[meteorite-list] FWD: Kenya robbery notes - from Michael Farmer

From: Darryl Pitt <darryl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:47:52 -0400
Message-ID: <04E40A55-2BFC-42B2-BA55-CD40DC686D8B_at_dof3.com>

An extraordinary bit of correspondence on so many levels.

There is a caveat re #5.....always have something with you that you CAN be relieved of. There is a statistical correlation between the bad guys' exasperation and what happens next. It's a permutation of frustration/aggression theory: most acts of aggression are preceded by frustration...and the corollary....most frustration leads to some form of aggression. I learned from a expert on criminal behavior to always keep some money on me if only for this purpose.

=============

MIke, this bears repeating....I'm so grateful the fates were kind to you. With another big hug / d



On Oct 10, 2011, at 11:17 PM, Art wrote:

> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: Michael Farmer <mike at meteoriteguy.com>
> To: "meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 3:08 PM
> Subject: Kenya robbery notes
>
> I am overwhealmed with the public and private support I have recieved
> by email and phone since returning home from Kenya.
> I am glad to let everyone know that I am OK, scared, a little jumpy
> perhaps, not interested in any risky adventures for a while.
> The robbery was planned from the start, clearly the lure of more
> meteorites was used to get me back to Kenya, and upon further
> contemplation, I am pretty sure that Greg Hupe and I likely escaped
> another robbery attempt, we were also lured far out into the bush by a
> guy on a motorcycle, and before we arrived at the "house where a stone
> landed", I got mad and decided that we were outside the strewnfield
> and told my driver to turn around, which he did without question.
> Stanley, the guy who worked for me and who set up the meeting that led
> to the robbery was in the car at that time, he said nothing about
> turning around and never mentioned that stone again. I suspect we were
> being led to an ambush at that time and by luck evaded the robbery.
> This time they led me toward the strewnfield, I could see Mwana Wikio
> village and the greenhouses at Kenya Cuttings, so I thought nothing of
> where we were going until it was too late. I think he learned that I
> would not likely allow being led so far away from the known area.
> I do not hate the people of Kenya, it is a wonderful country and
> amazing people, but violence is very common there and I got a taste of
> it up close and personal. I have been resting since returning home,
> trying to sleep, a little sick. Insurance will cover some of my
> material losses, the rest gets chalked up to cheap experience and
> serious future planning with meteorite chases. I advise everyone that
> to get too comfortable anywhere in the world is a mistake you can't
> afford to make. Danger is always there ready to snatch those who are
> off their guard. Remember that if they really have a stone to sell,
> they WILL come to you to sell it. If they demand you come to them,
> WALK AWAY, ALWAYS set the meeting on your terms in a very public
> place. Had I done that, they could never have carried out the attack.
>
> I suggest you also do the following anytime you are in the third
> world, I have already used this tactic to deter kidnapping or robbery
> and will go further from now on.
>
> #1, ALWAYS take a photo of the car you are hiring and the driver
> before you leave, even the drivers ID, if they are legit, they will
> not complain about the security procedure, send it to someone back
> home by text or email, this shows the driver that you have already
> given their name and photo and car description/plate to family or
> friends, a must to locate you should you dissapear. This will deter
> the driver from setting you up as the police have a firm place to
> start and a prime suspect should something happen to you.
>
> #2. from now on I will take a photo of anyone who goes with me, and
> tell them up from that in this situation that if a robbery is planned,
> their picture is already sent out so they will be caught. I could have
> done that this time, the guy who led us to the ambush location was in
> my car for 30 minutes. Again, with smart phones these days, can be
> done in a second, and a great deterrent to someone who does not want
> to be captured after such a thing, likely they would abandon the
> attemp at that point. anyone who has not upgraded to an international
> smart phone should get with the times and spend the money if you plan
> to go into dangerous places. Invest in your safety, you will never
> regret it when you need it.
>
> #3, again, NEVER let them lead you, ALWAYS maintain control of the
> situation by forcing them to meet you on your terms, in a public/safe
> secure place. If they have something to sell, they will bring it to
> you. If they choose the battlefield, time and place, you have already
> lost.
>
> #4, do not trust the police. Many of these places are known for police
> corruption. They were for sure involved in this robbery.
>
> #5, do not take anything you dont want to lose, I lost my watch,
> $2000, which should never have been taken to Kenya, a $20 Casio is on
> my shopping list for African trips from now on! The police told me
> that there is no shortage of people there who would kill you for your
> shoes, much less some nice bling. Lose it!
>
> #6, if you acquire a stone, as I had, ALWAYS secure it rapidly, have a
> place to stash it, lock it up away from you, so if robbed you dont
> lose everything. Keep copies of your passport at the hotel (I always
> do this) so if lost you can get a replacement much easier.
>
> #7, none of them other than my driver knew where I was staying in
> Nairobi, never let people in the strewnfield know where you are
> located, sure path to disaster which I already learned in Portugal in
> 1999. Stay far away and never tell people where you come from or go to
> at night. Buy a local phone (I did $17.00 for a phone and ~5 cents per
> minute to make calls to the USA VS $5.00 minute for my IPHONE. Then
> you have a local number to give out so you can be contacted.
>
> #8, last but not least LOCK your phone! My IPHONE was unlocked at the
> time of the robbery, I had disabled the lock because I was taking
> photos on Safari and got tired of the lock. I did not re-engage it so
> now my phone with all kinds of data is in the hands of a criminal
> gang. While I killed the service, I can not wipe the data. My new
> phone has a program not only to track it but to kill the phone wiping
> all data remotely if stolen. You should all think about that is on
> your phone and do this now if you have a new smartphone.
>
> These are not mistakes I will likely repeat. I will still chase falls
> and hunt meteorites, but I will be far more cautious from now on. I do
> want to remind people though that in the event of such a robbery, you
> need to process the situation in a milisecond, to decide fight or
> flight, and your life depends on the right choice! I realized in an
> instant that 5 men with guns and machetes who had ambushed the car
> were too well organized and had won the fight before it had begun.
> Staying calm and relaxed and offering no resistance saved my life this
> time. Had I thought fighting would have led to a better outcome I
> would have fought. I was ready to die, a calm and feeling of absolute
> peace came over me at the time which I can only describe as spiritual.
> It was surreal, not explainable nor can I even duplicate the feeling
> that overcame me when I thought I was about to die, it was as if I
> knew it was over and I was ok with it. I was just thinking to myself
> that I was glad my wife had decided to stay at the hotel.
>
> Glad to be home and alive!
> All you collectors out there need to realize that the cost and risk of
> getting meteorites is getting higher, and you hunters need to heed my
> warning, from someone who has been there and done that before, do not
> let your guard down, that is when the lions and crocodiles strike!
>
> Michael Farmer
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Received on Tue 11 Oct 2011 01:47:52 AM PDT