I always wonder "What if someone hopped in that car and took off?" when I see this, but it's usually a car no one would want to steal anyway. I never really thought about this:

Man In Back Seat: 'You Shouldn't Have Left Doors Unlocked'

WCAU-TV
updated 49 minutes ago
A woman who left her vehicle running while she ran into a convenience store to buy cigarettes slid back into her seat and found a gunman in the back seat on Tuesday night. Delaware State police said the victim was held at gunpoint inside her SUV just after 5 p.m. in a Wawa in Yorklyn.

"You shouldn't have left your doors unlocked," he said as the woman closed her door, according to a police report.

After the 48-year-old victim turned to see the gunman holding a semi-automatic weapon, she followed his instructions and drove to a Wilmington drive-through ATM at Lantana Square Shopping Center to withdraw money.

The victim then drove the suspect back to Swift Park in Hockessin, where he exited the vehicle and was last seen walking toward the Hockessin Fire Hall. After the incident, the victim immediately drove to a family member?s home and called 911.

She told investigators she did not see the suspect in the back seat because her windows are tinted. The victim described the suspect as a white man between 6 feet, 1 inch and 6 feet, 3 inches with a slender build.

He had a light-colored goatee, wore square-framed glasses and appeared to be middle-aged. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a navy-colored jacket, knit hat, gloves and a scarf that partially covered his face.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call Troop 2 at 302-834-2620 ext. 4 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22115703

 

Lesson learned. The Hard Way...

 

i once saw this girl who left her scion tc turned on and her driver window slightly open. this was at a dunkin donut and she was pretty cute too....there were a couple of guys trying to holler at her but she ignored lol. my friend and i was like, damn someone can just jump in and take off.

 

what are people thinking......

btw, once the man left the car, she should have run over the guy with the car

 

I dont see any reason to leave the car running. I turn off my car anytime that I'm not in it.

 

so the suspect was Gordon Freeman in winter clothes?

 

I agree with GSteg. The only time when the car is running and I'm not in it is when I remote started it and the alarm is still active. Other then that, no way.

 

same here ... i'm sure there are enough people around my area that would love a free IS that if i'm not inside, car is off and locked. even when i get gas, car is locked (and obviously off)

ooh, speaking of that, side funny story:

i was getting gas and this person pulls up to the other pump island the wrong way (like, gas tank lid facing me, not the pump). person gets out w.o turning car off and inspects the situation, person decideds to leave the car the wrong way and fight the awkwardness of the situation. i saw them swipe their card and lift the pump handle. at this point i was getting back into my car and i remember thinking *wait a sec, that car is still ON* ...

now, i dunno if you can blow up a gas station that way, or what the negative implications of filling your car while it's on are but i definately wasn't going to stick around to find out if we might all die, so i left. gas station is still there so i guess in the end nothing exploded

 

My doors are ALWAAYS locked!
Even when I'm in it..

 

Survival of the fittest

 

depends on the car, but for example on lexus, you can add gas while the car is running no problem. i would never do that on my car, but i have seen it before

 

I see people filling up their cars with the engine running all the time. I don't get it.

 

I always carry two keys with me, and sometimes I will leave the car running and lock it from the outside. I live in a fairly low-crime area, but I don't recommend this in high crime areas as someone can just break the window and drive off with your car. But even in a low-crime area, I would never leave my car unlocked with the engine running. That's just asking for trouble, and people who wouldn't otherwise steal a car in most circumstances might jump when given the opportunity.

 

My car is always off & locked when I am not inside, I've made it a habit since I started to drive.

 

+1. And with remote locking now, how hard is it?