BS: Carjack scam warning

Subject: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 06:55 AM

ALL CAR OWNERS AND CAR DRIVERS PLEASE READ Warning!!!!

Be aware of new car-jacking scheme.

You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside. Then you

lock all your doors, start the engine and shift or put into reverse.

You look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space and

you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window.

So, you shift the gear stick back into park or neutral, 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 car-jackers

appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off!!

Your engine was running, you would have left your purse in the car and

they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.

BE AWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED IN

LONDON/MANCHESTER MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY!!!!!!!!

Just drive away and remove the paper later! It is stuck to your window

and be thankful that you read this email.

I hope you will forward this to friends and family especially to

women! A purse contains all identification, and you certainly do NOT

want someone getting your home address. They already HAVE your keys!!!

JUST BE AWARE AND TAKE CARE IT WILL PROBABLY SOON ARRIVE IN YOUR AREA

Brian Molloy

Detective Constable

Force Intelligence Bureau

Strathclyde Police

0141 532 5867



RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 07:45 AM

We had this on the Tradsong e-mail forum - it was judged to be an urban legend.

My opinion is if they want to steal a car this is believable. There are other methods like rocking the car while the mark is reversing close to other cars, and dropping a bag of cans in sync. The essence is "distract the driver". I have seen the latter as a Candid Camera type wheeze on TV.

If you have a car worth stealing - remove the keys when getting out. Petrol pumps ditto, lock the doors when you go to pay.

My Bodhrans are arguably more valuable that the car and I don't want anyone getting in and leaving a couple more in there.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:00 AM

The fact that some (those who have heard it before) judge it to be an urban legend will not necessarily stop opportunists giving it a try.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Noreen
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:06 AM

snopes.com say this is a much-repeated urban legend: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/carjack.asp

Anyway, why would Strathclyde police be warning against a scam happening in LONDON/MANCHESTER ?

Subject: BS: All Car Owners Beware
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:15 AM

A friend of mine who works in insurance has just told me of a new car-jacking scheme that is appearing more and more throughout the country. He says claims are coming in from everywhere and they have now noticed a pattern forming.

You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift or put into
reverse.

You look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space and you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift the gear stick back into park or neutral, 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 car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off!!

Your engine was running, you would have left your purse/Christmas presents in the car and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.

Just drive away and remove the paper later!

I hope you will be aware of this, especially women. A purse contains all identification, and you certainly do NOT want someone getting your home address. They already HAVE your keys!!!

I don't wish to cause alarm, just make you aware of it.

---

Threads combined.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST,redhorse at work
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:29 AM

Wherever this comes from it's certainly not UK. The language and usage - shift, purse - is USA

nick

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:45 AM

Perhaps we should ask Divis Sweeney whether it really came from a friend in insurance or whether it was cut'n'pasted from some other friend's friend's friend.
(I still think it is sensible advice, wherever it came from.)

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 09:22 AM

Sorry, I was not aware that another member had started this thread when I started mine above. Guest, Yes I cut'n'pasted from the email he sent me. He works in Belfast and said the information came through email from head office, so I imagine someone there collected it. So does that answer your question ?

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 09:35 AM

Yes, that sounds reasonable. And I still think it is sensible advice, the main point being that you should not be distracted into leaving your car plus keys plus belongings accessible to a thief.
I have heard accounts of this happening to motorists flagged down by someone supposedly to ask for help, or warn them of lights not working, etc. Whether it really happened or not, it could, so be careful.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 09:43 AM

Some years back an 80+ year-old woman turned herself into the South Bend, Indiana police. Seems like a big, burly man came up to the car when she was stopped for a red light, put his hands inside to open the car door (the window was down), and she put out her cigarette on the back of his hand. Then she drove off and turned herself in.

The police did not arrest her, but they did find the attempted carjacker in the emergency room.

Best to be alert, aware of your surroundings and use good judgement.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Cluin
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 09:45 AM

It's an urban myth, a falsehood, like the 200 MPG carburator, the kidney-thieving courtesan, and the dripless teapot.

And it always happens to, or comes from, a friend of a friend.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:40 AM

I thought a story that isn't really true but which gives sound advice was called a parable.
I don't actually believe the story about the 80+ woman driving her car and smoking - but if I am driving in my eighties I will remember the sensible advice and start smoking as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:08 PM

Hoaxbusters

Scroll up for a few others. This one is last on this list.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:11 PM

Check the back files of the South Bend Tribune, about 1998, GUEST.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: danensis
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:12 PM

Messages about this are considered spam by our spam filters!

John

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:17 PM

Perhaps if some of our UK members watched programmes like 'Crimewatch' they might find that suggested 'Urban Legends' coulkd be true. The scenario mentioned at the start of this thread was described as having happened twice on a supermarket car park in Yorkshire and had also happened in other places in the UK. We were advised to take all precautions to protect ourselves and our vehicles and to be very aware of who is around. They also mentioned someone who had their car 'lightly' bumped from the rear and had it taken when they climbed out of the vehicle to deal with the 'incident'....
Urban legend? please think again if you are sceptical...better safe than sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:23 PM

Subject: New Scam

This new scam is being pulled mainly on older men. What happens is that when you stop for a red light a young, nude woman comes up and pretends to be washing your windshield. While she is doing this another person opens your back door and steals anything in the car. They are very good at this.

