I was on another BEA website (yes there are a few more) and i posted this particular thread concerning what FRA and bondsmen alike wear and how they act when on a recovery.
Now I am not a BEA/FRA... I am only a bondsman, but I do my own pickups... unless I am hunting a really bad boy/girl and might run into a slight problem... like getting shot at or having to fight for more than 5 or 6 seconds... in which case I employee some rather interesting folks I am affiliated with............. another story....... but having said that...... here is what I wrote... it is only my style and is not intended to instruct... quite the contrary.... it probably wouldn't work for ya anyway... but it works for me.
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I am not BEA... only BB, but when I go after one of my skips or help with one of our other agents skips, I drive my wife's black Chrysler Van... with 'handicap' plates and a skooter hangin' on the back.... I dress like I'm on my way to Disney World... I carry concealed with no outward badge, cuffs or anything else that identifies me as a bondsman. If I ID the skip I approach as an old retired guy (which I am) with a smile on my face and don't make eye contact till I am on top of him... I try and have someone of similar appearance approach from another direction and only when I am within arms length do I make the move... I wear tennis shoes so I can move if needed.......... on the few occasions, when I feel that the guy is gonna be a problem I call my stand in guys who make 'Dog' look like Cinderella... (but they also dress like they are going to the local disco) and they handle the deal... while I watch. I have found in the years I have been in this business that you don't really want to look like Wyatt Earp on a pickup... Now, everyone has their own style... this is mine and it has worked for me to date. I also contact local LE just so they know what is happening and are not surprised if something goes down in front of them.
It has been my experience that not looking like LE will work in your favor 99% of the time.... it has helped me get within arms length of the skip (I am 64 years old and I ain't gonna chase a 22 year old kid or fight him for more than 5 or 6 seconds) and it helps with my association with LE if involved... and driving a minivan with handicap plates and a skooter on the back does not bring undue attention to you.......... quite the contrary... it is damn good camo... all this is my style and I only post it here for comparison...
It has been my experience in life that trying to "look like a bad arz" can often time blow your cover and/or get you hurt cause I don't care how bad you may be.... the guy you are after just might be a little badder and you need to play it smarter............ fool him till you can get your hands on him... you want him to be relaxed till you move.
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Just thought I would post this on here and see if I could get a little controversy goin.......
Your opinion is welcome... this is only mine....I will say this........ I have a great deal of respect for even the guys that dress like "Seal Team 6" if it works for ya... more power to ya.
PS: Ask Steve F. if I didn't show up on a pickup with my black minivan with handicap plates and the skooter.... dressed in shorts and tennis shoes and a cap that said "Eastern Shore"... yep.
