At a time when “Bump-n-Jack” robberies were popular in Los Angeles someone tried to rob me in that manner. “Bump-n-Jack” – someone rear ends your car. You get out thinking there was an accident. Instead, you were robbed and gun point and your car stolen. Victims were routinely shot even if they cooperated, LA was a very dangerous place.
One night I was leaving Northridge Hosp in the San Fernando Valley north of LA. I had to go west a few blocks through a residential area. The street wasn’t well lighted and heavily tree lined. After a few blocks I’d turn right onto a large 4 lane street which would take me north to the 118 freeway, again, just a few blocks away.
As I approached the intersection with the 4 lane, I saw a couple guys hanging out at a tree by the corner. They weren’t walking or going anywhere, an odd thing for that time of night and location. Warning bells were going off in my head. I checked my mirror, a car was rapidly approaching me from the rear.
As I slowed near the tree I suddenly gunned the engine and drove over the curb at the two guys. They bailed out of my way. I rapidly accelerated north up the 4-lane. The car that had been approaching from my rear also accelerated and chased me up the 4-lane.
3 blocks up there was a gas station on my right. I saw a black/white patrol car stopped in the lot. I nailed my brakes and whipped into the gas station.
The car following me also started to stop then rapidly accelerated up the 4-lane. That’s when I knew I was right. If the car following had been an honest citizen concerned about my driving they would have stopped at the gas station also. When they saw the police car they took off.
I had just avoided being robbed and possibly shot by being aware of my situation. I even told an officer in the patrol car what had happened. He agreed, said there had been two such robberies in the area the night before. I really couldn’t give a description of the guys on the corner other than Hispanic and wearing plaid but when the 2nd cop came out with snacks they went down to check out the corner… I went home.
For two years I serviced CT’s all over the LA basin, 90% of my work was at night. It was ’91 and ’92, the two bloodiest years in the history of LA. The only smart play was keeping your head on a swivel and be aware at all times.
Edit to add... When I talked to the cop I left out the part of the story where I drove over the crub.. Just told him the part about suspicious guys and a car chasing me... My boss on the other hand wanted to know why I had to have a rim replaced on my company car... he got the full story.
