druddle

Did anyone hear about the M3 that was hijacked at gunpoint on the news today ?

I cant remember exactly where it was but the guy pulled into a layby on a major A road and 2 w@nk3rs jumped him with a gun and drove off in his car.

Nasty stuff, and it seems to be on the increase. Hope the guy who was attacked is ok.

Dave

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Old drum but..

Get a tracking device

Mike Burton

It seems to me that this is the way things will go. The days of breaking into a car, shoving a screwdriver in the ignition and making off with it are numbered. Quite willing to be corrected, but as I understand it, you can't start some cars now, because the key has a transponder in it. VW/Audi, Vauxhall are two manufacturers that do this accross the range. Do Subaru BTW? I guess this kind of device stops the casual thief, but the hardcore lot will just get more violent, i.e knifes and guns.

Also seen the "hide your keys" kind of theory to stop ppl breaking into your house and using the keys to steal your car. How long before you get woken up with a knife to your/mrs/partners/CHILDS throat asking for the keys. Does it get to a point where you'd be better off letting them take the car without them using the direct approach?

When I was in Poland back in January, they were telling me out there that car jacking is rife (esp if you have a Merc). The latest car immobilisers allow the car to be stolen, and then it can be stopped dead about 2 miles down the road. I guess the follow up to that will be some bloke will stand with you, pointing a gun in your back, saying something along the lines of, "if the car stops, your dead"

Sign of the times Im afraid.

--
Mike

Lizzywizz

When telling people at work today about my hijacking expereience I felt that some of them though that I didn't do enough to stop them taking it!!

However the tone of the guy's voice was enough to warn me that violence would probably have been the next tactic to get me out.......you have to be in the situation to know what how vulnerable it makes you feel!!

After my anger had warn off, I felt relieved that I was no longer in the car with them!!

Lizzy

robman

I was mugged at knifepoint by two blokes when I was 16. They wanted the keys to my motorbike. Despite being able to fight back in "normal" circumstances, I just turned to jelly - for some reason, even though it was a car park with >500 cars in it, no one else was around. I cacked myself and gave them the keys. Interestingly, something came over me as I saw my beloved bike get ridden out of the car park and I ran to the exit and pulled the guy off my bike. He and his mate ran off and successfully stole another bike the next day.

But when I got home, everyone told me how I should have hit them with my helmet, ran away, hit them with the bike chain, punch them out etc. The fact remains though, for Joe Public like me, two people waving a knife (or gun) in your face is enough to make you lose all your strength in an instant :-(

Hand the keys over I say.

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

It's easy to say lock the stable door after the horse has bolted but if this happened to anyone on here I bet their reactions would be a whole lot different to how they'd expect them to be. Fear I presume - not anger or macho-ness would be the governing factor in any decision making processes.

Lizzy I think you did the right thing - I would be terrified if I was in the same situation as you and would want to get out of it as quickly as possible. The people at your work showed a great degree of insensitivity by saying that there was more that you could have done

Sal

NBW

I've spent well over £2K over the last few months on securing my property, due to a spate of car and house burglaries in our neighbourhood.

Don't worry though once the Police re-invest the profits from speed, sorry, 'safety' camera's, into solving real crime, everything will be fine.....

DavidLewis

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Lizzywizz:
<B>When telling people at work today about my hijacking expereience I felt that some of them though that I didn't do enough to stop them taking it!!

However the tone of the guy's voice was enough to warn me that violence would probably have been the next tactic to get me out.......you have to be in the situation to know what how vulnerable it makes you feel!!

After my anger had warn off, I felt relieved that I was no longer in the car with them!!

Lizzy[/quote]

Not that I've ever been in such a situation, nor do I want to but I'd guess that the best answer is to keep moving, as fast as possible, lights blazing, horn blowing. Not so easy to think of with a knife at your throat though. Lets hope you nail the ba$tards

slapshot

... and this is what happens when the general public has had enough...

bug-eyed wonder

Anyone who has encountered a hijacking has my utmost sympathy. Feel that the "have-a-go hero" brigade haven't been through it. I was one who had a go at two c**ts who got me out of my Scooby recently, result, broken teeth, stitches to lips and substantial bruising not to mention a fairly screwed up head. Best advice would be to keep doors locked, always leave room in front at junctions etc and be aware of being followed for any length of time. Tracking device is now a must for any of us who work hard for our toys. Sadly a sign of the times and can see it getting much worse as these scum know that even if they are caught the penalties won't be harsh. Bit of a gloomy topic but with a little more awareness we can beat these vermin. ps carry a little "confidence-booster" if you think you'll need it!!


[This message has been edited by bug-eyed wonder (edited 29 August 2001).]

Joe ERST

I cant say I have ever had my car stolen like this, but I have been mugged on the way home on the train in Waterloo st.

Lucky enuf I Did hit the lad and I managed to get away, without losin my wallet.

I was lucky I suppose as he didnt have a knife on him and I did Boxing in a club for a long while which helped me alot.

I have also been stabbed in a club im Lincolnshire and even though I see it coming there aint alot you can do to stop it and I now have a ugly scare on my back.

If I was in that situation and it was one or two blokes I would think twice about lettin my car go, but its only a car and a life is a lot more, and you do freeze.

Sorry to hear about the M3 by the way cant be nice.

CheeRS
Joe
Escort RS S2 and soon to be S1