Preparedness
Powerlifter Takes Down Bag Thief, Leaves with More than Souvenirs
Miurell Vargas, a 26-year-old powerlifter, had a rather eventful day on March 29 when her vehicle was broken into and her bag and wallet stolen. The spirited athlete was undeterred, immediately embarking on a search for her stolen possessions, driving around in her car with an eagle eye for her distinctive Nike bag.
Interestingly, Vargas wasn’t particularly concerned about any cash that might have been in her wallet. The treasure she sought was far more significant and irreplaceable. Vargas elucidated, “My mom’s picture was in my wallet. And my mom passed away eight years ago.”
Unfortunately, the chase took an unexpected turn. Vargas found herself involved in a car accident near NW 2nd Avenue and 22nd Lane in the Miami neighborhood of Wynwood. As fate would have it, the surveillance camera captured the entire event.
In a twist of fate, it appears that Vargas caught sight of the thief around the time of the collision. With a quick exit from her damaged vehicle, she confronted him on a nearby sidewalk. Vargas recounts, “I tried to force and grab my wallet, and he didn’t want to let go of it… So, that’s when I started punching him — because it was either me or him.”
According to Vargas, the suspect was quite vocal during their encounter. “He was yelling that it wasn’t my bag and that I was crazy,” she stated. However, the suspect, later identified as Luis Machado, was soon apprehended by the police and left with a souvenir from his encounter with Vargas – a black eye.
Although Machado admitted to possession of Vargas’ property, he denied breaking into her vehicle. As Kiara Delva of Miami police noted, “He admitted to having some of the victim’s property, but then he claims he didn’t know how the property became in his possession, which obviously were conflicting statements that didn’t make sense.”
Machado now faces charges of burglary, criminal mischief, and petty theft. He is accused of breaking Vargas’ car window and stealing her belongings while she was at work.
Regrettably, the vehicle of the innocent bystander involved in the crash was also totaled. Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported. Vargas, who was ticketed for the accident, expressed remorse to the other driver. “I just want to say sorry to the person that I crashed into… She gave me a hug. She was very nice. I just want to say sorry to her.”
Vargas admitted to the police that she was so engrossed in pursuing the suspected thief that she ended up colliding with another car. But she didn’t sound regretful. “So, that was sentimental value for me that I needed to recover,” she said. “That’s why I did it.”
She further admitted, “I had so much adrenaline in me that I didn’t think about the consequences.” Vargas’ story serves as a powerful testament to the lengths a person will go to protect what matters to them the most.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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Preparedness
Dad’s Heroic Fight Saves Son from Mountain Lion Attack
A California family experienced a terrifying ordeal during their Labor Day picnic when their 5-year-old son was attacked by a mountain lion. The incident occurred just before 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Tapia Day Use Area of Malibu State Creek Park in Calabasas, as reported by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
The boy’s family and several other adults and children were enjoying their time when the mountain lion suddenly grabbed the child by the head and began to run.
“Somebody screamed the baby’s name, and his dad started running,” the boy’s aunt recounted.
“The father grabbed the mountain lion with his hands, and he just fought. Then the mountain lion let go.”
The dramatic rescue unfolded in front of about 40 onlookers, some of whom noted that the mountain lion appeared completely unafraid during the attack.
Male mountain lions can weigh up to 150 pounds and measure up to 8 feet in length, making the father’s actions even more heroic.
The boy was promptly airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He was released later that Sunday but had to return to the hospital on Monday due to complications involving his eyes.
Upon arrival at the scene, California State Park rangers and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers found the mountain lion crouched in a tree near the picnic area.
The animal was deemed a threat to public safety and was euthanized by a ranger.
Wildlife officers collected evidence from the boy’s injuries, including DNA swabs from the bite marks, which were matched to the mountain lion.
“CDFW and State Park officials are thankful that the family is safe, and the child is recovering and no one else was injured,” the CDFW stated.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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Preparedness
Oakland Chao: Gunfire With No Police In Sight While Residents Fear For Safety
Just a month ago, five individuals were injured during a chaotic street takeover in Oakland. These unruly events, commonly referred to as “sideshows,” involve drivers blocking intersections and performing dangerous stunts like peeling out and burning rubber, all while large crowds gather to watch and record the spectacle.
