Strategy 1:
If you are reversing out of a parking lot and suddenly see a paper stuck to your rear windscreen, chances are there are car jackers lurking around. You will probably notice the paper after starting the car and then looking in the mirror. In a hurry you would get out of the car to remove that paper as it’s obstructing your view. This would be the moment they car jackers would pounce and take your car away.
In all probability you would have left your wallet, purse, cellphone etc. in the car and by now they will all be with the car jackers leaving you completely stranded.
How to avoid?
- If possible, park reversed so that you do not need to reverse out when leaving the lot. It will cost a lot of time but will help in the longer run.
- If at all you have to reverse and there is a paper at the back obstructing your view, lock the doors and do not get out. Reverse and drive away and stop somewhere else to get rid of the paper.
Strategy 2:
People may throw eggs on your windshield when you are driving by. In a hurry you many want to use the wiper water spray to get rid of it. But, the warm water and egg white will invariably create a paste that would completely obstruct your vision and force you to stop and clean the mess. This is the time the car jackers can attack and take control of your vehicle.
How to avoid?
- Do not use the wiper spray until you are certain that you are in a safe area to get down and clean the mess.
(Via Security in Wipro)
The problem would look like this
This one is recent, on our way back from one our friend’s places late friday night I get stopped by a squad checking for DUI somewhere in Koramangala. I stop without a fuss, I drink on very rare occasions, so no sweat there.
Cop: “Stop, come out, I have to smell you!!”
Seriously!!
On our way to Goa last year we were stopped at the border for general checking. I do not object to them as such, helps build the security and keep the highway safe.
The cop asks: “Where are you headed?”
Me: “Margaon, Goa”
Cop: “Where from?”
Me: “Bangalore, Karnataka”
Cop: “Ok go”I start the car and was about to head off into the rain when he violently slaps on the car and screams “Stop, stop, stop”
Cop (pointing to the child seat): “What’s that?”
Me: “A child safety seat!” I expect these guys to know such stuff these days, my mistake.
Cop: “Aur usme kya hai? (And what’s in it?)”
Me (pointing to the already very visible child): “A child!!”
This was a long while back when we were driving back from Pondichery pretty late in the evening (make that night) on NH66. We had stopped for some general rest time and some highway patrol guys stopped to question us
Cops: “Where are you going?”
Me: “I am traveling with my wife, driving back to bangalore from Pondichery”..
Cops (pointing at my wife): “Then who is this?”
What really can one say to that!
It seems many petrol pumps are back to their thieving practice. Here are some tell tale signs:
- The person filling asks you about the capacity of the tank. If you intend to fill full tank (about 37-38 litres when the orange warning comes on) do not disclose how much might go in.
- There are too many people around to distract you. People asking Cash or Card, Windscreen Cleaning, Whats’s the Mileage, etc are all distracting tactics. They will fill your tank for more than what it can take!!
- The person filling constantly keeps tinkering with the nozzle lever. The constant release – re-release of that lever disrupts the flow of fuel. Since the pump does not react that fast, it keeps on counting.
- You ask for fuel worth Rs 1000/-, they fill for 200/- and claim miscommunication. What they actually do is, they pretend to fill the balance without reseting the counter. Result, you get Rs 800/- worth fuel while paying Rs 1000/-.
