The friend of a woman in Rock Hill, South Carolina has taken to social media in an effort to warn people over a trick being used by criminals in store parking lots.
Whilst shady characters using signals to coerce victims into pulling over in their cars is the stuff of horror story legend, police have issued a very real warning after a Facebook post garnered mass attention.
The friend of an anonymous victim in Rock Hill says her friend was sitting in her car in a store parking lot, when two men attempted something which left her so scared she was forced to flee the state.
According to reports, the woman in question was sat stationary in a lot when two men parked their car directly in front of her and put their high-beams on.
Obviously, the victim was blinded by the headlights and so shielded her eyes. It was then that the two assailants leapt from their car and attempted to pry open her doors.
“Someone turned on their high beams and she looked up and she can’t really see anything. She asked her identity to remain protected for her safety,” the friend told NBC Charlotte.
“She heard two men on both sides of her car, the passenger and the driver side,” the friend continued.
“As she was pulling away they were still trying to get in her car they were wearing hoodies and they had the hoodie part down past their eyes. Thankfully she locked her doors. It was just too close to home and I wanted people to be aware.
Thankfully, the woman was able to speed off before the men got into her car. She then left the state in panic and went to stay with family.
“Who knows what would’ve happened if they had gotten her car and she didn’t lock the doors?” the friend said.
The victim herself opted not to call the police, but Rock Hill South Carolina Police Department picked up on the Facebook post about the incident. They subsequently launched their own investigation and found that the story was genuine.
Rock Hill Police Officer Mark Bollinger is reported to have told WTHR that it was likely the men wanted to get the woman out of her car. He also offered a warning against people sitting distracted in stationary cars for too long.
“If you ever feel like you’re in an unsafe situation, don’t think you’re bothering us,” Officer Bollinger said. “That’s what we’re here for, we’re here to help. Stay in your car and call us or leave that spot. If the car starts to follow you, go to the nearest police agency.”
I certainly didn’t know about this new potential trick, and I’ll be paying far closer attention from here on in.
Help us spread word of this method by sharing the story on Facebook! You never know, you could save somebody’s life.
