New form of kidnapping....be safe

United States
May 2, 2007 9:47pm CST
NEW FORM OF KIDNAPPING Please take a minute to read this. This is very scary and could happen to any of us.. Seems like every nice thing people do for one another can be perverted. A new twist on kidnapping from a very smart survivor: About a month ago there was a woman standing by the mall entrance passing out flyers to all the women going in. The woman had written the flyer herself to tell about an experience she had, so that she might warn other women. The previous day, this woman had finished shopping, went out to her car and discovered that she had a flat. She got the jack out of the trunk and began to change the flat. A nice man dressed in a business suit and carrying a briefcase walked up to her and said, "I noticed you're changing a flat tire. Would you like me to take care of it for you?" The woman was Grateful for his offer and accepted his help. They chatted amiably while the man changed the flat, and then put the flat tire and the jack in the trunk, shut it and dusted his hands off. The woman thanked him profusely, and as she was about to get in her car, the man told her that he left his car around on the other side of the mall, and asked if she would mind giving him a lift to his car. She was a little surprised and she asked him why his car was on other side. He explained that he had seen an old friend in the mall that he hadn't seen for some time and they had a bite to eat, visited for a while, and he got turned around in the mall and left through the wrong exit, and now he was running late. The woman hated to tell him "no" because he had just rescued her from having to change her flat tire all by herself, but she felt uneasy. (Trust that gut feeling!) Then she remembered seeing the man put his briefcase in her trunk before shutting it and before he asked her for a ride to his car. She told him that she'd be happy to drive im around to his car,but she just remembered one last thing she needed to buy. (Smart woman!!) She said she would only be a few minutes; he could sit down in her car and wait for her; she would be as quick as she could be. She hurried into the mall, and told a security guard what had happened, the guard came out to her car with her, but the man had left. They opened the trunk, took out his locked briefcase and took it down to the police station. The police opened it (ostensibly to look for ID so they could return it to the man). What they found was rope, duct tape, and knives. When the police checked her "flat" tire, there was nothing wrong with it; the air had simply been let out. It was obvious what the man's intention was, and obvious that he had carefully thought it out in advance. The woman was blessed to have escaped harm. (Amen...thank you, God!) How much worse it would have been if she had children with her and had them wait in the car while the man fixed the tire, or if she had a baby strapped into a car seat? Or if she'd gone against her judgment and given him a lift? I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only; but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it on to them, as well. Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that The world we live in has a lot of crazies in it. Better to be safe than sorry. PLEASE BE SAFE AND NOT SORRY!!
5 people like this
18 responses
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
3 May 07
I think this is a hoax... http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/hairyarm.asp But if it makes someone be more careful then that's a good thing. You can never be too careful these days. You never know what awaits around the corner.
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
4 May 07
A Prize for swtrose - You won, you were first...lol Great Minds think alike...so they say..hehe
Ok you win...here's your prize....lol
@Swtrose (3385)
• Canada
3 May 07
Ha Ha I'm first. :)
@Swtrose (3385)
• Canada
3 May 07
Relax hun, thank you for the warning, but this is actually an urban legend that has been circulating around the internet for some time. See: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/hairyarm.asp
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
3 May 07
haha, I must have been looking it up while you were posting...lol
3 people like this
• United States
10 May 07
I did see that on MySpace as well. People will make up anything to get some kind of attention.
@mkup30 (494)
• United States
3 May 07
wow that is really scary! thanks so much for warning us of this. its crazy how many nut jobs are out there and these days everyone is so rushed and in their own world it is easy to get lost in your thoughts and let things like this happen to you.we should all send this via email to everyone we know so it will not happen to them either. thanks again for sharing i know we all apreciate it.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 May 07
Your right better safe than sorry. This is now new it has been on the internet since 1998. There are quite a few variations on how people do this type of thing; http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/hairyarm.asp
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
3 May 07
While I did see this on snopes as an urban legend, it does have a wonderful message. That message being that one can never be too safe. I continuously remind my daughter (who can be all too trusting) that even seemingly 'nice' people can have an ulterior motive! It is so frightning the lengths to which some people will go to carry out their evil.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 May 07
These days kidnappers are even smart and they first would like to convince person and then do their activities....
