Xbox 360 snagged at gunpoint
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Nov 25th 2005 at 12:00PM }
A Jonesboro (Georgia) woman was robbed at gunpoint outside of
her home early Tuesday morning after returning from Best Buy with a newly purchased Xbox 360. Patsy Springer, a
53-year-old widow, had waited nearly nine hours to secure her son's coveted Christmas gift.
When Springer reached her home she was approached by a man who pointed a gun at her face and grabbed the shopping bag containing the Xbox 360 and additional accessories & software (valued at roughly $600). The man then fled to his car, at which point Springer attempted to pursue him in her own car—she eventually gave up. The attacker likely followed Springer from the Best Buy parking lot.
One report suggests that Jonesboro police partially identified a suspect after reviewing several Best Buy security tapes, but when they requested to see additional tapes, they were told, due to technical difficulties, the tapes were not viewable.
[Thanks, master x 24; via Planet Xbox 360]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
So she followed the car... but didn't get a license number?
BRILLIANT!
shar @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
lots of 360 mugging news, isn't there be some kind of tracking system? let's say, xbox360 with this certain id is reported stolen, and if it was somehow get on to xboxlive or whatever, then you can track the guy and voila?
nightshadow97 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
hey shar....
thats a very good idea you should throw that at microsoft........im serious
shawn moniz @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
a bunch of scum around the holiday season,you know what it is,there too cheap and cant buy things on there own so they steal...but they dont relize they will get caught and if they get caught they wont be playing that xbox 360...jesus people what is the big deal over this system ,you would kill for it? that is sad on how this country is...pretty sad...
Peg Leg @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
dude..
she couldnt have gotten the license plate without her glasses on! after all, she is an old woman.
usually people turn off their car, unbuckle their seatbelt, take off their potential "driving glasses" . LOL.
thats so sad though...really.
this has gotten out of hand. how is she gonna explain that to her son?
"uh, yea....here are some wood blocks, merry christmas son, i had an xbox 360, but someone, uh...held me at ...uh...held me at gunpoint ya thats it! and then, he took, uh, he took my stuff and drove off , and the security tape doesnt exist so i cant show you that i am not lieing."
thats sad ...really...lol.
sharpfish @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
When I heard of the first mugging incident that was my first thought (track the ID via the serial/machine ID) the only problem is I doubt MS can do that without user intevention and it depends on if the store kept a record of which customer got which serial.
it sucks though and shows just how bad things are getting these days.
Stevo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
This is really stupid. Why are guns still legal in America? "I know, let's give a long-range deadly weapon to every dumbass in the country. The place is overpopulated anyway."
Bloo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
I think there will be at least 3 times as many muggings for the PS3 because it will be at least 3 times more powerful
p-diddy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Glad to see this story is being circulated. I tried to find a reference when engadget brought up some other stories. Comment 32.
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000063069412/#comments
-p-
BlackYoshi @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Stevo, she could have easily been robbed with a knife or a crowbar threatening her. Even if guns are illegal, it wouldn't be that hard for a criminal to get one illegaly. At all. Just a bad argument against guns right there.
Steve @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
That is really sadknow what can't wait till the PS3 comes out and the Rev. lots of rabid fans will start stealing those as well however when I go purchus my PS3 next year I'm going to carry a pocket knife with me just in case.
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
No it's not a poor argument against guns.
Maybe America should stop the MASS prodcution of domestic guns and curb the import of guns and arms. Maybe America should destroy some of the surplus guns that are found or confiscated, which are obviously not needed or wanted.
Maybe America should simply have less guns in general. And maybe they should be made illegal.
But no, of course not. Some Americans just have to make any excuse why guns should NOT be removed.
Then maybe people can shop for "sold out" and "shortage" crippled videogames in peace. But whatever.
"SHORTAGE" + GUNS and "THUGS" = THIS. Stupid.
Alec @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
She started chasing a guy with a gun for an Xbox360...she probably "gave up" beacause she realized that she was chasing a guy WITH A GUN. Or she drove too slow because she was old.
Bloo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
gmrc
"America" doesn't make guns. America *does* destroy some of the surplus guns that are found or confiscated.
