It's totally possible at this point that a strange ploy to keep us writing about Modern Warfare 2 at least four to five times per day exists. WPXI in Pittsburgh today reports that Western Pennsylvanian police are still looking for a man who robbed a Meadville, Pa. GameStop of 100 copies of the game (and "a few other items") last Tuesday evening. According to the report, the man told the store clerks that his friend outside would shoot them if they called the police.
Okay, first things first – how did he carry them out? 100 copies of the game, all by himself?! Those cellophane-covered boxes can get slippery when they're all stacked up! Assuming the games are in a box, that'd still be awfully cumbersome to maneuver out of a store. Second of all, where is this GameStop that has plenty of extra copies of any game on launch day? This whole thing stinks! Stinks, we say!
[Thanks, Yahya]
Reader Comments (71)
Posted: Nov 14th 2009 1:17AM Amstrad said
The Pittsburgh robbery is remarkably similar to one that took place just two days earlier and 200 miles to the north in Buffalo.
http://www.buffalonews.com/437/story/856181.html
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http://www.buffalonews.com/437/story/856181.html
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 2:48PM (Unverified) said
Why are so many stores and banks so incompetent? If he says his friend has a gun the first thing I want to do is see it. I don't get concerned until you show me the threat.
I can't even count the amount of USA banks that have been robbed with nothing but a note and empty threat.
I can't even count the amount of USA banks that have been robbed with nothing but a note and empty threat.
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 2:54PM Faceless Troll said
They're cashiers, not crime fighters. Do you really think someone making minimum wage gives two shits about the merchandise if it means he might get shot instead?
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Posted: Nov 13th 2009 2:58PM TRTX said
I'll tell you what, if somebody says they have a gun...the last thing I will do is demand proof. Because the next thing I know they prove it by firing it a few times either at me or somebody else.
If they claim to have a weapon I'll believe it and let them keep it tucked away where it's less likely to get used.
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If they claim to have a weapon I'll believe it and let them keep it tucked away where it's less likely to get used.
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 3:03PM (Unverified) said
When someone walks up into a store and demands something. You could easily say, "no."
Until they pose an actual physical threat, I see no reason to give in to their demands. The article implies that the guy was working alone, and his friend was "outside". At what point does a store clerk realize that it is difficult for someone to threaten you and carry away 100 copies of a game at the same time?
Security/police? Bystanders? Nobody was around?
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Until they pose an actual physical threat, I see no reason to give in to their demands. The article implies that the guy was working alone, and his friend was "outside". At what point does a store clerk realize that it is difficult for someone to threaten you and carry away 100 copies of a game at the same time?
Security/police? Bystanders? Nobody was around?
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 3:53PM Duke said
I just don't see how you expect a clerk to demand proof of the man's threat. The guy was screwed enough to come in with the threat - so there was already danger. Now you expect him to push the guy to show his friend or a gun...that would be very stupid for someone who hoped to survive their work shift. If you push the guy you get one of two results - a heroic dead gamestop clerk or a heroic live gamestop clerk who got nothing to justify the risk he took. Those aren't the best odds.
It's a damn video game we're talking about, not the hope diamond. The smart response is to hand over the crap and then let the guy get nailed by the police when they inevitably find him with 100 copies of the game.
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It's a damn video game we're talking about, not the hope diamond. The smart response is to hand over the crap and then let the guy get nailed by the police when they inevitably find him with 100 copies of the game.
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 5:39PM (Unverified) said
At no point did I say risk your life over a video game. I just said if someone walks up to me and demands something without merit or posing a real threat, I wouldn't give it to them.
Now if they pull out a gun, a knife, or are just more physical than I that changes the story. What I am saying is that the article never points out any real danger other than a guy walking in and saying that his friend "outside" would come in and do something bad.
To that I would reply, "If your friend is so bad he'd come in and do something." If then then present a legitimate threat then I will then cease my demands. Has immediate cowardice become a way of life these days? Petty criminals are not cool.
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Now if they pull out a gun, a knife, or are just more physical than I that changes the story. What I am saying is that the article never points out any real danger other than a guy walking in and saying that his friend "outside" would come in and do something bad.
To that I would reply, "If your friend is so bad he'd come in and do something." If then then present a legitimate threat then I will then cease my demands. Has immediate cowardice become a way of life these days? Petty criminals are not cool.
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 7:31PM (Unverified) said
If you never saw the threat how do you know it was there?
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Posted: Nov 13th 2009 2:51PM Joeybeast said
It's only words....
words are all I have....
To take your heart away...
words are all I have....
To take your heart away...
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 2:56PM butaneko said
Note to self: monitor eBay for flood of discount MW2 copies
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 3:02PM Rhamsey said
I was hoping the words would be in jedi mind trick form.
Something like "these are not the games you want to sell, put them in my car".
Something like "these are not the games you want to sell, put them in my car".
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 3:11PM (Unverified) said
Hehehe, I used to RUN that store a few years ago! Have you been to Meadville PA? This to me is ridiculously funny, i agree just give the guy the stuff, but i guarantee the staff is getting a serious ribbing from the other stores in the district.
" These are not the droids you are looking for. You want to give me your shipment of Modern Warefare 2."
Beware the snipers on the rooftop of Walmart across the street guys!
" These are not the droids you are looking for. You want to give me your shipment of Modern Warefare 2."
Beware the snipers on the rooftop of Walmart across the street guys!
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 3:51PM thisredengine Tweet me said
Man, this comment thread is just as great as the "Resident of Hyrule turns bank robber" story form last year. Just goes to show there is a silver lining to robberies.
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 4:01PM (Unverified) said
Maybe....just maybe the guy outside was had a pair of those night vision goggles for help.......just speculation, and the irony that they would sell something with the game that would bite Activision in the a$$. lol
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 4:10PM BoBsS said
Call of Duty: Psychological Warfare
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 4:18PM chrisredfield31 said
Apparently this is Theft by Deception and is a Felony to the 3rd Degree, could face up to 7 years in prison.
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 4:58PM shadowhowl1900 said
so joystiq, remember when u guys were asking for the defination of irony...
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 5:22PM (Unverified) said
Alls I can say is it's a damn good thing it was a halo launch day because the guy in the chief costume would've had their ass.
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 6:36PM Orkchop said
wow
Posted: Nov 13th 2009 6:46PM (Unverified) said
"Second of all, where is this GameStop that has plenty of extra copies of any game on launch day? This whole thing stinks! Stinks, we say!"
It's in a (virtually) dead town that would be completely dead if it weren't for the college right near by. ;[
(Also, what is it with the Western PA area and Gamestop news in the past year? First that guy that went in and out through the air duct, now this...)
It's in a (virtually) dead town that would be completely dead if it weren't for the college right near by. ;[
(Also, what is it with the Western PA area and Gamestop news in the past year? First that guy that went in and out through the air duct, now this...)








