CarJacking

[KickChick]

Starting this thread so that we can all offer some tips on how to defend against carjackings.

After reading this, I am going to make sure I stop by Starbucks daily! :)


BLUFFTON, S.C. - A would-be carjacker got quite a jolt when he picked the wrong car to try to steal, Jasper County deputies say. The suspect tapped the window of the car Wednesday morning with a gun and motioned the driver to get out, Chief Deputy Roy Hughes said.


The driver of the car had just bought a cup of hot coffee. So he slammed his door into the carjacker's legs, threw the coffee on him possibly burning the suspect's neck and face, and wrestled him to the ground, Hughes said.

A shot was fired during the scuffle, but no one was hurt. The driver managed to get the gun from the suspect and point it at him, Hughes said.

The suspect ran into the wood behind the store, the chief deputy said.

Deputies are looking for the would-be carjacker along with two people believed to be with him who drove off while the fight was going on, Hughes said.

[Pyro]

Carry your own gun with a CWC permit. Pity we aren't allowed to here in Australia. You Americans sure have it easy hehe.

Mind you, I don't think there has been a carjacking where I live for as long as I can remember so maybe you guys don't have it so easy.

[slipthejab]

Carry your own gun with a CWC permit. Pity we aren't allowed to here in Australia. You Americans sure have it easy hehe.

Funny we just had an extensive thread on the issue of CCW permits here the U.S. - it's not as black and white issue as some would make out.

On top of it I don't know that in the instance that was posted carrying your own gun would have changed much. That the attacker had the drop on the victim to begin with presents a problem on it's own.

The victim managed to get the gun away from the attacker at any rate. So I suppose if she had her own she could have shot that attacker on the ground. But then I wonder how that'd play out in a court and whether or not she'd have been able to hit if she shot at him.

Most people not raised around hand guns and that don't use them on a regular basis have no idea how difficult it can be to hit someone - even in close quarters. Especially when pumped on adrenalin.

Speaking from the personal experience of having been unsuccessfully carjacked while out with a girlfriend... I don't know that drawing a weapon would have been possible.



My Brief Intro To Carjacking

Me and my girlfriend pulled late night out of a fast food drive through that was right off the freeway. We had payed and had our food and were about to pull out into traffic... as the drive-thru emptied right onto the main street you have to pull out through a drive that crosses the public sidewalk to enter the main street.

Me and the girlfriend are talking and goofing around as I pull to the edge of the street and look both ways checking cross traffic when I looked out the drivers side window... my side... a young kid not older than sixteen or seventeen walked calmly towards the car...

I figured he was simply walking down the street and we'd cut him off as we were waiting for traffic to clear. At the time, out of my peripheral vision, it struck me as odd that he didn't stop to give that space you normally allow a car when it pulling out into the street... something was wrong... he was at the car window when he lifted up his jacket, pulled a gun from his wasteband and pointed it at us and motioned for us to get out of the car.

At the time carjackings were all the rage in So. California and I knew the instant he pulled up his jacket what the score was... bummer.

Even though I knew it I was too late.

Being in first gear with my foot on the clutch waiting to pull into to traffic I didn't even think I just popped the clutch and careened out into traffic! Luckily traffic wasn't heavy or we could have easily been broad sided and killed or killed someone else in the process.

Long story short we gunned it like nuts and then hopped on the phone and mobile and called the sheriff's. They never did find the kid... just out of the blue... almost carjacked.

For what it's worth, I was armed with a loaded handgun at the time and did have a CCW class permit for California. There was no way I could have drawn on him. Not even close. In a car, with my seatbelt on, a cramped position and a tempered glass car window to shoot throug... and my girlfriend and myself right in his line of fire. We'd have been dead before I got the first shot off. Drawing my weapon would have only escalated the situation and given the kid little other choice but to open fire.

There were several carjackings not too long after this where they simply shot the driver dead even after they'd handed over the keys. Or gotten out of the car.

Several tips I can think of because of this situation are this:

1) better awareness of your surroundings

2) don't assume someone approaching you has friendly/nuetral motives

3) avoid drive thru's late at night - they're a classic problem area

4) Fast food can kill you in ways you never thought of

[Topher]

The South Africans have it right....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/232777.stm

[KickChick]

Thanks slip for posting your personal account! Luckily for you and gf you were able to escape without injury!