Early Saturday morning, Oakland experienced yet another street takeover. This one lasted an hour and included participants firing guns into the air, all of which was captured on video. Shocked residents complained about the absence of police, as reported by KTVU-TV.
“We know that we don’t have enough police officers. … We can’t afford it.”
A video report shows what appears to be cellphone footage of individuals discharging firearms during the sideshow. Residents expressed their fear that stray bullets might cause serious injuries or worse.
“I just heard gunshots, like gunshots coming from all directions, people trying to hide. They just fire up in the air, and you don’t know where it’s going to land,” a neighbor who requested anonymity told the station.
This resident was among several who mentioned that such sideshows near 98th Avenue and Empire Boulevard have become routine occurrences.
“Like a whole hour. No police. I didn’t hear no sirens at all. … Some people were on top of that house’s roof. There were fireworks included. There were blue lasers, green lasers,” another neighbor revealed to the station.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Police Chief Floyd Mitchell have made appearances at recent town halls, promising to take more action against these sideshows. Potential solutions discussed include using new technologies like drones and cameras, as well as enlisting the help of the California Highway Patrol.
“We know that we don’t have enough police officers,” the mayor said at one town hall, according to KTVU. “We can’t afford it, but that doesn’t mean that we use that as an excuse or reason not to be sure that people feel safe.”
Chief Mitchell noted that police are “working hard to try to curb this activity. We have a sideshow detail that goes out every Friday and Saturday,” the station reported.
Mitchell also mentioned that redesigned intersections could potentially help, but KTVU reported that residents near Saturday’s sideshow are still waiting for city leaders to fulfill their promises.
“I’ve been here my whole life, and it has changed, it has changed so much, and it’s frustrating because it seems like they don’t care,” a neighbor told the station.
KTVU said it reached out to both the police and the mayor’s office for comments on the residents’ concerns about local crime, but the station did not receive a response in time for its report.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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Preparedness
Chicago Mom Defends Daughter from Intruder with Concealed-Carry Firearm
A mother from Chicago, who holds a concealed-carry license, found herself in a harrowing situation over the weekend when she had to use her firearm to protect her daughter.
The incident occurred at the family’s South Shore apartment late Saturday night. The mother, who requested anonymity, shared her experience with WLS-TV.
“That motherly instincts kick in, so as soon as something happens, it’s like fight or flight,” she explained.
Her 18-year-old daughter had just finished bathing and returned to her bedroom shortly before 11 p.m. when she noticed a man attempting to climb through her window.
“So, I put the towel on, and I run out my room, and I ran right there. I’m like, ‘Yo, somebody’s trying to come through my window.’ So, my mom immediately acted on it,” the daughter recounted to the station.
The mother, a long-time concealed-carry license holder, had never fired her gun until that night.
“He was, like, hanging on her window. I just told him that ‘I have a gun. I’m going to shoot.’ And he just didn’t stop. I fired a warning shot. I didn’t even know that he got hit,” she told WLS.
The police later discovered the 36-year-old suspect on East 69th Street near Oglesby, with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was taken to a hospital and was reported to be in fair condition. Charges against him were pending as of Sunday night.
Both the mother and daughter had some stern words for the intruder.
“Next time you think about coming through somebody’s window, you just remember how that bullet felt,” the daughter warned.
Her mother echoed this sentiment, advising, “Try not to be out here committing crimes, especially trying to come into somebody’s house, because you never know what’s on the other side of that window.”
In the aftermath of the incident, the police confiscated the mother’s firearm.
This event highlights the importance of preparedness and the potential consequences of criminal actions, especially when intruding into someone’s home.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Bret
May 14, 2024 at 2:11 pm
The police never would have found the suspect nor would she have gotten her belongings back. A number of reasons for this. Insufficient numbers of police, rampant high crime rates everywhere, non prosecution of these criminals. And the police want to tell us to not do what she did. The police are minutes away when you only have seconds to protect you and yours.
Marian Toto
May 14, 2024 at 10:11 pm
Of course, she is entitled to retrieve her possessions as she was capable and trained.