Protecting Yourself While in Your Car

This is an email I recieved from my cousin about cases that involve safety in cars, especially when you are travelling alone. I thought that it would be valuable information and am posting it here on the blog. Stay safe!

A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

Case 1- The Abandoned Baby on the Side of the Road

While driving on a rural end of the roadway on Thursday morning, I saw an infant car seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it. For whatever reason, I did not stop, even though I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head. But when I got to my destination, I called the Canton PD and they were going to check it out. But, this is what the Police advised even before they went out there to check....

"There are several things to be aware of .... gangs and thieves are now plotting different ways to get a person (mostly women) to stop their vehicle and get out of the car. "There is a gang initiation reported by the local Police Department where gangs are placing a car seat by the road...with a fake baby in it...waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on the abandoned baby.

"Note that the location of this car seat is usually beside a wooded or grassy (field) area and the person -- woman -- will be dragged into the woods, beaten and raped, and usually left for dead. If it's a man, they're usually beaten and robbed and maybe left for dead, too.

DO NOT STOP FOR ANY REASON!!! DIAL 9-1-1 AND REPORT WHAT YOU SAW, BUT DON 'T EVEN SLOW DOWN. "

Case 2 - Eggs On The Windshield

IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EGGS ARE THROWN AT YOUR WINDSHIELD, DO NOT STOP TO CHECK THE CAR, DO NOT OPERATE THE WIPER AND DO NOT SPRAY ANY WATER BECAUSE EGGS MIXED WITH WATER BECOME MILKY AND BLOCK YOUR VISION UP TO 92.5%, AND YOU ARE THEN FORCED TO STOP BESIDE THE ROAD AND BECOME A VICTIM OF THESE CRIMINALS.

THIS IS A NEW TECHNIQUE USED BY GANGS, SO PLEASE INFORM YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. THESE ARE DESPERATE TIMES AND THESE ARE UNSAVORY INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL TAKE DESPERATE MEASURES TO GET WHAT THEY WANT."

 

Case 3 - Phony Unmarked Police Cars

Some knew about the red light on cars, but not the 112. It was about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on.

Lauren's parents have always told her never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they get to a gas station, etc. Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called112 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher she would not pull over right away.

She proceeded to tell the dispatcher there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and he had back up already on the way.

Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.

 

I never knew about the 112 Cell Phone feature, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe place. *Speaking to a service representative at Bell Mobility confirmed that 112 was a direct link to State trooper info. So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about 112. You may want to send this to every woman (and man) you know; it may save a life. This applies to ALL 50 states.

Comments

[Sue]

Hi Deborah,
I try to post items that have good sound advice no matter if the exact situation is verifiable or not. All three of these examples provide sound advice for drivers in situations where they can become confused or let their guard down.
So snopes or not, I am happy to post this.

[Deborah Lynn Mollinia]

Seriously folks, do any of you check out these urban legends before you post them and start endless chains of junk email? Please check Snopes or Hoax Slayer before posting this kind of alarmist stuff.

[7 seater cars]

The important thing is to keep calm. No knee jerk reactions like speeding away or stopping your car to see what's going on. Stay cool, drive away and call the proper authorities.

[Delsie Maidens]

Sure, I'd share that 112 hotline. It's dangerous to drive at night, especially in roads where vehicles seldom traverse. These are trying times, and bad elements would do anything to keep you off guard.

[Erwin Calverley]

Hm, sounds like very good advice. The important thing is to keep calm. No knee jerk reactions like speeding away or stopping your car to see what's going on. Stay cool, drive away and call the proper authorities.