Carjacking - The Bump and Run - It Almost Happened to me

While publishing my Public Service Announcement post from last week, I realized that I probably was the intended target of a "Bump and Run Carjacking". I didn't connect the dots until I read about how, in the early 1990s, carjacking was becoming a topic in national news, and one of the early techniques used was the "Bump and Run" technique. Current day, my eyes opened wide in astonishment when the read about carjackings in the early 1990s and the Bump and Run technique during the same time period. Today's story is a personal recount about how it almost happened to me, and here I am, only understanding the potential ramifications almost 30 years later. Let me explain: I hadn't heard of this type of crime back in the 1990s. But just because you haven't heard about a specific type of crime doesn’t make you immune to it.

So here I am, a 33-year-old man in 1994, relatively a new father, finding myself between jobs. I once worked at my father's accounting firm before it folded, so I was doing contract work for an accountant, Maurice A. Bell, on 80th or 81st and MLK Drive. I assume it was my day to check in with Maurice, so I got dressed and headed out the door like any other day. I drove a brown 1989 Ford Taurus, affectionately nicknamed "Fatt-Butt." At the time, I lived on 81st and Colfax in Chicago, and given the location of the accountant's office, it was natural for me to take 83rd street as it was a quick jaunt to get to King Dr. Having moved to the area as a child in 1968 at 7 years old, I considered the Southside my stomping grounds and knew it like the back of my hand.

Well, I'm stopped about a half block before the intersection of 83rd Street, Jeffrey, and South Chicago, headed westbound on 83rd Street when I get bumped. I did what I was taught: get out and exchange information. Three guys got out of the other car, and I started to feel uneasy about the situation. As I reached for my wallet, I realized I hadn’t put it in my pocket. Now, with three guys looking not very friendly and feeling uncomfortable without my ID, something in me told me to leave the scene. I'm 64 now, and this happened when I was 33, so 31 years ago. I can't tell you my exact next moves, but I jumped in my car and sped back to my place, trying to get to safety, with the group of men in close pursuit. When I got to my block, I thought I could dart out of my car and into my apartment building to safety, but that plan failed. I ended up being beaten by three men in the middle of the street. So, yes, I was bleeding, and the cuts were so bad that when I went to the hospital, they gave me stitches. I don't remember how many, but to this day, if you look closely enough, you can tell that my smile isn't symmetrical anymore.

Like many of you, I was afraid for my safety in the moments following the "Bump and Run." You'd think you would act logically under stress, but sometimes that's not the case. I recently told my girlfriend of five years this story, and she fired a series of logical questions at me, questioning why I didn't do this, that, or the other. She wanted me to recall all of my actions from over 30 years ago. Can anybody relate to this kind of conversation (lol)?

One of her first questions was, "How come you didn’t go to the police station?" I have a very good answer for that. How many 30-year-old men know where the closest police station is, unless they have a reason from their past to know this information in a city this big? I never had the need. Now, I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the locations of as many stations as possible, so that, in a crisis, knowing your options becomes automatic.

I suppose that, had I let things play out in a more typical manner and not fled the scene, I might have been the victim of a carjacking. Once again, I only realized the severity of what could have happened to me after publishing my last post and examining the timeline (the 1990s) and techniques used to lure people out of their cars so they can be stolen or carjacked, a method known as (The Bump and Run).

This story is shared for you to learn from, so that you won't end up with a lifelong, imperfect smile like mine - lol.

Today, I implore you to think about several scenarios, including what you would do if you were involved in a "Bump and Run" or any other unique techniques employed today. Yes - consider those things now and determine how you would react. I was a hot mess right after the event; I even wanted to get a gun and hunt those guys down. This is just an example of how emotions can run high during such events.

Today, I have a protocol I follow, and you'll have to figure out what your protocol will be. I keep my house keys separate from my car key fob. The purpose? If I'm ever a victim of a carjacking, they won’t have keys to my home. So, when I pump gas, I leave the car key fob in the car’s center console. If I get jacked, I just tell them, "The key is in the car, just take it," and I’ll walk away very calmly. Generally, when I'm driving, my car key is not attached to my main key ring. Like I said earlier, if I get jacked, no matter where, "The key is in the car, take the car. I'm good," and you'll probably take my mobile phone, and I'm okay with that too. I am ok with all of this because I at least have a basic plan to help mitigate the emotional pain in these circumstances.

The goal these days is to be prepared so that the actions you take are more rational, and you have both a plan and a backup plan.

Today, I’ve established a protocol for myself and you will need to figure out the best protocol for you. One crucial aspect of my approach involves keeping my house keys separate from my car key fob to ensure that, in the event of a carjacking, the perpetrators won't gain access to my home as I may have the vehicle registration card in the glove box outlining my home address. Therefore, when pumping gas, I leave the car key in the center console. If faced with a carjacking, I calmly offer, "The key is in the car, just take it," effectively keeping my home somewhat secure. My car key remains unattached from my main keyring at all times, reinforcing this strategy. This simple yet effective plan aims to mitigate any additional emotional distress during such incidents.

I hope this post has provided you with information that will assist you in recognizing threats and designing a plan so that you know how to respond in the face of adversity.

By developing a plan and making use of the information contained in our blog series, as well as being aware of your surroundings, you can significantly lower the risk of becoming a victim of carjacking. It's essential to remember that awareness and quick thinking are your best defenses against such threats.

After reading our tips are You Prepared for a Carjacking Incident?

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