Man loses finger in iPad robbery

[Kythas]

My first thought was "If he were armed I'll be he'd still have his finger" but then I thought "This was in a mall. Did nobody see this happening and try to stop it?"

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-ipad-robb ... 9971.story

DENVER - Denver Police are searching for two thieves who stole an iPad from a man shopping at the Cherry Creek Mall, and ripped off his little finger in the process.

Bill Jordan tells FOX31 News that he went to the Cherry Creek Mall's Apple store last Thursday to buy an iPad because his company needed one for a business gift.

"I didn't even know what it was. It's a toy," Jordan told us.

He says he didn't realize that two thugs were watching him as he left the store. They attacked as he walked down the winding staircase to the mall's main level.

"The next thing I know, I'm spun around. I see this kid...and he's pulling (the iPad) out of my hand."

Jordan says the Apple bag's cords were wrapped around his fingers and he couldn't let go.

"I never hear it coming, I never see it coming. I just remember this kid pulling and pulling and pulling and it got caught…took the flesh right off, the tendons and everything. There was nothing but bone."

Jordan says the thief rushed out the door and hooked up with his accomplice.

Jordan called for help and was rushed to the hospital. There, a doctor gave him the bad news.

"He said 'I recommend amputation'."

Jordan, whose hand was wrapped in heavy bandages when we spoke with him Monday, says the doctor had to amputate the little finger on his left hand. He's left-handed, making the injury even worse.

Jordan says he tried to be alert, but he didn't expect to be attacked in the middle of the afternoon at the crowded, upscale shopping mall.

"It didn't dawn on me (that) this is a new product that's in demand and somebody would go to this length to get something like this. To destroy someone's hand. Who knows how far they would have gone if it didn't come off my hand?"

Jordan says he hopes police catch the crooks.

Police say there is surveillance video of the attack which they hope to release Tuesday.

[KD5NRH]

My first thought was "If he were armed I'll be he'd still have his finger" but then I thought "This was in a mall. Did nobody see this happening and try to stop it?"

Since he had the bag tangled around his dominant hand, being armed wouldn't have done him much good.

If I have to carry purchases with both hands, my dominant hand gets the bag with heavy, hard, and preferably pointy stuff. I doubt an iPad is a very useful flail.

[shortysboy09]

If I have to carry purchases with both hands, my dominant hand gets the bag with heavy, hard, and preferably pointy stuff. I doubt an iPad is a very useful flail.

It would make a good frisbee...

[Kythas]

Since he had the bag tangled around his dominant hand, being armed wouldn't have done him much good.

If I have to carry purchases with both hands, my dominant hand gets the bag with heavy, hard, and preferably pointy stuff. I doubt an iPad is a very useful flail.

When I'm shopping and have only one bag, it's in my non-dominant hand always. The article implies he went to the mall only for this item as an office gift, so I assume it was the only item he was carrying. Of course, we all know what happens when one assumes.

[denwego]

I'm something of an Apple fanboy, so I've thought about this a great deal for years, ever since the reports came in 2002-ish that thugs were targeting people coming out of Apple stores or people with the white-style headphones with specificity. I haven't bought anything at a physical Apple store since early 2009, but if/when I do, I keep my purchase in my weak hand and my strong hand in my pocket, wrapped around whatever in-the-pocket tool I happen to be carrying at the moment. I also never, ever, ever buy anything like that after sundown, regardless of how "lit" the parking lot might seem to be. I consider it the same level of risk as someone making a several-thousands of dollars night deposit at a bank... it's serious business, as stories like this show way too frequently.

[Kythas]

Just exit the Apple store in the 'Sul Position' with your bag in your weak hand.

[denwego]

Just exit the Apple store in the 'Sul Position' with your bag in your weak hand.

I would if I could, especially if I were carrying something REALLY important, like a kolache

[srothstein]

I have to admit that i have heard this argument debated for many years. What hand should you be carrying things in? With police, it goes as far as what hand you should have your clipboard or flashlight in when on a traffic stop. And I still use my dominant hand most of the time. I do it because it is my dominant hand.

And what is worse, I don't worry about it or having to get my gun out. I don't worry because I know that the law of gravity has not yet been repealed (I think they might have tried, but not succeeded yet ). If I need my gun and have something in my hand, it will fall to the ground as I open my hand while reaching for the gun. Try it yourself sometime. I bet you cannot get your pistol from your holster with a closed hand.

Of course, I also do my best to not make the one mistake made by the victim in the posted story. I was taught a variation of this in wood shop in seventh grade and applied it as much as possible ever since. NEVER EVER wrap something around your hand if you can possibly avoid it. In wood shop, it was not to go near the power tools with loose clothing, but the same principle applies to wrapping things around your hand. As an MP, we were taught to wrap the thong for the nightstick around the hand, but were shown how to do it so it could not tangle your hand up. I were clip on ties when I need a tie for this reason. If I walk a dog, the leash may have my hand in the loop, but just the one time so it will drop from my hand if it gets pulled and I open my palm.

To me, this is much more important than keeping my dominant hand free in case I need it. Though I have to admit I would prefer to have my gun in my hand already if I thought I might need it (and avoid the area if I knew I would need it).

[The Annoyed Man]

Just exit the Apple store in the 'Sul Position' with your bag in your weak hand.

And be sure to wear your CHL sash to warn prospective muggers to look for victims somewhere else.

[ELB]

This kind of stood out...

Jordan says he tried to be alert, but he didn't expect to be attacked in the middle of the afternoon at the crowded, upscale shopping mall.

WRT to dominant hand -- my self-defense instructors recommended keeping a second gun or knife accessible to the other hand in the vent the primary goes out of action. Seemed like a good suggestion at the time.

I don't do traffic stops, but I try not to casually carry my flashlight and other stuff in my dominant hand when I don't really need to. Dropping stuff is an option but it just seems like one less thing to do if I suddenly need my right hand. And, yeah, I learned a long time ago not to wrap stuff around my hand. It can hurt!

[chabouk]

My "dominant hand" habits go back to my Army days. Because I'm right-handed, it's easy for me to follow the rule: never carry anything in your right hand, so that you can easily render salutes. That goes back to ancient history, when salutes were rendered to show that the "weapon hand" was empty.

[Rayden]

So if that was you and you could draw your CCW with your dominant hand, would you shoot in the middle of a crowded mall?

[Kythas]

The updated story shows the surveillance video of the robbery. It happened so fast (and from behind) that I don't think any of us would have had time to draw, especially after having the pinky finger ripped off.

The man was carrying the bag in his left hand. Don't know if he's left hand dominant or not.

[chabouk]

The updated story shows the surveillance video of the robbery. It happened so fast (and from behind) that I don't think any of us would have had time to draw, especially after having the pinky finger ripped off.

The man was carrying the bag in his left hand. Don't know if he's left hand dominant or not.

Thanks for the update. The article says he "uses his left hand".

No one could have drawn fast enough to stop the theft (which is a situational awareness issue), but many of us could have drawn fast enough to stop the thief from escaping.