"But no, of course not. Some Americans just have to make any excuse why guns should NOT be removed."
Yes, we allow opionons here.
""SHORTAGE" + GUNS and "THUGS" = THIS. Stupid."
You can replace "GUNS" with knives, bats, or even muscles. Should America stop people from having friends so a grioup of people can't rob someone for their 360? Should America stop people from having muscles so thugs can't beat up someone for their 360?
bob23 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Yeah guns should be illegal and I agree with what gmrc said.
But.. since guns are not illegal you should bring one with you when going 360 shopping so if some tard trys to mug you...
you can go counter strike on his ass.
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Ok Bloo, you win. Guns are as awesome as muscles and friends. Yeah for guns.
Knives, muscles, baseball bats and friends serve no purpose other than killing people ... it's true. They are all the same as guns.
I heart guns, just like bloo.
chudgoo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Bloo,
Not that I really want to get into this, but it takes significantly less effort/time to kill someone with a gun than it does with muscle.
Most fatal shootings are committed in the heat of the moment...a split second and often regretted decision.
Most fatal beatings were very much planned. At minimum you could say that 'things got out of hand', but the offender certainly had more time to comprehend the consequences of his actions.
Guns provide quick fixes to social problems that shouldn't *be* in the first place.
Bloo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Do you have any reading comprehension? Where do I ever say I like guns? Because, in fact, I don't. Where do I say "Knives, muscles, baseball bats and friends serve no purpose other than killing people"? I say they can ALSO rob people in addition to guns. YOU said guns should be banned so people don't get robbed. I pointed out by banning guns you can still get robbed in other ways. That's not to say guns shouldn't be banned. Get it now?
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Bloo, just shut up man.
"YOU said guns should be banned so people don't get robbed." I never said that, but whatever.
Let me break it down for you:
I think guns in the general population are a bad idea.
There; 11 words. Understand?
Now stop defending guns already. Carrying guns SHOULD be illegal, get over it.
Poor lady and her poor kid ... getting mugged sucks
Bloo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Wow. I NEVER defended guns. I hate to put it like this, but are you brain dead? Let me say it one more time: I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER defended guns. In fact, I also said that I DON'T like guns. So you know, I have NO PROBLEM with guns being banned. And I'll say one more time that I was JUST COUNTERING YOUR STATEMENT that if guns were banned that would not stop "then people can shop for sold out and shortage crippled videogames in peace" as well as your blame it on America comments which were completely false and baseless. Please tell me you FINALLY understand.
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Why did you chime in Bloo?
A poor lady gets mugged for her 360, I comment on how guns suck and then you poke your ugly head in - apparently to "just counter my statement".
Countering "guns suck" implies "guns don't suck"
When people read this thread, you're the only looking stupid. Why did you start this flame war? What were you hoping to acheive?
And America *does* produce a ton of hand guns, and ideally those should NOT be in the hands of just anybody. But people like BLOO just LOVE GUNS too darn much I guess.
(lets see what that brings out in bloo ;-) )
Just get over it already.
**Back on topic** Good for her for being brave and trying to follow the guy, guns are scary nad he could have killed her.
Rico @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
I hope she got the money back somehow, either through insurance or public support. Nine hours and $600 down PLUS the trauma of being robbed at gunpoint? That's cold.
Bloo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
I guess I'll have to brake it down 1st grade style:
YOU SAY: NO GUNS = PEOPLE SHOP FOR SHORTED VIDEO GAMES IN PEACE
I SAY: NO GUNS = PEOPLE STILL GET JACKED FOR THEIR 360 OTHER WAYS
YOU SAY: BLOO LIKES GUNS
I SAY: I DON'T LIKE GUNS
YOU SAY AGAIN: BLOO LIKES GUNS
I SAY AGAIN: I DON'T LIKE GUNS
YOU SAY 3RD TIME: BLOO LIKES GUNS
I SAY: YOU WIN. I GIVE UP. YOU CAN'T SQUEEZE BLOOD FROM A STONE
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Hey look everyone!
Poking the little animal does work! I even wrote out my wink and he STILL took the bait! Too funny. He's like my cat when I turn on the vaccum - that's hilarious.
