I was almost car jacked last night ... but I am ok :)

Before you ask what I was doing out and about at nearly 4 am, I work a 3rd shift job. Normally I get off during the daylight hours but we came in early Friday night ...

I was on my way home waiting at the left turning light.All I had was one turn and I was on my street, all I wanted to do was go home and get into the bed because I have been working 10 hour days for the past 3 weeks. And I have a cold,sore throat - I felt and looked like shit. My light was red, the car on the intersection to the right had the left turn right away. It got weird when the car just stopped in front of me, I was like "WTF are you doing ! Why are you just stopping in the middle of the street to block me !?!?!" My left turning light turned green. And the guys in the car turned closer to me trying to block me in. We were the only 2 cars in the intersection. I pulled away from the left turning lane , and turned right, down the road to the opposite direction where I was going and as soon as I pulled off, the car backed up and spun around right behind. I was like "oh shit!Stay calm" I drove as fast as I could. I know I did at least 60mph in a 35 zone but I was so afraid. I lost them by the time I got up the hill and I called 911 and filed a report. I told them that I was going to my grandmother's house on the other side of town but after they told me that a police officer would be coming to ask me more questions I decided to go the Wal-Mart parking lot instead because I did'nt want to scare my grandmother. I went to the other side of town because I did'nt want to go to my apartment and let these guys see where I lived. I am a female and I live alone and my ankle and legs are injured still so there was not much I could do if I had to run. The 911 dispatcher told me to cut on my blinkers once I got to Wal-Mart so the cop could know that it was me. I told him what happened and he told me I did the right thing but reporting this and coming to this side of town rather than have the chance to have them find me again and maybe double team me. I called my grandmother and let her know what happened - and I slept at her house until the busy street traffic began. I have'nt told my mother yet and I don't know if I should - she is already worried about me living on my own.

I don't live in the hood or anything like that but this shit scared the crap out of me. There has been some gang activity in my city and I don't drive a drug dealer car but I am thinking that it could have been them mistaking my car, I was wearing a red coat (I won't wear it again.) and I am female . Who knows ... just be alert at all times when you drive.

Thanks for letting me vent and I am fine. Although I do want some mace, numchucks, swords, torches and daggers to protect me ... sigh.

i'm glad that you are safe.

always remember, if you are driving, your car is an effective weapon, plus don't get wedged in.

you did the right thing.

how scary

That sounds scary as hell. Whatever they were up to it would have been bad news for you. I'm so glad that you made it away safely.

and I could see the guys looking at me. They just blocked me in and backed up and drive fast right after me right when I took off. I don't know if they had guns or anything because you never know ... and I know I risked getting a speeding ticket and injuring other drivers who could have been in the road but I was just lucky no one else was on the road.

:hug:

you did the right thing....
Next time drive to the police station if you can.....




lost

and I did'nt want to just drive around and try to find it because it would have given the bastards time to find me. And I doubt if they would be afraid of police. They would have done damage in front of them just for the thrill.

I'm glad you are ok.

:hug:

...don't get so close that you can't see their tires.

Generally, if you are far enough away to see their rear tires, you'll be able to steer around them.

And the assholes in the other car was in the opposite turning lane that went in front of mine where they blocked me. I know exactly what you mean by not getting close that you can't see their tires. I think always having an escape plan for everywhere I go paid off.

I know it didn't apply in this situation.

Glad you're OK.

I am just glad that there was'nt two cars you know. I gave the police a desription of the guys and hopefully they were caught.

Glad you made it out of there okay! :pals:

And that was good thinking on your part, driving AWAY from where you live so the bastards couldn't follow you there.

I was struck by that in your OP. I'm not being snide in any way when I ask, why might your red coat have provoked a car jacking attempt?

I am assuming that it is some sort of gang color thing that eludes me (Hey--I'm a farm girl living in village of 200. Gangs are not part of my experience--ya gotta expect a stupid question somewhere along the line!) I actually had a mental image of waving a red coat in front of a raging car jacker (kinda like a bull fighter) and it made me smile a bit in spite of how serious your post is...

In any event, I'm glad you are ok, and hugs to you while you are feeling rattled by it all!

