Safe Speed Forums

For the second time in less than a week I read of car jackings in he Manchester area.

1. Sale . Two men tried to snatch a woman's car in Harrow Road. Sale. The balaclava clad thugs approached the woman as she turned into her driveway - One opened the driver's door and the other the passenger door. SHe screamed and her husband came out of the house - and they ran off.

2. This time another pair of balaclava wearing thugs dragged a man out of his vehicle in Rawtenstall and headed for the M66 in the 48 year old's Audi A3 Reg MW53RNF - accomplice was nearby in a black Honda. If anyone anywhere spots the stolen car - GNP want to you to call either Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or Rossendale CID - 01706 237 442.

My advice - keep stuff in the boot and all doors locked and if no speed cam in sight - floor it!

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Good advice. But more than that...

* Don't box yourself in - leave a space to drive to. Even if it's a red light, you can stop 15 feet short of the stop line and be able to drive forwards, and steer (maybe a U turn). Same with traffic jams - leave a good space in front. (Bear in mind that car jackings are more likely at quiet times when more space is available. Use the space.) You might even avoid stopping for red lights by slowing down good and early.

* Keep good awareness - watch out for strange behaviour and people approaching your vehicle while stopped.

* Keep it in gear and ready to drive off.

* Be aware of the risks following minor crashes. Modern car jackers may well stage a little rear end collision in the hope that you'll jump out of your car. If in any doubt drive to a police station or dial 999.

* Don't forget you can drive off backwards as well as forwards. If you're in a high risk area, practice fast reversing in a large open space. One problem with fast reversing is that the self centering effect of the steering work against you. (Comes from the front wheel castor angle - in reverse it tends to drag the wheel out of your hands and give full lock.)

* Try not to take your flashy high value car to high risk areas. Take the runabout instead.

* Lots of noise might scare them off. You have a horn. Don't be afraid to use it.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

And another one.... courtesy of "Bolton" local. (Paul Keaveney reports)

A teenager was savagely attacked in Wigan. Thugs wrenched open the door of his Citroen AX (M reg) as he waitend at lights in Wigan (Cam control) He was waiting at the lights when a green Renault Clio pulled up behind. They yanked open the drivers door and samcked the 18 year old in the face and demanded his car! The lights changed and the youngster put his foot down and took off [:clap: I think I approve.. way to go fella!

It is believed the Renault was driven by a womn with black streaks in her peroxide hair and the two attackers were mid 20s - short brown hair and in jeans with Liverpool accents. Another Clio is supposed to have witnessed this. Police want anyone with any information to call :

Leigh CID - 0161-856 7279 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

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Again - please take heed on Paul's and my previous advice on this. It appears to be widespread across Manchester if local papers are reporting properly. Be careful out there guys!

_________________
If you want to get to heaven - you have to raise a little hell!

Smilies are contagious
They are just like the flu
We use our smilies on YOU today
Now Good Causes are smiling too!

KEEP SMILING
It makes folk wonder just what you REALLY got up to last night!

Smily to penny.. penny to pound
safespeed prospers-smiles all round! !
But the real message? SMILE.. GO ON ! DO IT! and the world will smile with you!
Enjoy life! You only have the one bite at it.

Hi Mag Moggie, It's a few years ago now, maybe 10 perhaps. I went to Wigan to visit a supplier in the course of my work. I reversed into the car park of the supplier (only the other side of the railway line from the town centre!) . Upon opening the boot before going inside I looked down to see a set of number plates stuffed down a grid and bound together with elastic bands. These were in easy reach by fingertip to recover..

On entering the premises I mentioned this and the owner came out and looked, thought like me it was suspicious and phoned the Wigan police.....................back came the reply: "we're busy and we're not interested"............MMMmmm!

From what you say, scousers and others are still having a night out on the town, stealing a car, whipping it around to the aforesaid car park, different set of plates slipped on.................drive home like a nun, all saintly like!............................


That's at 10 years of car crime in Wigan that could have been stopped, but, hey well............they were too busy, (in the middle of the day), to look!

It's really nice to know isn't it that our wonderful policemen are here to "protect us" when we or our property is under threat, and NOT as people are increasingly saying: "to point that Pro-laser at us" 'cos we're bein' "really bad"!.........

A new technique in the Stourbridge area is tying cans to the car while it is parked. The driver returns but doesn't spot the cans because they are hidden behind the wheels and starts driving, hears the noise and gets out to check what is wrong, thief then jumps in the still running car while the driver is trying to untie the cans.