RED FLAG today...

[Montauk3]

I'm working the wet this morning at Venice beach. Fair amount of folks enjoying the day.
I notice out of the corner of my eye that four guys, early 20's set up a spot near the wet and dry line.
I also notice them eyeballing me and obviously talking about me. Bingo! the red flag is raised double time. No I am not paranoid!

I keep them in sight until I worked slightly past them. I then saw one of them leave the group and walked at an intersecting angle in a meandering way. Hmm! says I. He walks up ahead of me and pretends that he's looking for something in the wet sand with his foot. He doesn't find anything and returns to his friends. I was very obviously "cased".

They continued to watch me till I was quite a distance away. I then turned around and walked in their general direction.

I honestly believe that if the beach was not busy, they would have made an attempt.

Well it would have been shiite their pants time for them, big time.

Sunglasses can keep you hidden in a crowd.

Refuse to be a vicitm!

 

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[ron lord]

Just remember that scoop you carry makes one hell of face lift tool !!!!!

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

I even had my detector in my bag that day and got it out after talking to Snooksion, 'cause it got me in the mood to detect!
... found a handful of items that afternoon too!

Bran <><

You were at a beach and wasn't in the mood till you talked to a fellow detectorist? LOL.

Heck, I get the mood just watching CSI Miami. I lfind when i see people the first thing I look at is their jewelry, and if nice I find myself thinking "wish they go to the beach with that on".

 

[karib2517]

maybe they lost something and couldn't work up the nerve to ask you to find it. some young folks just dont know how to approach mature adults.

 

[Caryl]

Now add being a girl and constantly in condition yellow, more like condition orange. We're military and my dad is a police sgt. I'm also a master archer. I know how to take care of myself. But dang it, I'd like to go out ONCE by myself and not feel like a sparrow under the gaze of a hawk. KWIM? I swear I'm going to put " I believe in concealed carry" on my vest under "permission to dig". Most places here you can't actually carry and DIG, schools, tot lots, beaches, but most of the wandering morons do not know that.

 

[deepsix47]

Glad you got out ok. I always believe in instinct if it doesn't feel right it probably isn't. Many people try to ignore the situation and hope nothing happens. It is kinda like the sheep in the corral hoping the wolf will not select them. I believe in eye contact and letting them know I know they are there. It does help that I am 6'1 and 240 lbs and look like I can take care of myself, as an ex cop I can tell you most people don't want to deal with someone who looks as if they are prepared to defend themselves or to even remember what they look like. You should always be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are at. Good luck and be safe on all your hunts. Ted

Ted makes an excellent point here. Eye contact is a good thing. Let them know that you know they are there then casually turn away and do your thing. Be sure to keep an eye on them and anything else that is going on around you.

In certain instances I have been known to go a bit farther. Bring up a scoop of sand. Casually reach down and pull out your Divers Knife (you do carry one, right) probe the sand in the scoop with it a few seconds, then put it back into its sheath. Finish checking the scoop and be on your way. By doing this you've accomplished two very important things.

1. The eye contact has let them know you have seen them, you are unconcerned, choose not to play their game and would rather just be doing your own thing.

2. You are armed!!!!

If they are merely curious about what you are doing the knife will mean nothing to them. If however they are bad guys, they will have second thoughts about messing with you. Predators are predators, it makes no difference if they have two legs or four. They tend to prey on those that appear to be weaker then they are.

Anyway, thanx for the post Ted

Deepsix

 

[Pepper2004]

Always trust your gut even if you do feel silly. It's better to be alive and silly, than dead or beaten.

 

[greydigger]

I always wondered what was meant by "Coin Shooting".

Liked the idea of divers knife too. Blunt tip still looks mean and would be a good digger in hard pack. Do need to make one of those big SS sand scoops.

Joe

 

[ivan salis]

we all have built in self defense "alarms" hard wired into our nervious systems -- they go off for a reason --heed them - better to be a little over careful -- than to be a lot dead. -- cause there are real live "boogey" men (& women) out there. lurking around waiting for the just right time, place and victim.--so be careful out there. Ivan ( its why having a trust worthy hunting buddy is so important--cuz two guys standing back to back leave no weak spot to exploit)