The Three Second Rule
What is it?
The 3 Second Rule states that as soon as you close your car door, you immediately lock it – within three seconds. You don’t put your seat belt on first, don’t put your keys in the ignition, or do anything else before locking the car door. Start doing this now and it will quickly become an automatic habit.
True Crimes to the Point
San Francisco 6/22:
“Jan” left Walgreens after picking up a prescription and got into her parked car a few yards away. After she sat in her car, her phone signaled she had received a text and she retrieved her phone to look at it. No sooner than she looked at her phone, her car door was yanked open and a woman grabbed her purse. Jan immediately grabbed the strap on her purse and a struggle ensued. Luckily, Jan was able to hold onto the strap and the would-be purse snatcher jumped on the back of a motorcycle which had just pulled up to Jan’s car and fled the scene.
Alameda County 5/22:
A woman leaves a suburban Safeway and proceeds to put groceries into her trunk. As soon as she enters her car and closes the door she turned around in her seat to situate her belongings. In that moment, a man approached her car door and yanked it open and attempted to push her over into the passenger seat in an attempted kidnapping and car jacking. The woman screamed and fought back, which caught the attention of a passerby who ran to her assistance. The attacker ran off.
What Went Wrong?
In both these cases, had the women exercised “The 3 Second Rule” their car door couldn’t have been opened. In addition, neither one scanned their environment for who was in immediate proximity of their car. You are vulnerable entering or exiting a vehicle. Take a quick scan before opening that door.
What Went Right?
In both cases the women fought back and thwarted the attempted attack. In the case of the attempted car jacking/kidnapping, the woman was loud and cried for help, thus alerting others in the parking lot. In the purse snatching, the assailant was a woman, and Jan took the calculated risk of fighting back to save her purse. It worked.
Takeaways
1. Immediately lock your car door as soon as you sit down, don’t wait for the automatic door locks as they can take up to 30 seconds to activate.
2.Scan your surroundings when you enter or exit your car. If there’s someone close, why? Wait until there’s no one within 25′ of you.
3. Fight back and be loud, create a commotion, it can save your life.