AZ: Gun Stolen from Back Pocket at Phoenix McDonalds (with video link)

A handgun was stolen from the back pocket of a legal gun carrier at a Phoenix McDonald's on Saturday, 30 April, about 3:45 p.m.

Link to video

In a nation of millions of gun carriers, strange things happen. Both concealed carriers and open carriers have had handguns stolen from them in the past.  Concealed carry handguns are usually stolen after the gun is discovered during a robbery or assault. Open carriers' guns have been stolen in a couple of armed robberies.  One of those was when the openly carried gun was required to be unloaded by law.  One concealed carrier's gun was stolen after it was noticed by a thief; the permit holder then shot when he pursued the suspect. The carrier in this case pursued the suspect, but was not shot. From fox10phoenix.com:

The male suspect came up behind him and stole the gun from his back-pocket holster and then fled the store.

The victim chased down the suspect, but the suspect then pointed the weapon at the victim, and then ran off.

The suspect is described as a black man, 18-to-25-years-old, about 6'0" to 6'2," and about 160 pounds.

I did not see any evidence of a holster.  As noted in the commentary by the officer, there does not appear to be any retention, other than gravity, of the handgun.

Note the line of the T shirt falls below the top of the back pocket on the right side.  Both legs of the victim are bent; this may have contributed to the exposure of the pistol butt.

In my experience, pocket carry is far more commonly practised as a concealed carry method instead of a method for open carry.  I have observed and been told by many that they carry concealed in a pocket; I have never observed it or been told of it as a method of open carry.  While the report mentions a "back-pocket holster", I suspect they are referring to pocket carry instead of an actual pocket holster. 

The officers comments and the video are reminders of the necessity of situational awareness, and awareness of your carry system and its limitations.

The thief in this case seems to have been opportunistic.  He spotted the butt of the pistol, the inattention of the owner, and took the opportunity to make the snatch.  Almost any sort of holster retention would likely have prevented this theft.  The much maligned Fobus holster does not allow a pistol to be "slipped out"  it takes effort to do so and the effort is multiplied at unusual draw angles.

It is likely this suspect will be apprehended.  He is probably a local, and someone will know who he is.  A reward has been offered.

Both the victim and the suspect seem to be left handed.  The pistol is carried in the left rear pocket, and the thief uses his left hand to slip it from the victim's pocket.  The "phone" in the suspects right hand appears to be camouflage, but he may be so casual about his thieving that he does it during a phone call.  One is reminded of the Zimmerman/Martin case.


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