Statistically your chances of being a carjacking victim are very slim. Preventive actions can reduce the risk even more.

Here are some other tips taken from the Protection Against Crime web site:

What do carjackers look for?

* Intersections controlled by stoplights or signs. Garages and parking lots for mass transit, shopping malls, and grocery stores. Self-serve gas stations and car washes. ATMs (automated teller machines) - both drive-up and walk-in types. Residential driveways and streets as people get into and out of cars. Highway exit and entry ramps, or anyplace else that drivers slow down or stop.

* The "Bump and Rob" scam works like this. A car, usually with a driver and at least one passenger, rear-ends or "bumps" you in traffic. You quickly get out to check the damage and exchange information. Either the driver or one of the passengers jumps in your car and drives off. If you're bumped by another car, look around before you get out. Make sure there are other cars near yours. Check out the car that's rear-ended you and who's in it. If the situation makes you uneasy, memorize or jot down the car's tag number and description; signal the other car to follow you. Drive to the nearest police station or to a busy, well-lighted area. If you do get out of the car, take your keys (and purse or wallet if you have one) with you and stay alert.


If It Happens to You...

* If the carjacker threatens you with a gun or other weapon, give up your car. Don't argue. Your life is worth more than a car.

* Get away from the area as quickly as possible.

* Try to remember what the carjacker looked like - sex, race, age, hair and eye color, special features, clothes, etc.

* Report the crime immediately to the police. Take Action!

* Work with Neighborhood Watch groups, law enforcement, automobile clubs, and other concerned groups to get the word out about carjacking prevention. Try a special flier, a community forum, or posters.

* Ask your insurance agent or company to put carjacking and other auto theft prevention information in notices and bills.

* Place carjacking prevention fliers or brochures in the waiting rooms or dealer service departments, auto repair shops and gas stations.

[CosmicFish]

The South Africans have it right....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/232777.stm
While I sympathise with this in many ways, what's to stop it being misused or innocent bystanders being burned by it? I can see the local chavs all getting these installed and firing them off as they drive down the road. Or worse, some idiot letting it off as they drive by a bus-stop.

[Taff]

The South Africans have it right....




You don't hear that too often.

[slipthejab]

Or worse the mother/father who fries there own kid to a crisp as the kid jokingly runs up and startles them and they instinctively hit the Xtra Crispy button.

Kiddie Flambe!

Needless to say... this wouldn't ever be legal in much of the western world.

[Davey Bones]

OK, first off, that gentleman in the first artcle was an idiot. A gun-toting thug, and he plays superman... OY! He should be thanking every god he can think of that wasn't his obit.

Anyway, my carjacking defense? Drive away. Really. If it means I have to run a stop sign or a stoplight, so be it, I grew up in Jersey, we define "aggressive driving".

[Taff]

I grew up in (New, I guess) Jersey, we define "aggressive driving".

Hahahaha, not been to Italy have you?

[Davey Bones]

no, but I am Italian :)

[Taff]

no, but I am Italian :)

How does that work?

[KickChick]

America is the Melting Pot (http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Great.html) :) ... I'm Italian too! (and English/Irish ...... talk about agressive driving!!!)

[Taff]

America is the Melting Pot (http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Great.html) :) ... I'm Italian too! (and English/Irish ...... talk about agressive driving!!!)

I find the whole thing utterly confusing. If someone were to move to the US and become a US citizen eventually, they would have to relinquish their ties to their home country I believe. Yet those born in the US still claim to be "Italian", "Irish" etc etc depending on their blood.
Is it any wonder that they end up getting called "Plastic Paddies"?

[KickChick]

'Plastic Paddies' are what they call people born in England of Irish parentage.

We don't use that over here. Those of us in the United States are first and foremost Americans... and we all refer to our descents in passing. We just do because we are all just as proud of our grandparents who came over to America on the big boat !


Now back to "carjacking" which has absolutely nothing to do with this really! :confused:

[Taff]

'Plastic Paddies' are what they call people born in England of Irish parentage.


???
I've only ever heard of Plastic Paddy being used in reference to Americans of Irish heritage who've never been to Ireland. In particular those who turn up to St Patrick's Day parades and act as if they are Irish.

As for carjacking, I guess the UK is lucky, as it doesn't appear to be so common. I think this is because guns are so rare, and carjacking without a gun is probably not a very high percentage occupation!