Followed by susspisious scroats

[simonelite501]

While I was filling up this evening, a beat up Fiat with three baseball capped youths pulled up. They didn't draw any fuel, but when I left the forecourt, they followed me. At the time I thought that they were just interested in seeing how well the Lotus went, and this may very well have been the case. I don't usually get involved in these sort of antics, as firstly, a loud bright red Lotus tends to get enough attention from Dibble, and secondly, it's not actually all that quick. But as I drove on I had a frightening thought that they may be following to either, "Car Jack" or find out where the car lives to steal at a later date. I say the car isn't all that quick, but it's no slouch, certainly quick enough to lose a beat up Fiat with a drain pipe for an exhaust, which is what I did, and then proceeded to take a very round about route home. I am really annoyed that I was made to feel this way, just because I drive a car that is a little different to the "Norm" and looks fast and expensive. As I said earlier, there may have been a perfectly innocent explaination, but.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
I for one, will be very alert in the future, and my car isn't as flash as a lot of yours, so be vigilant.

[CupraBri]

Well observed m8, can't be too careful. I wonder how many of these dangerous scroats plod catch whilst sitting on motorway bridges revenue collecting

[JohnLow]

Bit worrying that - for me, the fact that they didn't get any fuel (or food, papers etc presumably) is suspicious. Did you get the reg no? Might be worth a mention to the folks in blue suits?

Driving fast to get away from that kind of harrassment/worry is a legitimate reason for breaking the speed limit, as several celebrities' cases have shown. (although you might not want the hassle of court and hiring expensive lawyers to prove it) Also you might have wanted the police's attention this time too ... I'd be inclined to drive straight to the nearest cop shop without stopping, thinking about it.

[JMorgan]

Thats what I've told the wife, any probs head for the nearest cop shop.

[CupraBri]

Another precaution if followed is to pull into a filling station and get help there as most have CCTV. At least the scroats could be captured on film and identified later if something was to happen.

I am a cab driver and have done this in the past with "iffy" passengers. If they were to start anything, I can then say to them "You are on the filling stations CCTV, still want to start on me?"

[flasher]

I actually had something like this last year...

I was on my way to my Mums place and overtook a Golf GTi, and then a lorry in my Cerbera. I carried on pretty fast and when I looked in my mirror I saw the Golf overtaking the lorry on blind bend

I still didn't think much but upped my speed anyway as I couldn't be arsed having a drag race with a bloody Gti. However, these two baseball capped thugs were soon right up my backside (I had a car in front and was driving into the small village where my Mum lives) and looking in the Mirror I noticed they looked like something off Crimewatch...

Now, anyone who knows me knows I like a ruck and will fight anyone, but these two nutters had me worried, very worried.... so instead of turning into my Mums dead-end cul-de-sac I turned into a country lane.... the bastards followed me, now I knew I was in trouble... thank God I was in the Cerbera I know the roads very well round there and belted off like a bat out of hell, and completely lost them.

After a trip round the villages I eventually ended up at my Mums and had a spot of tea before going home an hour or so later.

On the way home I spotted a black Golf gti coming the other way.... and yes it was the same bastards looking for me...they both pointed as they passed me and i watched in horror as they braked and tried to do a U turn..

I probably topped 160mph in places fleeing and got home very worried. I did manage to get the number plate and later (thanks to my friend who is a traffic cop) find out that the car was stolen....

I haven't really told anyone (apart from family) about this but maybe I should have done. It doesn't matter how big you are (and I am big!! ) don't stop for people like this. There are people getting murdered for f**k all every day in Mr Blair's Britain, so be carefull...

[gnomesmith]

quote:
Thats what I've told the wife, any probs head for the nearest cop shop.

My wife is a little deaf, too many loud cars over too many years, thats why she drove straight to the chip shop.

[JMorgan]

Cooked in dripping?

[nmlowe]

Bloody hell!
I haven't heard anything that worrying in a while.
Forget 'boy racers', This is serious st!!
I can't imagine I'd get much attention from this kind in my astra, especially in Shrewsbury, where nothing ever happens. (except one guy got his head chopped off and his body dumped in birmingham, but that's another story).
What could you do in a situation like this?
good job you guys all drive pretty pokey motors, and are able to loose the twts. But what if they pulled a knife whilst your outside the car parked up somewhere?
I suppose the best thing to do, would to just give them the keys. But it would be a hard decision, because from a moral position, it seems like they've won.
What about security devices? Surely something would stop the little sods, maybe a clifford blackjax anti-hijacking system or a tracker for afterwards.
I read an article about hijacking in south africa, where they kill for cars. One story about the chairman of Mercedes-benz SA, who was shot dead outside his house for his s-class. Subsequentally, Mercedes and BMW pulled out of SA shortly afterwards.
Never thought it would come here though.
I suppose its because cars are so much harder to steal without the keys, so they try to steal the car with the keys in it.