:hug:


Laura

the main "gang" colors that are accepted are red and blue, for the Bloods and Crips, which are two of the oldest gangs around (in various cities). Plus there are all sorts of other gang colors now too.

Don't know if you remember a movie called "Colors" from about '87 or so. That's what it refers to. Gang bangers wearing the wrong color may get killed for being from a rival gang.

It freaked me out back in 94 when I first moved to Dallas. I went to Six Flags with a friend of mine. I had a pink bandana rolled up as a headband in my hair, and they made me take it off. They had had to completely eliminate all headbands from the park because of gang problems there.

I knew about the crown the air freshener thing, and I knew about tagging (courtesy of the South Side Chicago kids that used to work for me) but I just was not certain about the red coat. It is a bummer that what color you put on in the morning can get you killed in some places, but I guess there is a lot about poverty and metro areas that is painful when you stop to consider it for too long...

I dunno, I live in a world where random violence is still shocking to me. Yeah, we have people die and we have our share of "bad" people helping them do it, but it just doesn't play a huge role in my every day life our here in boo-foo no place. I can't say I envy you metro folks this aspect of living, either.

What a world.


Laura

:9

Seriously...there's a lot of bad crap out there, but I could never not live in the city. If I need late night Chinese delivery or a fu-fu coffee before work, it's there. Theater, art, musical venues...

reprehensor's parents live out in the wilds of Alberta at a spot on the map (actually, it's barely even on the map!). I love them, but after 12 hours there, I start climbing the walls for some civilization!

:hi:

since you are already driving a weapon of mass destruction. Cars kill over 40,000 people a year, and that is without even trying.

Of course, it is tougher when the people acting like freaks have a car of their own. I do alot of night driving and that's happened to me a couple of times. I am not sure what the police report does unless you get their license plate or make and model.

But it is a nasty world out there :hug:

You're a smart girl not to lead them home.

:hug:

Now take care of that sore throat and cold. And stay safe! :hi:

I don't know your attitude towards using a firearm for personal protection but if you aren't opposed you might consider carrying. Nothing beats a firearm for last ditch defense. Often all it takes to defuse the situation is the display of a firearm. Suddenly size does not matter. The number of attackers does not matter. When a victim is armed the criminal has to rethink the entire situation. What "looked" like a defenceless victim is now on equal footing with the attacker. I know the flames are coming, I know some people are opposed to gun ownership. If you don't have a gun you will have to call the people with guns (cops). The cops are there to take reports, tag the body, take photographs of the homicide scene and notify the next of kin. You are responsible for your own safety.

Here is information for the requirements in North Carolina.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2061101_get-permit-carry-concealed-weapon.html

I always recommend the standard 1911 style handgun in .45acp like this one;

the thought crossed my mind and quickly went away. I was born in the 80s and I live in the same city all my life, and I remember a time when we could ride with doors unlocked and leave the front door open while watching tv at nights in the summertime ... those days are long gone. I think I always thought that this stuff could never happen to me,but it almost did last night.

rather than falling apart. :hug:

I'm glad you managed to stay safe.
:hug:

And I'm glad you handled that so well. :hug:

That's horrifying. :(

I'm glad you're think quickly under pressure. Please be well.

and the strong CP came out and I did'nt panic my mind worked so quick as if someone was guarding me helping me stay calm as I got away.

It was on the local news.
The kid was wearing his high school t-shirt which was red.
I wasn't paying close attention at first to the news, but was horrified when I saw what was done to him. As I recall, it required 400 stitches to put his face back together.

Oh, and yes, it was blamed on gangs mistaking allegiance to rival gangs.

Glad you are okay, and that was some quick thinking on your part!
:hug:

and I won't wear those again ... I won't wear my red coat again ... and I am taking down the red car freshner as well.

If you are out on the roads in the wee hours, you are just a tad more noticeable than at rush hour.

It is a shame that things have come down to this, but I would do the same if I were in your shoes.

I'm glad you kept your wits about you, and were able to get away.

This might sound stupid; but I wonder if there's an inflatable car passenger on the market? It sounds like the nature of your job makes you vulnerable to thugs. If you had a dummy to put in the passenger's seat, you might be a little safer.

I'm sorry you had this terrifying experience. :hug:

SHeesh. Thanks for the heads up.
SOOOOO glad you are ok!!