capella re
01-11-2010, 09:05 PM
this is why i keep something nasty under my drivers seat :)
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2010/10/29/carjacker-nabbed.jpg
A BRAZEN carjacker stole a prestige performance car at gunpoint yesterday, before calling the dealership and telling the owner to '(expletive) off'.
The man turned up at Toyshop Prestige Cars at Molendinar just before 11.30am and asked to test drive a silver 2000 Mazda RX7 -- the same car he had been calling the dealership about all week.
Toyshop director Sam Alaia said the salesman James accompanied the man on the test drive and was driving the car, in accordance with the dealership's policy concerning all high performance cars
But halfway through the test the man asked if he could drive the car and the two swapped positions on Southport-Nerang Road.
The man then drove towards the M1 before pulling over on Pappas Way, drawing a gun and telling James to get out.
He was last seen driving southbound on the M1.
It was a harsh introduction to the Gold Coast for James, who only recently moved to the city from the UK.
"I could definitely see the gun and I have no doubt he would have used it on me," he said.
"Where I am from in the UK is a sleepy little village.
"I came here because we have two young children and the Gold Coast is a safe place to live so I definitely wasn't expecting something like this to happen."
James was able to quickly identify the man to police, but said there was no indication of what the man was planning before and during the test drive.
"He was driving an $80,000 BMW but said he was in the market for a weekend toy," he said.
"There was no reason to doubt him at all. He was very smooth and very professional."
In a bizarre twist, the man had earlier given the dealership his mobile number, which Sam called following the carjacking.
After initially answering and quickly hanging up, the man called back, told Sam to '(expletive) off' and hung up again.
The stolen Mazda was worth about $32,000 but Sam said he was more worried about other cars in his collection, including a 1962 Rolls Royce, which the man was photographing before the test drive.
"It is like bloody America, to have people armed with guns," he said.
"We haven't even officially opened yet and this happens. The new signs are meant to be going up next week."
The $80,000 BMW the man arrived in was no longer parked in front of the dealership after news of the carjacking came through.
Sam said there had been a woman in the car when the man initially entered Toyshop, raising his suspicions that there was more than one person involved.
A 27-year-old man is assisting police with their enquiries after being apprehended running from the vehicle at around 6.10pm yesterday, near Loane Drive, Edens Landing.
makes you wonder sometimes about people trying to nick your pride and joy when it comes time to sell it. if you organise to meet away from your premises alarm bells would ring to the potential buyer that something is suss with you (i'd totally understand, if i was looking at buying a car and the seller was adament about me not knowing where they live i'd be suss as too!!)
for this type of thing, insurance is a beautiful thing
original link here http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/10/30/267165_crime-and-court-news.html
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2010/10/29/carjacker-nabbed.jpg
A BRAZEN carjacker stole a prestige performance car at gunpoint yesterday, before calling the dealership and telling the owner to '(expletive) off'.
The man turned up at Toyshop Prestige Cars at Molendinar just before 11.30am and asked to test drive a silver 2000 Mazda RX7 -- the same car he had been calling the dealership about all week.
Toyshop director Sam Alaia said the salesman James accompanied the man on the test drive and was driving the car, in accordance with the dealership's policy concerning all high performance cars
But halfway through the test the man asked if he could drive the car and the two swapped positions on Southport-Nerang Road.
The man then drove towards the M1 before pulling over on Pappas Way, drawing a gun and telling James to get out.
He was last seen driving southbound on the M1.
It was a harsh introduction to the Gold Coast for James, who only recently moved to the city from the UK.
"I could definitely see the gun and I have no doubt he would have used it on me," he said.
"Where I am from in the UK is a sleepy little village.
"I came here because we have two young children and the Gold Coast is a safe place to live so I definitely wasn't expecting something like this to happen."
James was able to quickly identify the man to police, but said there was no indication of what the man was planning before and during the test drive.
"He was driving an $80,000 BMW but said he was in the market for a weekend toy," he said.
"There was no reason to doubt him at all. He was very smooth and very professional."
In a bizarre twist, the man had earlier given the dealership his mobile number, which Sam called following the carjacking.
After initially answering and quickly hanging up, the man called back, told Sam to '(expletive) off' and hung up again.
The stolen Mazda was worth about $32,000 but Sam said he was more worried about other cars in his collection, including a 1962 Rolls Royce, which the man was photographing before the test drive.
"It is like bloody America, to have people armed with guns," he said.
"We haven't even officially opened yet and this happens. The new signs are meant to be going up next week."
The $80,000 BMW the man arrived in was no longer parked in front of the dealership after news of the carjacking came through.
Sam said there had been a woman in the car when the man initially entered Toyshop, raising his suspicions that there was more than one person involved.
A 27-year-old man is assisting police with their enquiries after being apprehended running from the vehicle at around 6.10pm yesterday, near Loane Drive, Edens Landing.
makes you wonder sometimes about people trying to nick your pride and joy when it comes time to sell it. if you organise to meet away from your premises alarm bells would ring to the potential buyer that something is suss with you (i'd totally understand, if i was looking at buying a car and the seller was adament about me not knowing where they live i'd be suss as too!!)
for this type of thing, insurance is a beautiful thing
original link here http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/10/30/267165_crime-and-court-news.html