He ended up inside because of his honesty, and pride, and belligerence more like.
How was he, in a run-down and unlit shoitetip miles from help, to know what the thieves were carrying, or what their intentions were?
Purely my own conjecture, but I'd have taken a bet that, if he'd said he was an old man alone, terrified for his life, he'd have never seen the inside of a cell.
Again, you have little idea what they're carrying, are capable of, and what their intentions are: all of that only comes out after the fact.
Or, are you saying the correct approach is like a game of escalating Top Trumps, taking it in turns to up the ante?