Umm ... let's see. How can we egg him on now?
Does anyone have any funny ways of making bloo spaz out? Funny names or anything? Best entry gets a prize courtesy of gmrc!
Good luck and happy teasing!
Bloo @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
"Poking the little animal does work"
It worked for you, didn't it?
"I even wrote out my wink"
And then wrote get over it already which, apparently, you haven't.
"Umm ... let's see. How can we egg him on now?"
The same way I keep egging you on.
"Best entry gets a prize courtesy of gmrc"
How can you afford a prize on your grounded intellect?
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Oh my God guys ... I figured it out.
It was bloo! bloo mugged that lady! No wonder he's being so defensive.
Bro, that's totally not cool. I mean sticking up an old lady at gun point? Rico was right, that's just cold man - you really should give the 360 back.
And you're being really heat score. The cops might be reading this and now they could be onto you!
Run bloo! Run like the wind to safety! B-line it to Mexico (don't come to Canada ;-) ) and live out the remainder of your years with your stolen 360.
You sly cat, you.
Anonymous rep @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Contrary to popular belief, the American west actually was a rather peaceful era. Why? Because EVERYONE had a 'Peacemaker' or equivalent firearm on their hip.
If this same mugging were to happen in the old west (all things considered), the mugger would find himself ventilated quite nicely. Which is probably what should have happened to him, and certainly WOULD have happened to him if he'd messed with me or mine - we all have legal carry permits.
If you grow up with firearms and are taught how to properly use them as a child, then you will respect them. I know how to use a wide array of weaponry, from my 9mm and 10mm handguns, .22 & .30 caliber & 5.56 mm rifles, 12 & 16 gauge shotguns - and I'm also prior service. Gun nut? No - merely interested in preserving that which is mine - which includes my country.
fumoffu @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Only in America...seriously you folks are screwed up over there. Targeting people to bought gifts for their children for christmas. Seems to be a really low society when you have not just one but several dozen cases of similar muggings.
steve @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Why's everyone calling her old, she's only 53.
"I SAY: YOU WIN. I GIVE UP. YOU CAN'T SQUEEZE BLOOD FROM A STONE"
Aha, but can you shoot it out?
XavierVE @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Hey fumoffu, you're right, we should just all move over to Paris. No guns there, so there are no muggings, no riots and no crime!
Hey everybody, America and Guns suck! Let's all move to Paris France! YAY! Paris has no guns, Paris has no crime since there are no guns! No thugs there! Only thugs in America!
Hey idiots, watch the f'n news, eh? There are thugs and crime everywhere. Shut freakin' face.
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
So I guess I offically "pwn'd" Bloo ..
Hooray for me!
Please no one shoot me ... I do not have an iPod, Air Jordans or a 360 for you to take. ;-)
Eric @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
I know this is a strange comment but what is that a picture of?
Tierney Springer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
She couldn't get the licence plate number because the car was driving away at about 75 mph. And she gave up because, as someone suggested, she DID realize that she was chasing a guy with a gun. And she explained what happened to her son and even apologized to him for losing his present, but he's just glad that his mom is ok.
Also Best Buy and Microsoft have offered to replace what was stolen, which is very kind of them. Auhtorities havn't caught the theif yet, but we are hopeful that he still has his gun, and that he pulls it on the police when they confront him. To that he CAN be happily ventilated, and removed from the human race permanently.
Now back to the internet, to set strait other folk who are talking bad about my mother-in-law, the woman who was robbed.
Sith @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
You're saying you hope the guy shoots a cop, so that he may be put on trial for death?
cold
Paranoia Toaster @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
"When people read this thread, you're the only looking stupid."
Just as a casual observer, gmrc, I figured I should probably let you know that you look stupid, too. Sorry.
Mark Mullen @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
I seriously doubt guns will be banned. The freakin military would have a helluva time confiscating them. Our fraekin military would be murdered by civilians defending their rights to possess firearms. Im not really counting tanks and military vehicles lol. Anyways, banning guns will only get guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens, not criminals. Where theres a will theres a way. If the government ever does anything really dumb, and some4 sort of civil war happens, I will sure as hell want my firearm(s)