They got me 7 times Friday and 5 times Saturday. I wasn't able to find them on Sunday.



John

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 06:01 PM

Rule 1 when loading the car at the supermarket... never put the baby in first. Always leave the baby til last, so if anyone steals your car whilst you are distracted, you still have the baby!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 03:09 AM

And you certainly would not be the first woman to be left 'holding the baby' in a supermarket car park I'm sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST,redhorse at work
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 03:18 AM

Georgiansilver,
Mereley because it's the police who repeat an Urban Myth (and even if it's on television)doesn't make it true.

As a caravanner, one myth I regularly hear is the one about stopping overnight on a French motorway service area, and the occupants are gassed and robbed (usually by Gypsies or similar). Specific circumstances are NEVER referred to. Camping and Caravanning Club magazine run a column by a Detective Constable who was happy to repeat the story without attribution. My suspicion has always been that this one was put about by French Campsite owners who don't like the idea of caravanners stopping overnight for free!

There's quite enough real stuff to worry about in life without circulating this sort of rubbish.

nick

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Slag
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 03:57 AM

The one I heard (read), via email, was the perpatrator comes up to your window and waves a fiver or some such and tells you, you dropped it. Who wouldn't open up for a five dollar bill???

The one that works is some punk comes up and displays a hefty weapon of considerable calibre and says something like "Open up the ^%#$#^%ing door mother*&^%$%$* or I'l blow your *&^%^%^%$ing head off. If this should happen to YOU, you might want to shoot him with your correspondingly big calibre gun or you may just want to get out and let him have the damn car. He'll get what's coming to him a little farther down the road.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 07:00 AM

A couple of years ago there was a story, in our local paper, of some bloke who filled up the tank of a brand new Audi with petrol then went to pay for it leaving the keys in the ignition and a company laptop (full of company data) on the back seat. He was then very surprised when someone drove off with the Audi and the laptop. There are some careless tw..s around who don't need to be scammed!

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 07:16 AM

Could it be that the story was put about deliberately as a warning to people who leave their cars open, even with the engine running, while they pay for petrol or go into a shop to buy a paper (I've seen them doing this).
The message: 'lock your car and don't leave valuables in it' is less memorable than the scam story.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 07:50 AM

The single most prolific broadcaster of these "urban legends" that we know seems to me to be representative of a certain "personality type" generally prone to material of the sort. Aside from the obvious "well-meaning but gullible" it seems most prevalent among those accustomed to hearing all their lessons as "parables."

Hers often start with "This is so important I've put it in the Church Bulletin and I'm sending it to all my friends."

None of us are completely immune, if we have normal concern for our fellows; but there does seem to be a "cluster effect" among certain groups/organizations - at least in my experience.

I just wish she'd learn to delete the email addys on all the previous FWDs and BCC ours and the 50 others she sends to, if she must include us, instead of broadcasting 150 addys with every message.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 08:44 AM

"Georgiansilver,
Mereley because it's the police who repeat an Urban Myth (and even if it's on television)doesn't make it true.


GUEST Redhorse at work."
Do I take it your belief in the Police reporting things accurately on 'Crimewatch' is somewhat stunted. Why would the Police use an urban myth....stating the actual supermarket car park and naming other towns. I believe the Police to have been truthful.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 10:09 AM

I learned to drive in NY. It was not uncommon to go out and find pressurized seltzer bottles tucked under the rear wheels. I do a check before I get in. Habit.

After a rash of purse grabbings at the Triboro Bridge toll plaza I learned to keep my purse on the floor and my doors locked.

Urban Legend or not, be careful out there.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: jacqui.c
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 10:14 AM

Thing is, this might have started off as an Urban Legend but you can bet that someone out there is thinking that this could be a good idea........

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Cluin
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 02:18 PM

Lock the windows and turn out the lights, mother. They're coming back!

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 03:26 PM

I've yet to receive a warning via e-mail that had any truth to it. I'll always assume they are a hoax until I can check them out.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: SharonA
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 03:57 PM

About the baby at the supermarket... wouldn't you want to put the baby in the car first, so that if your shopping cart is grabbed -- or starts rolling downhill by itself -- while you're not attending it, you still have the baby?

I guess the ideal thing would be to restrict one's shopping-with-baby-along to one light bag's worth of food, so that the baby and the food can go in the car in one go.

But any way you do it, there's still that moment of opportunity for the thief, when you're fiddling with the #@%& car seat while your butt protrudes out of the rear door, instead of looking for someone coming up behind you.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: jeffp
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 04:11 PM

If you keep your car keys in your pocket while you stow the baby and your groceries, your car is extremely unlikely to be stolen in the first place. I find it difficult to believe that somebody would hotwire your car while you are standing there even if your back is turned.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 01:46 PM

jeffp - That's fine if you are a man.
You may be aware that a lot of the people stowing shopping and babies in cars outside shops are women.
You are probably not aware that a lot of women's clothes do not have pockets. Clothes designers assume that a woman will have a bag or purse, so they don't bother putting pockets in the clothes (though they often add fake pocket flaps to jackets to make them look more interesting).

Maybe women should make a point of not buying clothes without pockets, and let the manufacturers know why.

Subject: RE: BS: Carjack scam warning
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 01:30 PM

When our twins were babies, anyone stealing the car with them inside would have been screaming for mercy before they got out of the car park!!
Quack!
GtD.