Here's an email circulated by a co-worker in early May.....this one I can vouch for. I sold him the vehicle in question so ah feel in a funny round about way like dey tief my car......
I am writing to share some events that happened to me this last weekend. I was car jacked and robbed of my vehicle.
I will recount the details as best I can recall in the hope of raising your awareness of the ease with which these things happen in our private residence. Hopefully, my loss can be of service to you in some way.
My wife and I were meeting someone at our Maraval apartment. We drove into the private cul-de-sac at around 2:20pm. The area was very quiet, a fact that all residents enjoy.
On pulling into the parking area, I let my wife out of the vehicle as I went to park the car. She proceeded upstairs to open the apartment. When she opened the door, we noticed a light blue vehicle (maybe an Almera or a Sentra) heading to the end of the cul-de-sac. It turned around and headed back to the main road. We observed 3 occupants in the car, but since it left the compound (or so we thought) we let our guard down.
I parked our vehicle and noticed that the blue car was no longer in sight. The road way was clear. I left my vehicle, and proceeded to the apartment. As I got to the landing on the stairs, a man came running towards me. He was running at full pace. His hand tucked under shirt as if concealing a weapon.
He yelled to get my attention, and then demanded that I give him the keys to my vehicle. Given his pace, I would not have been able to make it into the apartment in time before he was upon me. I was trapped. If I went up I would have included my wife as a target of his violence also.
Luckily my keys were still in my hand. I reacted by tossing the keys over his head into the parking area. Unfortunately, my phone went with it too, as it was in my hand also.
On realizing my action, the man left me and went in search of the keys now unprotected on the ground. He picked it up and went to my vehicle (PCE 19** – Blue Toyota Corolla).
The game was over. My only weapon – my voice. I ran to the roadway, away from the direct path of the vehicle, and yelled “Thief! Thief! Robbery! Thief! Thief!” raising an alarm. That's when I saw the second man.
They were organized. They knew what they were doing. They executed a plan that they had made in advance. One man to get the car, and the second to deal with any resistance from me. They were in complete control of the situation. Confidently they did what they had come to do. I was a bystander who could be dealt with. I could have been anyone, it made no difference.
When I saw the second man I knew my life was in danger. He too had his hand tucked under shirt concealing a weapon. He too was running toward me at full pace. His eyes focused on me alone, assessing his need to act with whatever action deemed necessary.
My life was at risk. I backed away deeper into the cul-de-sac trying to stay out of harm’s way.
After they left, I again saw the light blue car. It was now leaving the compound after the deed was done. It had hidden itself closer to the main road. The third man was in the getaway car all along ready to act had I attempted to leave with the vehicle.
The police were there within 8 minutes. Having them there helped me give over the concern of the crime to them and gave me the space to comfort my wife who thought she was watching her husband about to be shot and killed as she responded to my alarm.
Thankfully all that was lost can be replaced. A great nuisance and at significant cost, but it can be replaced. People and lives however cannot be replaced. I urge you. Be on your guard. Always alert. Even in your private residences. Even during the day.
Watch out for your neighbor's also. Protect what cannot be replaced. Life is truly fragile.