Locked Down for Safety !

 Perhaps it has not dawned on many people yet, but the health demand that we wear a mask to cover our breathing when outdoors opens a new crime avenue.  In the past, anyone with any sort of face covering aroused suspicion and the law required those wearing full face motorcycle helmets to remove them before entering banks and other financial institutions.

Now the majority of people we pass in the street are wearing a face mask, and it has become difficult to recognise friends and family in a crowd.  A recent crime report reveals a new risk emerging that will have appeal to the hoodlum elements who prowl the city after dark.

A 32 year old man drove into the drive--thru lane of a McDonalds restaurant at Eagle Vale on Sunday night.   A stranger wearing a face mask walked up to the car and opened the driver's door, produced what looked like a hand gun and motioned for the driver to walk away from his car.  At risk of his life, that driver complied.

The bandit then slid into the drivers seat and hijacked the car.  This marooned customer got immediate help from McDonalds staff and the police were called.  He was able to describe what the bandit was wearing, but would be unable to pick out a face in a police lineup.  The police alerted their mobile patrols to look for the missing vehicle.

It was quickly located, undamaged just five hundred metres away in an Eagle Vale reserve.  Either the thief lost his nerve, knowing police cars have model and make detection units installed which scan a car stream to detect stolen vehicles, or he brazenly decided to hijack transport to get him closer to his home.

All this happened at 1-30 am when the movement of people enjoying revelry is reaching its peak.  The gun produced may have been a replica, but a wise car occupant is unlikely to risk his life in combat with an armed thief., and that is the advice also recommended by the police.

The police take this type of crime seriously and the car owner had his vehicle towed away by the police for investigation by their forensic team.  It is likely that the hi-jacker left fingerprints or DNA evidence of the crime and if he is on record the cops will soon be banging on his door.

Of course, that car owner had a frightening experience and will suffer a time lag before the police examination of his car ends and it is returned to him, but is seems that car hi-jacking is a new crime trend emerging in this country and it is being given respectability and cover by the edicts to help contain this coronavirus pandemic.

Perhaps a good reason for drivers to review car security.  The modern car has door security lockable from the inside and it may be wise to travel with that option chosen.  It is quite possible that this brazen theft in a drive-thru queue may be the start of a trend !