

[gorillashaman]

In Nairobi, our Askari ("night guard"? There's no real translation) carried Rungas, which are short narrow clubs with knotted gnarls at the end. Bandits usually were armed with Machettes. A siren and spinning light alarm on the top of a house would summon all the Askaris on the block to beat the bandits to within an inch of their lives.

It was not uncommon for an Askari to be found asleep on his watch.

I'm glad guns weren't as prevalent there as they seem to be in Baghdad.

re: turns of phrase

[anonymous]

"faithful manservant", eh?
"aide-de-camp" is also very good.

[pinkfu]

What about good ole motion sensor lights? Scare the shit out of me walking by someone's garage at 4am.