French highway robbery & other travel news
In a couple of weeks time, Family FM will be driving through France...
Migrant gangs in Calais are targeting British holidaymakers in terrifying 'highway robberies'. Would-be illegal immigrants are forming human roadblocks to force motorists passing through the French port town to stop. Travellers are then robbed at knifepoint by the migrants, who are desperate for funds to help them sneak into the UK.
Now let me see here: in the red corner we have a hoard of knife wielding would be illegal immigrants forming a human road block with intent to commit robbery. In the blue corner we will have over 2 tonnes of Land Rover driven by Mrs FM. This is only going to end one way...
Comments
Film, please!
Posted by: D.W. Drang | July 21, 2009 9:15 AM
Forcing them to stop? I don't think so! Situations like this are what your right foot is for.
Posted by: John K | July 21, 2009 10:52 AM
Hmmm faintly disturbing, I'm heading through there tomorrow. Perhaps I should take the Enfield No. 4 - but how do I work the bolt and steer at the same time...?
Posted by: Bruce | July 21, 2009 11:03 AM
Bruce, with a few days notice I could have lent you my SLR, or perhaps more to the point when driving, a Tanfoglio Limited HC in .40 S&W with 6 x 17 round mags :) One of the upsides of living in France is that we still have our toys.
Posted by: Mant on a rant | July 21, 2009 3:41 PM
Why would she need a rifle here?
The Landrover packs far more foot-pounds of energy than a .303 round.
Might want to get a bigger brush-guard for the front.
Posted by: Kristopher | July 21, 2009 5:41 PM
I envision Disco Dave being converted into a sort of Family FM Q-Ship. Mrs. FM at the wheel, and Mr. FM and "Boy" manning the port and starboard guns loaded with grape.
/Beat to Quarters!
//The Old Salhorse will approve.
Posted by: Driver Harris | July 21, 2009 7:16 PM
Remember the comment made by an old Platoon Sergeant of mine, "The secondary anti-personnel weapon of a tank are its tracks". That's why US tankers call infantrymen "crunchies"...
Posted by: Beausaber | July 21, 2009 8:38 PM
What is the point allocation system? Does she need training films like Death Race 2,000?
YouTube...
heh.
Posted by: Cricket | July 21, 2009 10:31 PM
I fail to see the logic in them targeting British holidaymakers for money in order to live among the people they have shaken down? Why not target the French? I have a sneaking suspicion that they would get deported post-haste, but it is all right to terrorize the tourists that boost the economy?
Or am I just too paranoid?
Posted by: Cricket | July 21, 2009 10:34 PM
That reminds me of a mystery. After Florida passed its "will issue" concealed handgun license law, muggings declined. It seemed it was two risky by the local criminal populace to hold up the local civilians. So some bright lads went after the tourists. There were a couple of reports of that, then it stopped apparently. Apparently the tourist industry down there put the pressure on to "do something" but I never heard exactly what.
Posted by: toad | July 22, 2009 1:14 AM
I don't know either, but the idea that someone might be armed is an excellent deterrent to pond scum behavior in polite society.
I think it had to do with 'economics.' They won't come if they can't feel safe, and thus the money will dry up.
Posted by: Cricket | July 22, 2009 6:06 PM
Drive slowly, flash your lights, and make it plain to these wankers that you're not going to stop. (Occasional hard revving -- car in neutral -- will help them get the message.) That's what the Frog police suggest, anyway.
Otherwise: remember that steel does NOT react well to blood, so be sure to get a jolly good car wash as soon as possible afterwards.
Posted by: Kim du Toit | July 22, 2009 10:05 PM
Toad -
The problem was that the licence plate issued for use on a rental vehicle was visually different then the plate issued for an owner/operator vehicle. The goblins just start watching for cars with the rental plates. So the state made them all look the same the next year.
Posted by: emdfl | July 26, 2009 9:37 AM