Scenario : alone in the car in a parking lot

R

re-pete

Inactive
Was watching TV and this came up. Wife and I talked about it but never reached a conclusion.

Let's say you are sitting in your car, in the drivers seat, in a parking lot of a store. Let's say that the reason you are sitting there is that your SO 'just ran in to grab one thing' or an alternative reason would be 'waiting to meet a friend'.

You are NOT armed. You are a law abiding citizen so your seat belt is fastened. You care about the environment (and gas prices) so the car is off.

A BG jumps in your car in the passenger seat, points a gun at you, and tells you to drive (where BG wants to go doesn't matter).

The BG keeps the gun out of your reach, and you cannot overpower him (maybe YOU can, but let's just say you can't).

How is this situation best handled?
 
In that situation I would exit the car. I would rather risk him opening fire in a public place than allow him to force me to go elsewhere.

Number one rule of survival is NEVER GO WITH THE BADGUY ANYWHERE. Be it a back room or a deserted road.
 
Was watching TV and this came up. Wife and I talked about it but never reached a conclusion.

Let's say you are sitting in your car, in the drivers seat, in a parking lot of a store. Let's say that the reason you are sitting there is that your SO 'just ran in to grab one thing' or an alternative reason would be 'waiting to meet a friend'.

You are NOT armed. You are a law abiding citizen so your seat belt is fastened. You care about the environment (and gas prices) so the car is off.

A BG jumps in your car in the passenger seat, points a gun at you, and tells you to drive (where BG wants to go doesn't matter).

The BG keeps the gun out of your reach, and you cannot overpower him (maybe YOU can, but let's just say you can't).

How is this situation best handled?
Click to expand...

Well since parking lots are known to be prime hunting grounds for criminals:

You have parked in an area to disallow you a relatively clear view around your car why?

You daydreamed and didn't maintaining situational awareness why?

You haven't taken care to keep your doors locked why?

You are stopped and have your seatbelt on why?

By the time you wake up out of your stupor to find an armed guy sitting next to you, well you are pretty much screwed buddy :o. If you survive the encounter at that point is dependent on pretty much one thing..the bad guy's disposition.

But yeah, the only good choice in that scenario would be to somehow quickly unbuckle and attempt an escape with hopes that he doesn't bust a cap in your a@@.
 
"You have your seat belt on." I assume he does not. Head for the nearest telephone pole and let physics do the rest. Another option is to (gently) rear end the nearest police cruiser and let the bad guy decide if he wants to shoot it out with a police officer.
 
Son Of Vlad Tepes said:
You have parked in an area to disallow you a relatively clear view around your car why?
Click to expand...
It was the only available parking space in a very crowded lot.

You daydreamed and didn't maintaining situational awareness why?
Click to expand...
Had to work late last night, SO didn't let you sleep in so you are exhausted and must have drifted off.


You haven't taken care to keep your doors locked why?
Click to expand...
SO must have forgotten to lock the door when he/she exited the vehicle. You didn't notice (shame on you).

You are stopped and have your seatbelt on why?
Click to expand...
it's the law.


I know it's a flawed scenario, let's not nit-pick it apart please. There are a million why's and becauses. I am more interested in what the best course of action is once you are in this situation.

So far, the consensus seems to be that exiting the vehicle no matter what the outcome is the best choice, although bushidomosquito makes an interesting suggestion. I personally can never find a cop when I need one though.
 
If I'm as neglectful as you mention, I'd jump out of the car if possible. Crash if I can't.

In general, my seat belt comes off if I'm not driving the car. My doors stay locked. I'm rarely unarmed.
 
No sir, . . . he will not like that ride. Course, if he is lucky, part 2 will be to an emergency room, . . . if not, . . . the morgue.

If for some reason I could not get out of the car without being shot (first choice), . . . then we are probably going dumpster diving right in the side of one of those bad boys. I won't do an electric pole, . . . too much chance of hurting someone else.

Alternatively, there are just too many bridge abutments, . . . large landscape rocks, . . . rail tressels, . . . and I can pick the right one to only take out the passenger side, . . . :D

Say goodnight, . . . bg, . . .

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Most likely he wont buckle up and if he trys to, thats my chance to snatch the gun or make my escape.
Driveing out of the area and finding a place to do a passenger side impact crash is probably the best decision, because of the posability that he will shoot you any way when he's done with the ride or just to steal the car.
 
