[meteorite-list] Attempted robbery, I am coming home.

[Dave]

Steve,

Excellent point though it sould be expanded to maintaining a low profile in ALL aspects.  Having interviews and such only broadcasts to the bad guys that a new target has arrived in town.

Dave
 

>From: Steve Schoner <schoner at mybluelight.com>
>Date: 2007/07/26 Thu AM 09:55:29 CDT
>To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Attempted robbery, I am coming home.

>Michael, and all,
>
>This should underscore a problem with personal internet profiles.  If
>one is known to have money, or a large collection of meteorites which
>are very valuable.  And if one goes to a dangerous area such as
>Columbia, cocaine capital of the world, and internet savey, they put
>themselves a great risk for exactly what Michael outlined below.
>
>Just think of what could have happened if the gunmen succeeded?  They
>could be held for ransom, with death hanging over their heads.  This
>would be a terrible burden for them and their families at home.
>
>It takes a lot of grit to go down there and do what they are doing, but
>it is probably best to go there with a low internet profile.
>
>Better yet, get contacts down there to assist you.  The police
>departments are probably the best bet, as they will get specimens
>first.  If they get specimens, meet with them and get out right away
>after the deal is done.
>
>Steve Schoner
>IMCA #4470
>
>
>[meteorite-list] Attempted robbery, I am coming home.
>Michael Farmer meteoriteguy at yahoo.com
>Wed Jul 25 16:14:26 EDT 2007
>
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>Well, only hours after writing about how unsafe it is
>here in the Cali meteorite strewnfield, I now must
>write that only two hours ago I had a gun pointed at
>me and my friends in an attempted robbery/kidnapping.
>Robert and I were with a local astronomy group, in the
>barrios where the meteorites fell, and we spent the
>morning with two groups of news reporters, one for the
>El Pais newspaper, and one for a Colombian national TV
>station. We were warned several times to leave the
>area by the locals. After doing some interviews and
>photo ops hunting and talking with people, we got into
>two taxis and left to meet at a place for lunch. I was
>with two of the Colombian astronomy club members and
>as we tried to drive through a barrio just near where
>one of the stones was found, a man ran at the taxi
>with a large gun scraming at us to stop. I saw the
>people in the front of the taxi duck down and then saw
>the gunman running at us. The driver hit the gas and
>we swerved around him, but the gun was about 1 meter
>from my head.
>He did not fire thank god, but what a scare, we
>quickly tried to get out of the neigborhood and told
>police who ran to the place but we have no idea what
>happened later. We just fled.
>We are done here, it is clearly not safe enough to
>stay, Robert and I both have collection pieces, and
>having a gun near your head is enough to know when to
>call it even and go home.
>I am a little shook up right now, will write more
>about the meteorite later today or tonight. I already
>have a flight home tomorrow morning and plan to get
>out of Dodge as fast as possible. Those of you who
>don't hunt meteorites should appreciate the danger
>that those of us who do hunt, face in some of these
>countries.
>Michael Farmer 
>
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