Carjacking?

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I was assaulted while sitting in the front seat passenger side of a friends car once many, many years ago. Case of mistaken identity. That experience is the reason I am here on this and other websites.

I like a pepper spray with a stream effect for the car. I have a large size. Less chance of spray back and it has a decent range.

In addition, I keep my driver door open when fueling. I find this keeps me in close proximity to weapons if need be.

Finally, awarness, awarness, awarness. Oh, and did I mention awarness. On multiple occasions I have been approached by various characters while fueling at this one particular station ( not a great selection in my area, as they are all about the same). Each, time if I see them and look at them with that knowing look, and shake my head gently side to side "no" they will not continue toward me. The time or two when they have, I have preempted them with a "stop right there" or "not interested, keep walkin'" Psychologically it's interesting that it does seem to befuddle them for a moment and they have to kinda think about their next step, it basically just throws them off their game plan. But, you have to see 'em coming.

Keep your sidearm accessible in the vehicle, practice shooting in the sitting position just like you would in your vehicle. Consider you may have to shoot through the glass, you should know how your ammo will react.

Good Luck.
 
Sox said:
Finally, awarness, awarness, awarness. Oh, and did I mention awarness. On multiple occasions I have been approached by various characters while fueling at this one particular station ( not a great selection in my area, as they are all about the same). Each, time if I see them and look at them with that knowing look, and shake my head gently side to side "no" they will not continue toward me. The time or two when they have, I have preempted them with a "stop right there" or "not interested, keep walkin'" Psychologically it's interesting that it does seem to befuddle them for a moment and they have to kinda think about their next step, it basically just throws them off their game plan. But, you have to see 'em coming.
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Amazing how much that has an effect. I was fueling my car, when a shady character walked up from behind the 7-11 (from a narrow alley between it and an 8 foot privacy fence for the neighborhood). He walked up fast, asked "How are you doing this morning?" (It was around 6 AM, still very dark). He was overdressed for the weather (it was a cooler but not cold morning, low 60s maybe- high was to be in the 80s), wearing a stocking cap and a heavy down overcoat.

I had been staring him down the whole time since I saw him dart out from behind the building and briskly walk through the parking lot.

I replied, <deleted -- Sam> terrible, what the <deleted -- Sam> do you want?" He looked rather confused, turned around and just slowly strolled away.


The only other time I threw someone off their game more, was when the panhandler asking for money outside KFC got all the money I had: 17 cents :neener: I looked at me like I was the public nuisance!
 
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Stealing my car would be suicide for a carjacker. It took me two weeks to learn how to safely use that kind of power.

Anyways... I don't go to the car if something suspicious is happening nearby. If things develop badly while I am near the car I will defend myself from outside of it. If I am inside the vehicle I have no intention of trying to outrun bullets so that means I am coming out. If I come out, they're going down.
 
My s.o.p. is to get in, lock the doors, start quickly and start moving. I put on my seat belt while moving. I don't want to be a sitting duck.

I'm a lefty...if approached at the drivers door its almost impossible to bring your gun into play. A second gun in cross draw would work but I do not like to leave a gun in my truck. Maybe a clip on second holster...maybe.

Mark
 
Have your keys in your hand before you get to your car. Especially women. Don't fumble in your purse outside the car or once you are in. Unlock the doors from 20 ft away and lock the doors as soon as you are in, drive away.
 
Stealing my car would be suicide for a carjacker. It took me two weeks to learn how to safely use that kind of power.
Click to expand...

I'm intrigued, care to elaborate? Hacked the Lo-Jack system for personal use? :)
 
Sgt R adeptly answered the question..... but,

I know by experiance that trying to draw while sitting in a vehicle with a safety strap on is very difficult so I generally have my weapon laying on the seat next to me. If someone is a passenger or there is lots of traffic where someone might see it, I cover it with a tablet or cloth.

I always leave at least 1 1/2 to 2 car lengths of empty space in front of me at a stop light.

Other than that, I adhere to Sgt R's sage advice.
 
in addition to many of the tips already mentioned, I keep a canister of Fox Labs pepper spray clipped above the driver side visor. I've used it once when I suddenly had a face in my side window and an arm reaching for the column shifter (or the keys?). it was my bad for having the window down on a nice day- won't happen again. point blank face to face range. I couldn't miss his face nor could I avoid some slight backspray into my own tender mug but I was able to drive a few blocks to a safe area to fight the effects of the spray on me.
 
Fox Labs on the visor: pretty good idea, I may have to try that myself.

R
 
Some good points on this thread. I just want to add pretty much any car that runs will be a target car. Windows up, doors locked and seatbelt on. Make them work to get you out. Also don't blab on your cell phone obliviously or have your radio so loud you can't hear someone sneaking up on you. They look for easy victims - 90% of car jackings could be thwarted by keeping your doors locked. With women they will come in the passanger door while your stopped at a red light and point a gun at you.
 
Avoiding a carjacking is a bit like avoiding being eaten by a bear. I don't have to be faster than the bear. I just have to be faster than someone with me. (That's why I like to hunt with fat guys.) :D

Seriously, there is a lot of good advice in here about how not to be a carjacking target. Some of it will work for some but not for others. For instance, a 100 lb woman trying to stare down a carjacker might not work as well as a 250 lb dude with a shaved head and teardrop tatoos at the corners of both eyes.