Deliberately crashing the car is iffy at best. It could incapacitate the perp or you or even cause him to trigger off a round. I agree with a couple of posts who have said "don't go with the perp anywhere". Chances are you won't come back. I'd bail at the first opportunity.

At least, that's what I would do if I were dumb enough to get into this situation in the first place. As you point out, it's a flawed scenario, but it DOES happen every day. And keep in mind TV isn't anywhere even CLOSE to reality.

When I'm waiting in a parking lot: I am armed, the doors are locked, my seatbelt or open, my head is on a swivel, and the engine is running. I'll also pull through a parking space so the nose of the car is headed out, if at all possible.
 
What about explaining to him that firing the gun inside the car will surely blow out his eardrums and cost him his hearing. If you have a window and lock override switch like my car does then turn the other doors off, hit the door lock button on the way out the door and make your escape while he figures out how to get out of the car.
 
I saw an FBI training video and yep, they said not to go anywhere with the perp. They demonstrated gunning the gas, slamming on the brakes, and in one fluid motion taking off the seatbelt and rolling out the door. The BG can't stop physics so the gun will NOT stay pointed at you, which probably gives you about 1.5-2 seconds to take action. And since he probably hasn't put on his (well, technically yours:) ) seatbelt, he should be stunned just long enough for you to make your escape. It was pretty cool how they showed it. No matter how hard the BG tried to hold the gun pointed at the victim, he just couldn't do it!
 
if you have to travel with the bg... wait till your on the highway and slam it in park. if its a manual then down shift to reverse. :D
 
If you have to guy with the Crook, make conversation and let him gain your trust before you pull anything...

It is more likely however that the crook will pull you out of your car and drive the car himself to avoid any 'Cowboys', who might try and pull something...
 
Having had a female friend who was abducted and had seen on a movie the dive out the door maneuver, DONT DO IT. She is now a parapalegic and the guy got away. Best chance at survival is to gun it to 55 mph and then if on a highway or open road slam it into park and crank the wheel to the left. This will throw the bad guy into the windshield and then cause gravity and G forces to throw him into the passenger window. Beware this could cause a rollover so if you are driving a convertible it woul not be advised. The best option really if you are taken is to find a low SUV and rear end it. If the bad guy is ejected I guarantee you he won't be much of a threat.
 
J.Smith

No disrespect, but you have seen way too many movies. The tried and true number one rule of survival in such situation is to flee immediately while still in the parking lot with the car off. Never allow anyone with criminal intent take you anyplace.

Even a criminal willing to shoot you on a private road is going to think twice about opening fire on a fleeing person in a public area...and if they are willing to shoot a fleeing person in a public area they were most likely going to kill you later anyway.

Trying a high speed maneuver is only risking your physical safety and the safety of anyone else on the road. There is nothing to keep him from blowing your brains out the second you put your foot down on the accelerator...and he would be making that decision under fear of his life which would make the decision easier for him to make.
 
Heck if you are this out of it to make that many bad decisions just pull the keys out of the ignation and toss them out the window.

He may shoot you for doing that but if he does he was going to kill you anyway.
 
This is a true story. My neice worked in a check cashing store in Milwaukee and would open it in the morning. One morning a guy walked up to her as she was opening the door and stuck a gun in her side and pushed her inside.

He told her to open the safe and give him the money - dumb guy - because she didn't bring the money she just opened up.

Anyway, she told him she only had her purse take it and she couldn't open the safe cause she didn't have the combination. She was telling the truth.

He threatened to kill her a few times then must have figured she was telling the truth. Then he said come with me or I'll kill you.

She said she was so scared she could not get her legs to work. She literally could not move. He threatened her a few times and then just ran off.

He did not shoot her even though he had threatened to many times BUT if she had left with him she probably would have been raped and possibly murderred to cover it up.

She was so scared she quit.

Never go with the bad guy - ther is no advantage to it at all.
 
Seen to many movies probably your right in that regard. However, we all know life is not black and white, and in some cases someone may not have the split second decision making power to get out and run. My comment was positioned towards those who made the mistake of staying the car, or did not seize the chance to run. In no way would I suggest someone pull the maneuver I stated on a heavily occupied road. There will be times when people are carjacked/kidnapped, and for those who do become hostages either one of those manuevers are a solid chance at getting away. Id rather die rolling my car attempting to save my life than be shot in the back of the head on some backroad. I do aknowledge however that these should be a last resort, but the FBI even teaches the roll out the door maneuver along with the hitting a parked car. Fact of the matter these days is expect the unexpected.
 
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