More Histrionics From Those Who Do Not Know

There's been a slew of criticism levelled at the police handling of the Virginia Tech shooting. Why didn't they shut the campus down sooner? Why two hours before the first email went out etc.

As per usual the pontificating windbags who've never run a security gig in their lives are full of opinions on what went wrong etc.

Let's make this easy. Imagine for a minute in your home town a disgruntled husband/boyfriend shot his wife/girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself. You, the police officer, are called and, based on what you see think you have a domestic situation. Would you then shut down your city? Would you shut down the entire city just in case? Keep in mind nobody has ever before, in a situation like this, shot two people, then left to mail in their manifesto to the networks and then come back to finish the job.

Want to know what I think. I think that if the police chief had shut down the campus, and nothing had happened, the entire crew screaming out about his ineptitude would now be screaming "why did he have to shut down the entire campus? God, it was just a domestic...what a jackass?"

Yep, they're the whining bastards that will whine no matter what happens.

As for closing down the campus...let's think about that one for a minute shall we. Er...the gunman was on the campus. Kind of like making sure the doors and windows are all locked at home when the rapist is already inside the house. Besides, it's a huge campus not a classroom. How do you lock something down the size of a small town? Oh right, I forgot, the know it all windbags think you could shut down the roads in and out and order everyone to stay in their classrooms. Well, nobody drove into the shooting, they were already in their classrooms...and, as for being locked in, the killer had taken care of that by chaining the doors shut in that particular building so, would one of the whining know nothings please explain exactly how that would have helped?

Alright, sorry if I've offended anyone with the tone of my post but I just get sick and tired of pontificating windbags who surface every time there's a disaster, calamity, or tragedy that haven't ever actually had any experience in what it is they're jabbering about (just how many of the liberal Hollywood actors have ever run a country or led an Army to war?) and begin to wax lyrical on what should be done.

So, just for the record, the cops up there did everything they absolutely could have done with the information they had. If anyone tells you differently ask them how long they've been a police chief.

Pickpockets

I was talking to a mate today and remembered a portion of my hotel security lecture. In India, when you walk outside one of the very biggest hotels, there is a huge sign strung across the road saying "Beware of Pick Pockets." Conveniently, the sign is in several different languages.

The amusing thing is that it's the local pick pockets who put the sign up!!!

What's the first thing the average tourist does when he sees the sign? Pats his pocket where his wallet is to reassure himself it's still where he put it. In so doing, of course he lets the pickpocket know where it is thus saving the enterprising thief time.

The very best art those from Sth America who target London and Paris during the holiday seasons. They work in teams and quickly pass the lifted wallet from team member to team member. Even if you feel it gone and grab the guy you think has it, it is already five team members away.

According to the copper I trained with in London, they mail them back en masse to a post box in their home town thus insuring there's no evidence to be found during a search at the airport or their flat.

You can make their job a tad harder. Immediately check after you've been "bumped" by anyone. Carry your wallet, or cash, in your front pockets and never an inside pocket on a jacket which is the easiest of all to lift. Ladies keep your pocket books/purses closed at all times. The biker trick of keeping a chain attached to your wallet and your belt isn't bad either. Doesn't look very fasionable but good luck getting one of those away from someone.

One of my mates on a body guard team I worked on had Velcro on his and Velcro in his pocket so it involved a modicum of effort to get it out.