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Doofy · Nov 28, 2005, 07:45 PM

Just a heads-up for the UK folks out there... Not sure as to the validity of this info but it's worth telling anyways, just in case.

New hijacking scheme. This has already happened in Guildford.....

You return to your car left in a car park, unlock your car and get inside, start the
engine and shift into reverse and when you look into the rear view mirror to back out of your parking space you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window.

So, you either switch off the car or leave the engine running 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 the car that is when the hi-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off!

The door was unlocked, your keys were in the ignition, maybe the engine was running, (ladies would have probably left their handbag, with their purse, mobile phone etc; in the car) and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED!!!

Should this happen to you, just drive away and remove the piece of paper that is stuck to your window later....and be thankful that you read this email.

If you think appropriate, forward this to all your friends and family...especially women!

A purse contains all identification, and you certainly do NOT want anyone getting your home address. They already have your keys!

And it is at least possible that your insurance company may refuse to pay out for the car, because you left the keys in the ignition! They have certainly refused to pay when drivers have left keys in cars left at petrol pumps when going inside to pay.

This sort of scam - like extracting car keys from hall tables, through the letterbox, is increasing as it is now increasingly difficult to access or steal cars without the proper keys.

Mastrap · Nov 28, 2005, 08:26 PM

Aww, common, this smells like a hoax from miles away. All the ingredients are there, FUD galore.

Google is your friend in these situations.
Details, hit one, page one.

Doofy · Nov 28, 2005, 08:33 PM

Well, worth telling anyways - it imparts sensible advice to the motorist (don't leave your keys in the car when you're not in it).

ghporter · Nov 28, 2005, 08:38 PM

There are more than enough people around here who leave their cars running to go into the convenience store for (cheap) beer to make this sound like a more than worthwhile warning.

According to the San Antonio PD, more cars (here) are stolen with the keys in them than through breakins or hotwiring. If that's not enough of a "I see dumb people" warning, then maybe "you could be carjacked if you get out with the keys still in the car" will help. Maybe a little.

Doofy · Nov 28, 2005, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Aww, common, this smells like a hoax from miles away. All the ingredients are there, FUD galore.

Google is your friend in these situations.
Details, hit one, page one.

Dude, I ain't got the inclination to go Google everything. Like you ain't got the inclination to go check your spelling (it's "c'mon"). So get off my back, OK?

Nice edit to push the knife further in, BTW.

ghporter · Nov 28, 2005, 08:50 PM

Even if it is an urban legend, like I said, if it gets some moron NOT to get out of his car while the keys are in it, maybe it's worthwhile.

Doofy · Nov 28, 2005, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Even if it is an urban legend, like I said, if it gets some moron NOT to get out of his car while the keys are in it, maybe it's worthwhile.

Exactly, hence:

Originally Posted by Doofy top post

not sure as to the validity of this info but it's worth telling anyways

Mas just has it in for me today for some reason.

ambush · Nov 28, 2005, 08:53 PM

Higer The Terrorist Threat Level!!! Red Alert.

Doofy · Nov 28, 2005, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by ambush

Higer The Terrorist Threat Level!!! Red Alert.

Why? The Frenchies burning everything again?

MaxPower2k3 · Nov 28, 2005, 08:55 PM

Yeah, I don't really get the 'hoax' here. Real or not, all it says is to be careful. It's not like anything bad will come from heeding that advice. Why are all the urban legend sites all worked up about it?

Mastrap · Nov 28, 2005, 09:00 PM

Sorry Doofy, nothing personal. I'm having a grumpy day, I apologize. Then again, you're a man of strong opinions yourself, so my sympathy is limited

I just get tons of these in my mail, mostly from family, and it annoys me if people don't bother to do the most basic fact checking before spreading this stuff.

If you receive an e-mail with a subject line of "Badtimes," delete it immediately WITHOUT reading it. This is the most dangerous Email virus yet.

It will re-write your hard drive. Not only that, but it will s cramble any disks that are even close to your computer. It will recalibrate your refrigerator's coolness setting so all your ice cream melts and milk curdles . It will demagnetize the strips on all your credit cards, reprogram your ATM access code, screw up the tracking on your VCR and use subspace field harmonics to scratch any CDs you try to play.

It will give your ex-boy/girlfriend your new phone number. It will mix antifreeze into your fish tank. It will drink all your beer and leave its dirty socks on the coffee table when there's company coming over.

It will hide your car keys when you are late for work and interfere with your car radio so that you hear only static while stuck in traffic.

Badtimes will make you fall in love with a hardened pedophile. It will give you nightmares about circus midgets. It will replace your shampoo with Nair and your Nair with Rogaine, all while dating your current boy/girlfriend behind your back and billing their hotel rendezvous to your Visa card.

It will seduce your grandmother. It does not matter if she is dead, such is the power of Badtimes, it reaches out beyond the grave to sully those things we hold most dear.

Badtimes will give you Dutch Elm disease. It will leave the toilet seat up and leave the hairdryer plugged in dangerously close to a full bathtub. It will wantonly remove the forbidden tags from your mattresses and pillows, and refill your skim milk with whole. It is insidious and subtle. It is dangerous and terrifying to behold. It is also a rather interesting shade of mauve.

Be very, very afraid. PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!

Mastrap · Nov 28, 2005, 10:11 PM

dp. sorry

Doofy · Nov 28, 2005, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Sorry Doofy, nothing personal. I'm having a grumpy day, I apologize. Then again, you're a man of strong opinions yourself, so my sympathy is limited

Apology accepted - I'm having a bad day too (so apologies for any crap I've thrown out today). Big (manly, not girly) hugs and stuff.

starman · Nov 28, 2005, 10:40 PM

Only in Ame....oh, wait.

siflippant · 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Aww, common, this smells like a hoax from miles away. All the ingredients are there, FUD galore.

Google is your friend in these situations.
Details, hit one, page one.

Yup... the e-mail with the same message has been doing the rounds for months now, if not longer... you don't need to be warned to have your wits about you... but unfortunately the world we live in now should make you this way more than ever... quite sad really...

JoshuaZ · Nov 29, 2005, 02:56 AM

Man, I hope no one tries to jack my bike in the same way.