New Way to Car-Jack - Heads Up

[gvf]

Got this at work, thought I'd pass it on, might want to tell wives, daughters etc. (I have no idea where this originally came from by the way, our own University Police or a well-meaning employee passing around a "heads up" but it can't hurt to keep it in mind):

"------------ Forwarded Message ------------
Subject: New way to carjack

Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area.

As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car. When I
took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend
told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the
car. Then we received this email yesterday:

'WARNING FROM POLICE

BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE--NEW WAY TO DO
CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)'

Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating... You walk across the
parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift
into Reverse.

When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space,
you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you
shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that
paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the
back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump
into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off
in your car.

And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car.

So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your
keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away.
Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope
you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women. A purse
contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents,
and you certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands."

[DavidZ]

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/carjack.asp


I'm the type that takes a stroll around my car before getting in... checking for flat tires, etc.

[gvf]

Sorry if this is a "tale" rather than actual warning. I'll leave post undeleted though, as it can't hurt to keep in mind as a potential problem. Weirder things happen.

[DavidZ]

No doubt - it's still a good reminder to be aware of your surroundings.

[BikerRN]

If it's "attatched" to my vehicle when I get in it will still be there when I arrive at my destination, or it wasn't that important.

Once I'm in the truck, I'm gone.

Biker

[wncchester]

Most of the time I back into a parking space, especially so if it will be dark when I expect to return. If I must back up either to leave or get in, I'd rather do it while getting in for a quicker exit later.

[Antipasta]

I almost confused this one with the similar story where they grab your legs from under the car

[Ruthless4christ]

ALong the same lines this hapepned to me 2 monthes ago and is pretty normal here. the other day i pulled into the last gas station leaving the capital of Guatemala, to get some drinks before i hit the long hundred my stretch of highway that leads home. as i walked out to my truck, i noticed several armed men sitting in there truck right along mine and I could tell they were taking purticular interst in me. ignoring there dirty looks me and my crew got into the truck and took off. after about 5 miles i notices alot of vibration in one of my back weels and pulled over to find that all of the lug nuts on one weel had been screwed equely to just about one or two threads. mind you had just about half an hour before checked the air in each tire and hte lugs were fine. my buddies all made a perimeter around the truck with thier weapons out and ready waiting for what we assumed would bee the same truck at the gas station coming to "offer us a hand" by means of the 9mm and carbines they were carrying. I soon got the tire back on right and we were able to get home withought further trouble.

Lesson learned: I now always leave someone in watching the truck. Same gig as mentioned on the thread, just jacked up a few notches in lethility.

[bobthewelder]

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_carjacking.htm

[DesertDawg]

I wasn't carjacked, but....!

A few years back, I was parked in a shopping mall parking lot that was crowded. When I came back to my truck, I couldn't help but notice a good-sized scrape on the left/rear. There was a piece of paper stuck in the windshield wiper, and I pulled it out.

It read, "I'm sorry that I ran into your truck! I'm also sorry that I don't have the money to pay for the repairs, and don't have any insurance. There were several people who saw me accidentally run into your truck, and they probably think that I'm leaving you my name, address and phone number on this note. Again, I'm sorry for what I did, and hope that you will understand. Signed, ME".

[hogdogs]

DD, That is a messed up way to make others think the person is taking responsibility. At least you have some thing to look at while you decide to forgive?
Not close to an attempted car jacking but a pisser just the same...
Brent

[Stevie-Ray]

It read, "I'm sorry that I ran into your truck! I'm also sorry that I don't have the money to pay for the repairs, and don't have any insurance. There were several people who saw me accidentally run into your truck, and they probably think that I'm leaving you my name, address and phone number on this note. Again, I'm sorry for what I did, and hope that you will understand. Signed, ME".

I saw that about 40 years ago in a Hot Rod or Car Craft magazine in the Letters/Jokes column. I have just run into your car. People are watching me write this and they think I am leaving you my name, address, and phone number. They are wrong.