Frightening stuff!

(sorry for writing an essay)

[sjc]

I've also had the same thing, 2 blokes (gypsies) followed me in to petrol station didn't buy anything and then came over to the HSV. Looking all around,one keeps me talking while the other one asks if I'll open the door and start it up.Yeah,course I'm gonna do that!Did the same as Flasher and made mental note of reg no and surprise surprise, they are in a stolen 5 series. Had loads of times in the TVRs, when I've pulled into my drive cars have stopped at the top, and I always make a point of walking back up the drive....if they are genuine(like normal) then I'm not gonna mind having a chat and if not I want them to know I've had a bloody good look at them. Sad times eh?

[pbirkett]

Funny you lot should be going on about this, but I've always had this feeling in the back of my mind that this would happen to me some day, and touch wood it hasnt. I dont own a flash car, so if it did, then at very best I would have to drive out my skin to lose anybody, and if they were in a Golf GTI or something I wouldnt stand a chance.

There was once where a group of charvas pulled into an all night garage one time, and I was threatened for my keys by them (they hadnt followed me though), but the lad who threatened me didnt exactly look hard so I gave him a very hard smack in the mouth for his troubles, then did off at very high speed! Still had me worried though, and my poor knuckles bore the scars of that weeks after.

>> Edited by pbirkett on Saturday 27th April 14:00

[Don]

Flasher. That's terrifying.

Makes you think: what if it had been the Mrs driving? Very, very scary.

[Roadrunner]

There's a gizmo out now to stop car jackers getting off with the car. It's a keyfob with a pin entry required before it transmitts the signal. Fits any car I think.

[nmlowe]

quote:
There's a gizmo out now to stop car jackers getting off with the car. It's a keyfob with a pin entry required before it transmitts the signal. Fits any car I think.

Its called the 'Virtual Key' by Clifford.
It has a transponder built into a key fob, which need to be within close proximity to the ingintion (I.E on your bunch of keys)
The pin entry system is the Clifford 'Blackjax' which, in the event of someone hijacking you at a set of traffic lights, you just give them the keys and walk away. The car will then start as normal, and allow the theif to drive away. 1/4 of a mile down the road, the engine cuts out, the alarm starts sounding and all the lights (Hazards, headlights etc) start to flash, giving the theif no choice but to leave the car.
To drive the car you must enter a PIN number on a discreet (often hidden) keypad. It's possible to use the two systems together in conjunction with a Clifford alarm.

>> Edited by nmlowe on Saturday 27th April 14:13

[q405mb]

quote:
...give them the keys and walk away. The car will then start as normal, and allow the theif to drive away. 1/4 of a mile down the road, the engine cuts out, the alarm starts sounding and all the lights (Hazards, headlights etc) start to flash, giving the theif no choice but to leave the car.
To drive the car you must enter a PIN number on a discreet (often hidden) keypad...

One problem with these is that as they start becoming more popular, the driver starts getting dragged along at knife- or gun-point when the carjacking takes place...

H

[Roadrunner]

If it degenerates to that level I'll be tooled up every time I go out in it.

[nmlowe]

What about an RAC Trackstar?
It's a tracking system (as any other) plus the key fob supplied with RAC Trackstar Emergency call feature?
try www.ractrackstar.com.
Combined with anti-smash and grab film on the windows.

It's probably a good idea to lock the doors when driving in an unfamilliar area too. Not much use in a soft top, but it'll slow the buggers down to some degree.

[relaxitscool]

In cases like these I'd say keep driving (obvious, but some people do stop), call the police, pass the registration if you can and try to give a running commentary of where you're going.eg "Road name or number heading for soandso" "just passing the oak pub on my nearside" etc. Drive to populated areas if you can, but whatever, don't stop.

Regards

Rob

[flasher]

quote:
Flasher. That's terrifying.

The funny thing is I wasn't really frightened about myself, I was worried about stopping at my Mum's house and these tossers trying to nick the car. It's odds on that being a Cerbera they wouldn't have had the intelligence to be able to start the car....

Mind you, if they are tooled up it doesn't matter how big and hard you are, you can't fight a knife or gun....

Maybe they wanted a punch-up because I overtook them?? I guess we will never know.....

quote:Makes you think: what if it had been the Mrs driving? Very, very scary

My wife won't drive the TVR. She has always said she would be picked on by numpties wanting to hassle her or goad her into a race.....and this incident is another reason why she won't drive it...

I don't let it worry me, but I now have my wits about me, something I learned years ago when living in London. Blame Blair for this, the police are forced to fund themselves by chasing drivers for speeding instead of upholding the law.......

[hardboiledPhil]

My mate used to live in South Africa for 15 years - says that the Police used to let you get away with running red-lights if there was no traffic around in a dodgy area.

Over there they are apparently taught to give them the car. If you put up too much of a struggle then they will just shoot you in the head and pull you out of the car.