Geriatric RVers take down RV burglar
#1
Just had to share this. It doesn't pay to mess with "grumpy old men"... :mrgreen:
By Russ & Tiña De Maris | June 18, 2010 - 2:43 pm - Posted in Alaska
HOMER, Alaska — A group of self-described, “Grumpy Old Men” have proved youth doesn’t always have the upper hand on oldsters. When 26-year-old Tyler Cavenaugh allegedly attempted to rob several RVs at an Alaska Highway turnout, the oldsters turned the table and got a grip on the would-be thief, holding him until authorities arrived.
“Everyone was over 70,” said Spike Fortier of Anchorage, the leader of the motorhome caravan. “It was like a rerun of ‘Grumpy Old Men.’” Witnesses say Cavenaugh burgled two motorhomes at the Baycrest Hill turnout along the Sterling Highway in broad daylight. Fortier saw the man running with loot, and took off after him in a van. Other RVers responded on foot, until a woman driving an auto–apparently an accomplice–attempted to provide an escape. Cavenaugh dove through the open door of the vehicle, head first, attempting to secure a getaway. The quick thinking RVers grabbed whatever they could, and pulled the alleged crook out of the car.
It was then that 70-year-old Harvey Hayden’s glory days on the hockey rink came back to him. “I picked him up in the air and slammed him down on the ground,” Hayden said. “It reverted back to my days playing hockey. … It was kind of a body slam. I’ve been in a million of them on the hockey rink, but never on the Sterling Highway. It must have been quite a shock for Cavenaugh to look up and see himself surrounded over 40 old RVers, all outfitted in yellow vests.
When police arrived–responding to multiple 9-1-1 calls, they found Cavanaugh being held down by several gentlemen from the RV group, and the fruitless fruits of his criminal folly surrounding him. Cavenaugh was charged on June 11 with two counts of first-degree burglary, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree theft — all felonies — and second-degree criminal trespass. The RV group will no doubt have plenty of mileage for campfire stories far into the future.
By Russ & Tiña De Maris | June 18, 2010 - 2:43 pm - Posted in Alaska
HOMER, Alaska — A group of self-described, “Grumpy Old Men” have proved youth doesn’t always have the upper hand on oldsters. When 26-year-old Tyler Cavenaugh allegedly attempted to rob several RVs at an Alaska Highway turnout, the oldsters turned the table and got a grip on the would-be thief, holding him until authorities arrived.
“Everyone was over 70,” said Spike Fortier of Anchorage, the leader of the motorhome caravan. “It was like a rerun of ‘Grumpy Old Men.’” Witnesses say Cavenaugh burgled two motorhomes at the Baycrest Hill turnout along the Sterling Highway in broad daylight. Fortier saw the man running with loot, and took off after him in a van. Other RVers responded on foot, until a woman driving an auto–apparently an accomplice–attempted to provide an escape. Cavenaugh dove through the open door of the vehicle, head first, attempting to secure a getaway. The quick thinking RVers grabbed whatever they could, and pulled the alleged crook out of the car.
It was then that 70-year-old Harvey Hayden’s glory days on the hockey rink came back to him. “I picked him up in the air and slammed him down on the ground,” Hayden said. “It reverted back to my days playing hockey. … It was kind of a body slam. I’ve been in a million of them on the hockey rink, but never on the Sterling Highway. It must have been quite a shock for Cavenaugh to look up and see himself surrounded over 40 old RVers, all outfitted in yellow vests.
When police arrived–responding to multiple 9-1-1 calls, they found Cavanaugh being held down by several gentlemen from the RV group, and the fruitless fruits of his criminal folly surrounding him. Cavenaugh was charged on June 11 with two counts of first-degree burglary, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree theft — all felonies — and second-degree criminal trespass. The RV group will no doubt have plenty of mileage for campfire stories far into the future.
#3
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Camarillo, California
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Great job!!!
My DH was attacked by some skateboarders on Monday night. Jim works at a church and the skateboarders love to come and "do their thing" on the stairs and rails. The Church had installed clamps on the rails to keep them off. The kids used a "sawzall" and removed the clamps as well as another rail. They were boarding and filming what they were doing when Jim came around the corner and saw them. They used to just run off so he told them to leave and after several times of yelling at them they ran off but left a backpack behind. Jim picked up the heavy pack (may have had the Sawzall in it) and they came back. There were about 7 of them and two of the kids started hitting my husband. He warded off blows but did not strike back. Ended up with a blood shot eye and bruising on his face and very sore muscles. He said that they continued filming the whole time the couple of kids beat on him. Seams there is a audience for "Skaters beating up old guys". The next day, some of the kids had the nerve to come back and when asked to leave started cussing him out, in front of the little children at the preschool. Well police came and the kids got busted. They were 13-17!!!!
My DH was attacked by some skateboarders on Monday night. Jim works at a church and the skateboarders love to come and "do their thing" on the stairs and rails. The Church had installed clamps on the rails to keep them off. The kids used a "sawzall" and removed the clamps as well as another rail. They were boarding and filming what they were doing when Jim came around the corner and saw them. They used to just run off so he told them to leave and after several times of yelling at them they ran off but left a backpack behind. Jim picked up the heavy pack (may have had the Sawzall in it) and they came back. There were about 7 of them and two of the kids started hitting my husband. He warded off blows but did not strike back. Ended up with a blood shot eye and bruising on his face and very sore muscles. He said that they continued filming the whole time the couple of kids beat on him. Seams there is a audience for "Skaters beating up old guys". The next day, some of the kids had the nerve to come back and when asked to leave started cussing him out, in front of the little children at the preschool. Well police came and the kids got busted. They were 13-17!!!!
#7
Gayle,my hubby is a cop and he LOVES to respond to these type of youth calls. Usually a scary run in with the police turns them around.
He has many calls each year from parents asking him to come and talk to their child. The other police in the area do not get these calls, they don't care and do not make an effort to "connect" with the youths in the community, troubled or otherwise.
He has many calls each year from parents asking him to come and talk to their child. The other police in the area do not get these calls, they don't care and do not make an effort to "connect" with the youths in the community, troubled or otherwise.
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Camarillo, California
Posts: 35,242
Originally Posted by CAROLJ
I am sorry for your husband.
They film their actions to put on youtube. You may want to look to see if you can find it and then let the police know.
They film their actions to put on youtube. You may want to look to see if you can find it and then let the police know.
He is afraid that they will cause some vandalism (beyond cutting rails and such) to the church because of this. Everytime we are out in the evening, we take a drive thru the parking lot. The police are keeping an eye on things too.
Oh, by the way, my "old guy" is only 51!
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