Be situationally aware and have a plan.
 
Twice in my home area I've felt threatened enough to draw my sidearm ( a Berretta 92). Once was in broad daylite and the 2 guys in the car in front of me were slowing down, moving all over the road and giving me the finger for no reason. this was a Saturday morning and traffic was minimal. I just went around them, but when I stopped for the red light a mile or so down the road, they pulled up and started cussing me and got out of thier car with a ballbat. I had my son and nephew in the truck with me. Event though I had my pistol out and was ready for something, I ran the red light and made a left turn, pulled into my brothers driveway and got the kids into his house. I waited for them to come back but they never did. Good thing for them. 26 years in the army and I score expert on the combat pistol range EVERY time! Second time, I was diving to the hospital where my wife was being treated. It was @ 6pm and dark, I noticed the vehicles in front of me swerving! Traffic was moving fairly slow and I could make out a guy trying to get in to the cars as they came by. My door was locked when he grabbed for it, but he caught the tailgate and tried to jump into the back of my truck. I waited until he was off balance and hit the gas. He cut a double sommersalt in the road and rolled into the ditch. I pulled over and called the cops who came and arrested him. He was high as a kite and I guess was looking for an easy score. Luck for him I was in a hurry. Not trying to sound tough, but when my kids are threatened, getting them to a safe place is the first option, defense of a vehicle is 2nd. I carry 100% of the time, even to church with the blessing of my pastor. You just never know any more.
 
My grandfather keeps a filet knife clipped to his visor. Along with his .38 in the console. Works for him and works for me exp I have a .357.
 
My windows are almost always up, and I keep a .380 in my pocket. Not the best, I know, but some situations I am in I have to EDC. Anyone asks, that there wallet-shaped lump in my front pocket is a wallet. No, you can't see it.

And if I get the heeby jeebies, I will lay it out on my lap.

Keeping mace in your console or glove box can be, in my opinion, a problem.

While I was in the Army, I was riding with my buddy when we got pulled over by State Patrol.

The great state of New York thinks it's a felony to own a [edit=pistol] without ze papers, so he bought some bear mace.

He goes to reach for his registration and whatnot, and accidentally sets off this can of bear mace he had in the console.

The state trooper comes up to us and sees two guys in ACU's coughing, gagging, snotting and cussing... then a bit hits him. He starts coughing and backing away as my buddy and I pile out the passenger side door, drooling and snotting like you wouldn't believe.

The good news is that the patrolman let us off with a warning. Hahaha.
 
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Don't think that you're not going to be a target just because you drive a "less desireable" vehicle...When people are desperate, that's what they are... desperate. Situational awareness is always a must. I have spent some time sitting in my car, figuring out how and where to have an accessible firearm. (2 in fact.) Even when just running to the store for a minute, with a pocket pistol, I don't keep it in my pocket while driving...it's accessible to me at all times. When I get out of the vehicle, it goes in my pocket. I don't drive with the window down very far, as others have stated. All of this stuff is basic common sense. However with all of the great advice that's been given, the most important aspect is A-W-A-R-E-N-E-S-S.....Be careful...Always be looking...
Tac
 
Actually, my Car is an old P-71 Intercepter Crown Victoria, decomissioned from having been a County Sheriff's Car.


No one knows what to make of it.
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Great move! Now if you wear a generic black suit and starched white shirt and thin, plain black tie, wayfarers, and a black fedora, you'd get a lot more R-E-S-P-E-C-T like a true Blues Brother.
 
basicblur said:
Plan ahead for stoplights-if I see a red light before I get to it, I usually slow down and give it time to turn green before I arrive at the light.
Saves gas, saves brakes, and it's tough to carjack a moving target. :neener:

I've been through many an intersection without having to stop, and while I may have had to slow to 15 or 20 mph (which may seem like crawling in a car) while coasting to the light, yur average carjacker is going to be draggin' his tongue trying to keep up with you (and you can always just give it a little gas).
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I do that all the time.
Hypermiling; not just for Prius'.

My daily driver is a yellow Mustang GT; not inconspicuous. My other car is a 1974 Coronet, tan, crappy vinyl roof: $3000.
 
I am a bit concerned, seeing mention of handguns under the thigh, on the seat, and on the lap. If anyone needs a real-world example, two of the FBI agents trying to corral Platt and Mattix in South Florida in 1986 LOST their unsecured duty handguns in the collisions that ended the chase. One agent, therefore, was unarmed during the shootout, and the other had to use a 5-shot snubby instead of his primary handgun, and did subsequently run out of ammo and get himself shot.

The weapon down inside a pocket is not very accessible when sitting, either.

To be clear, I am not preaching, just pointing out what some may not have considered.
 
If you have to shoot with your weapon inside the vehicle, open your mouth to help equalize the air/sound pressure from the muzzle blast.
 
Unless you're a convicted felon, in Texas you can legally carry a loaded handgun in your vehicle w/o a special permit. It's part of the Castle Doctrine law that went into effect about 3 years ago.
 
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