Me and Goio were attacked today by a theif trying to rob us!!!!

[treasurefiend]

We went to our normal hunting spot in a Chicago public park like any other day. Everything was cool.
I found a 1920 Merc, that is the end of my 71 day silver coin drought so I was happy.

I was detecting when I saw Goio saying something to me. I took off my headphones,
when I say a young guy maybe 16 - 20 years old throw a bottle at him. It missed him, but not by much.
The guy was like 15 feet away from us. I guess Goio was diging a plug when the first bottle came sailing
right passed his head. Everytime he threw a bottle he tried to rush up on us. He prolly thought we would
drop our detectors and he could run up and grab it. Well he got really close like 10 feet from me and whipped
another bottle at me, I saw it coming right for my head so I blocked it with my forearm. Just as before he tried
to rush me. This time I raised my shovel up and said "I'm gonna cut your %$&*@# head off!!!" well he took 1
step forward then ran off. He had another buddy off like 100 feet or so. Prolly ready to call his boys if anything
happened to him.

I wish I could of got my hands on him, I would of messed him up good. But my luck, he prolly is underage and I
would go to jail!!! He was whipping those bottels hard like he played baseball or some thing. The bottle that hit me
didn't blowup on impact, it bounced off. But now I have a big lump on my forearm, but that better than a broken
nose!!!! God I hate thiefs. The thing that bothers me most is that he tried to smash a bottle on Goios head when
he wasn't expecting it. Coward!!!! I atleast knew that a bottle was coming at me.

Oh yea, we still have all of our gear - he got nothing from us.

here are the pix that I took of todays hunt.

 

[Goldburn]

I've been through a few parks that had some undesirable individuals roaming around, but I've never been attacked.

Now that you mention it. I have broken up a fight before. A crowd of teens showed up at the parking lot of an elementary school, Two of them started clobbering each other. Within a few seconds I realized it wasn't horseplay and saw blood, I approached the crowd with sharp digger in hand and cell phone to the ear, yelling to them that the police are on their way, and basically GTFO. They scrambled, yelling 5-0!. (idiot code word for police)

Now that I think about it, I was outnumbered 20 to 1. Luckily it ended the way it did.


Treasurefiend, you could have returned the bottle to him at high velocity, and if the police got involved, you could have always said that you thought he was trying to play a game of catch lol.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

To bad this had to happen .Your lucky you didn't get hurt more.Im sure they may come back with more buddies next time to hound you.
Always look up and around you as much as possible ,also good to have a friend with you in those types of areas.
You can always strap a machete to your belt as part of your digging tools.
Stay safe and good luck digging.

 

[John-Edmonton]

WOW! Glad you walked away with minimal injuries. The street drugs available today are so addictive that people will do just about anything for money to buy them. When I hunt places where non-desirables hang out, I often wear an orange vest. It kinda scares them away. And, I like to hunt with another person too in those areas.

 

[Goldburn]

I like the orange vest idea! Maybe even letter it with some kind of acronym to make you look like some kind of official too lol.

 

[slingshot]

That's EXACTLY why I don't use the good headphones. I use the cheapos and they are about 1/2" AWAY from my ears. And my screwdriver is at least a foot long-and I never STARE at the ground-everything's automatic and I'm constantly looking around. Sometimes I even find targets away from me while I'm detecting-I found a dollar bill a few feet away because my eyes weren't glued to the ground.

 

[Uncle Willy]

You should have called the cops and had the twerp arrested. You are allowed to defend yourself against physical assault regardless of age.

Bill

 

[Yaridnac]

Very scary guys. That is the reason why I don't bother to use headphones at any place I go to. There's always a punk trying to make money from other people's things. That's why I'm carrying my miracle blade knife to cut my plugs. This sucker is ridiculously sharp and it can make an impression on somebody trying to come to me. Plus I have the Kellyco Gator digger too. I look like a ninja when I'm cutting my plugs but they look beautiful when I put them back. I wouldn't go back to that park. It isn't worth the trouble. Hopefully you didn't fracture the bone. Take care guys, Peace!!!

 

[Blink]

I had a close call once and now I tell our club members that if they are hunting in a undiserable area and the sun is shinning, to have your back toward the sun. This way if you are kneeling digging a target and a shadow suddenly comes over your shoulder there is someone behind you. I've had kids walk up behind me and if I had'nt seen their shadow I wouldn't have known they were there. It's scarry. The best thing is to not hunt alone in areas like that and to watch out for each other.

 

[cwilk]

I don't know if you read where I had a similar experience this spring. Mine involved a lot more boys and I called the cops before things got too bad. I told the operator I had a gun and was going to shoot anybody that got close to me and that was a lie and a bit of a mistake. I told her I didn't have a gun but when the cops arrived they searched me before they approached these poor disadvantaged boys.

Nice deep Merc and looks like you are supremely respectful when you dig. You have become a heck of a treasure hunter!

Chris

 

[GOLD&OLDIES]

its to bad you didnt get to crack his skull!!! these #$%@!#$ theifs need there arms broke and i could name a few more but we all know what they need!!! i always try to have a partner just for safety reasons and if i go out in remote areas i always carry a pistol real close!! because these punks will cut your throat for a nickel,pair of shoes or what ever,so its always good to be ready and be expecting somthing,its to bad that you have to look over your shoulder but its the time we live in!!! glad you guys wernt hurt worse than you were! be safe be ready and be prepared! happy hunting. mack

 

[awhitster]

Glad you are OK. That's too bad because from the pics it looks like a nice park. And it probably is. Just some bad people around. I'd go back. Ready.

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

I can relate, I have lived in big cities most of my life. I'm not saying that can't happen here where I live. It is just improbable.
I have stuck my neck out in the places I have MD'ed in Fl. Really some bad neighborhoods. I usually MD'ed them in the early morning. It seemed like the safest time.
I'd say they were pretty dumb to try to attack you. I'm glad you are OK.
I really don't worry about it here in WV. Some of the lowest crime in the nation. If there is theft, it is usually nonviolent. There are bad people everywhere. It is just the odds are lower here for something like that to happen. I try to watch how I dress. I'm usually the one scarring people in the park.

 

[sasquache]

unreal so sad too hear that we as metal detectorists cant even go out and enjoy our hobby without some punks bothering us :veryangry: it really bothers me too hear this i hope your arm heals ok i also would go back there but not alone and with cell phone and a big surprise for those punks

 

[awhitster]

I try to watch how I dress. I'm usually the one scarring people in the park.

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