Two thieves in their 20s learned the hard way last weekend why trying to rob an old-fashioned Michael “Mike” Baxter-styled supply store in Washington is a royally bad idea.
According to The Herald, the young men waltzed into Coastal Farm & Home Supply shop last Saturday afternoon, grabbed four nails guns each worth over $400 and then skedaddled to their cars.
Easy enough, right? What could possibly go wrong? A lot, actually. What the young thieves failed to take into consideration while planning their heist was that the type of people who regularly hang out at old-fashioned supply stores are, well, real men. Real men with guns, to be exact.
“They didn’t expect to be surrounded by about six customers with guns raised,” The Herald explained. “One customer was standing in front of the car, yelling at the alleged thieves to get out.”
The suspect in the passenger’s seat then reportedly said, “He won’t shoot, run him over.”
And so the driver pushed down on the gas pedal, causing the car to slam the man in front and flip him onto the hood. Bad decision. Really, really, really bad decision.
“Another customer shot at the driver’s side front tire, according to documents. A third fired twice at the rear tire. Someone shot at the car one more time as it left the parking lot, records show.”
Bystanders were shocked:
“Like pow pow pow! When I hear it, I go outside in the kitchen,” Monica Medina, who at the time had been taking a customer’s order at Playa Bonita Mexican Restaurant, said to KEPR.
“It was weird. It was weird. All I heard was ‘bang, bang, bang’ like that and I saw a gal running to her car,” Davin Tuninga, who had reportedly been at Wagner Jewelers, added.
Meanwhile, one of Coastal Farm & Home Supply’s employees hopped into his car and chased after the thieves. After one of the suspects reportedly held up a gun through the passenger window, the employee reportedly stopped and returned to the store.
No matter, because local authorities caught the failed thieves shortly thereafter.
“Marysville police found the theft suspects’ car unoccupied about three blocks away, with two flat tires and the tools inside. Both men were apprehended after a search,” The Herald reported.
Chances are the thieves wouldn’t have been forced to abandon their car had the supply shop’s customers not blown out some of its tires, as suggested by social media users:
This is how crime is deterred.
Six customers draw guns on men attempting to steal tools.https://t.co/UpVQocvJ9S
— #MAGA ❌ Evil Esq (@EvilEsq) December 27, 2018
Ever-remembering Criminals prefer unarmed victims.
The plan was to steal tools. Then customers drew their guns
https://t.co/Tn3obz7Bi6 pic.twitter.com/mOUROGuU8Q— A Devoted Yogi (@ADevotedYogi) December 27, 2018
A well-armed society is a polite society. https://t.co/4GWe0hNj0D #2A
— Vin Tanner (@SurburbanCowboy) December 27, 2018
“ The plan was to steal tools. Then customers drew their guns “
✅. Don’t steal in broad daylight in Marysville
✅ 6 armed citizens stop criminals
✅In liberal Washington State ❗️
✅. An armed America is a safer America
Thank you @NRA https://t.co/2cJhyfMk0c pic.twitter.com/Xds117S6wX
— Shawn Steel (@shawnsteel1) December 26, 2018
Liberal gun nuts will try to roast the “good-guys with guns” but I think they just put thieves in that community on notice. Good for them. https://t.co/58tGNRocAg
— SRobHartkopf (@srobhartkopf) December 26, 2018
Both thieves have since been booked into jail on allegations of first-degree theft. Case closed, right? Not exactly. Marysville police Cmdr. Mark Thomas would like to speak with the customers who opened fire, but they reportedly ditched the scene during the altercation.
“Anytime you’re firing a weapon in a public place, especially a few days before Christmas in a crowded parking lot, it is a grave concern,” he said to The Herald.
He’s also concerned about whether they fired their guns legally.
Some social media users were not happy with this apparent “blame the victim” narrative:
Six customers drew their guns – to stop thieves who almost ran over a customer. But cops blame the victims? https://t.co/nab4LACimJ #2A #VetoKasich #SelfDefense
— j_smith_7 (@j_smith_7) December 27, 2018
Yet oddly enough — or maybe not, given it’s Washington state — many agreed with it.
Look:
We believe that at least two civilians fired at the shoplifters or the shoplifter’s car as it was fleeing the store. Those citizens then left before police arrived. We are asking that those who fired contact MSVL police to provide us a statement as to what they saw.
— Marysville Police (@MarysvilleWAPD) December 23, 2018
Assault with a deadly weapon? Endangering the welfare of everyone near. Definitely a more serious crime than shoplifting. What’s the description of the real suspects?
— Robert Seeley (@robseeley17) December 23, 2018
Lucky innocent people weren’t killed – ridiculous.
— Miguel C (@Squad_Fifty_One) December 23, 2018
Crazy! I am glad the scumbags were caught and that nobody was hurt. I understand not wanting them to get away, but you can’t go shooting at them if they are not an immediate threat. I understand the frustration of wanting to catch them, but you need to be a responsible gun owner
— Melinda Schoening (@MelindaSchoeni2) December 23, 2018
I hope you plan on charging them. The penalty for shoplifting isn’t the death penalty by vigilante firing squad.
— W. Hamlin (@erleichda29) December 23, 2018
What kind of jackass, fires a weapon, at a person, who is NOT trying to kill someone.
I hope you guys investigate the “civilians”.— Rory vanberg (@rory_vanberg) December 23, 2018
It’s unclear why these locals feel more anger at the customers than the actual perpetrators.
The good news — or at least for those who prioritize common sense — is a few disagree with this dubious line of thinking:
The lesson here is to not rob someone outside a @coastalfarm their customers are badass Patriots
— chaotic house (@BoasRobert) December 23, 2018
If they where stealing your stuff you would be shooting quit the allegations when you where not there. Hey maybe if criminals know that citizens can stand up for themselves crime will stop. The old days you stole they cut your hand off. We are too passive wake up
— Michael Mink (@MichaelMink28) December 23, 2018
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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