1 person likes this
@kenetot18 (452)
• United States
3 May 07
where and when was that happen?tha's really scary!we normally walk home after school and that what really scares me a lot that something might happen to me and my sister while walking! there's no safe place anywhere in the world!
2 people like this
• United States
3 May 07
It is a sick scary world. Just be aware of your surroundings always, and don't go out alone at night.
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
12 May 07
Although it appears that this is an urban myth it is still a valuable lesson .. I will be passing this one on to both my daughters as well as my step-daughters. It does show that people can never be too careful, and if could happen to anyone .. not just females. Young men, old men, and anyone who might not be physically strong could fall prey to this sort of thing. As I said urban myth but still good to let people know what can happen if they do not take care. Do not give a lift to strangers under any circumstances, no matter how kind they might seem to be. I am an interstate truck driver .. and never give a lift to anyone no matter how desperately they might seem to need a lift. When they are in my truck with me anything can happen, so I take care always.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
3 May 07
That is some scary stuff. She is one lucky lady. Thanks for sharing this story and hopfully it will help someone in the future. :)
1 person likes this
@aprilgrl (4460)
• United States
3 May 07
Wow, That is scary. Thanks for sharing
1 person likes this
@juicebox (106)
• United States
4 May 07
wow, i would have never thought of that. actually, i don't know what i would have done in that situation. there was a middle aged man who looked as though he was waiting for my friends and i. i thought it was peculiar, but thought nothing of it until we entered our vehicle. out of nowhere that same man came over to our car and asked our names, phone number, complimented us in our native language, and wanted to converse some more. although both my friends gave him their names, i kept quiet, but they sold me out. about the phone number, we said we didn't have a pen. it was the creepiest thing ever, not to mention a bit insulting. so my point is yes, there are crazy people in this world and the only thing we can do is keep an eye out.
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
3 May 07
That is very frightening! I am glad you posted that!
1 person likes this
@jc_star10 (953)
• Indonesia
3 May 07
Thank God that she didn't have anyone left in car with him. He could kidnap her son or her daughter. Although she is smart, but don't you think that it's quite dangerous too to leave car with him ? She could lose her car. But it will be better, than she lose her life right ? Kidnappers nowadays not wears tatoo or moustache or long hair like those in movies. They are nicely dressed people with tie and tuxedo. But yet, they commit something bad. We really need to be extra careful to strangers. And you are right, we also need to listen to our inner heart. Sometimes, they reminds us about how odd a situations are. A little uneasy, but they try to tell us something.
• Malaysia
3 May 07
wow.. thanks for information. .lucky for that lady..she's really smart to thought of that.. i think many would not be able to react that fast in such situation.. and i think more and more ways of kidnapping is being created.. and it is strongly reminded that everyday.. when you meet strangers.. you have to be extra careful.. especially the one you don't even know them.. and they try to be really nice to you.. and asking you out.. or want to stick with you most of the time.. you just have to be extra careful.. thank god nothing happened to her.. hopefully it will be the same for everyone here =)
1 person likes this
@maia0129 (91)
• Philippines
4 May 07
Im really glad you posted this article. Though there are some who said that it's been circulating in the net already but I think it's still of help to those who just read this. Keep it up!
@profclark (512)
• United States
4 May 07
Thank you very much. I do not know if I would have been as smart. Have copied your post and emailed it to my female friends. Thanks, again.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
4 May 07
Yeah i agree with you, people now cant be trusted anymore..it seems its getting worser everyday i guess, but anyway thanks for the information and tips regarding this kidnapping issues..its a great help for all of us here..
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
4 May 07
Gee thats scarey stuff....I dont take anyone anywhere and I know how to change my tyres. Thanks for the warning.
@maemaemae (341)
• Philippines
4 May 07
its so freaky....