Carjacking at Ukrops Last Night
From Lieutenant John A. O’Kleasky we have a poor start to holiday.
ROBBERY/CAR JACKING / ABDUCTION / 7045 Forest Hill Ave. / 12-23-09: 2045 hrs (8:45 p.m.)
Victim stated that she was in the parking lot of Ukrops, about to exit her vehicle when the unknown suspect tapped on her window with a hand gun. Suspect told victim to give him money, victim stated she didn’t have any and even showed the suspect. Suspect then got into vehicle. Victim and suspect then went to ATM at Navy Federal Credit Union in Henrico County. Victim was forced to take money out of the ATM. Victim refused to get back into the vehicle and ran out into the roadway and flagged down help. HPD responded and notified RPD. Detectives and log unit responded to the scene. Victim’s vehicle was located and towed to HFI lot. No injuries. Detectives will check security cameras in the area.
Video on next page (thanks to tvnewsbadge for pointing out the video to us)
What the WHAT?!?!?!
I was the victim. I am a Woodland Heights resident. I parked in the first row of spaces as I always do – facing the trees by the access road. I believe the sign on the row is “Angel Food Avenue” – if I remember correctly. The row is right by the far left entrance, where the carts and the flower area are. I parked in only the second space from the front space on that row, so I was not far from the front door at all. There were plenty of cars in the lot – it was not deserted by any means, being right before Christmas. I want to share this with all of you to remind everyone not to take your safety for granted. I never would have imagined that happening, but it did. I am OK. Please, please be as aware as possible – he got his money out of me so he may think that tactic worked pretty well for him and try again. I guess I would recommend parking in the middle of the lot instead of along that edge.
I’m withholding my name because I am not trying to get attention for this – I just want to let you all know that it happened and to ask you to please watch that parking lot.
Thanks for sharing WH and glad to hear that you are okay.
Oh my goodness, I’m so glad you are OK, Neighbor! I hope that the crook was captured on video, and I hope that you recover from the trauma soon.
CBS6 did a story on their 6pm show today
To the victim in case:
I hope this finds you well.
My name is Nicole and I work for CBS6.
While I know you don’t want to receive any attention, I want to extend the opportunity to tell your story.
Your message is so important to all of us. If you’re willing to speak with us about that message, please give me a call 804.254.3684 or drop me an email, nleasure@wtvr.com.
I don’t get it– he tapped on the window with a gun, she has a conversation with the guy–did she open the window?
Why didn’t she just start up the car and drive away?
How did he get in the car? Did she unlock the door and let him in the passenger side?
This story sounds kind of odd.
It would be useful to have police guidance on how one should behave when faced with this situation. I suspect you are incrementally better off not letting someone in the car, but I’m not certain of that. I’m not going to second guess anyone faced with a pistol.
In response to Kelly’s questions:
Here is exactly what happened. I pulled into the parking space, and was about to exit my car. I had one hand on my keys in the ignition, and the other on the door handle, opening the door. I saw something to my right so I turned to look, and looking at me through the passenger window was a face with a black cap, a black mask pulled up over the nose and mouth, and a large black handgun. Right away the voice said to me (I could hear through the car window) “GET OVER!” In that instant I went into shock. I screamed “Oh my God!!” but I was so freaked that my lips couldn’t even form the words completely – what came out was a guttural, unintelligible exclamation. I tried to fumble with the keys to turn the ignition but in about 1.5 seconds he was pulling open the driver’s side door (had quickly come around the back of the car) and was forcing me into the passenger seat. It happened so, so fast – almost instantaneous. And, I was in such terror that in those short seconds it was honestly as if my brain had been scrambled. How I would have loved to have had the presence of mind to kick the car into reverse suddenly and get the heck out of there. All the while this was happening, he was threatening me – telling me not to do anything, not to try anything, to do exactly what he said.
Believe me, there was absolutely no conversation or discussion happening through the window. And I couldn’t weigh whether or not to let him in – there was no time for that. He appeared in the window and literally the next second was pushing me into the passenger seat. It was after he was in the car with the gun on me that he demanded money.
Sorry to go into so much detail, but I want to explain the scenario since you thought the situation sounded odd.
My husband and I went back to Ukrop’s today. I looked at the space where it happened. In front of the parking space where I was on “Angel Food Avenue”, there is a little landscaped section with flowers and a few shrubs. I think he may have been hiding in the shrubs, waiting for the right car to come along. So, I will re-iterate my recommendation to avoid the Angel Food Avenue spaces, ESPECIALLY after dark.
I spoke with the manager at the store, and he let me know that the staff have all been briefed to keep their eyes peeled for this person. I very much hope that this does NOT happen to anyone else.
Thank you to all of you for your kind words of support.
I just love the laxidazical….oh it’s just the holidays….comments. My iwfe and I shpe there all the time. What is the video situation in the lot? Can it be improved? I get tired of the police saying, oh, that’s just the way things are. Be freaking proactive. Damn.
I know…I misspelled…and probably did again.
Thanks WH for telling more of the story. The other site where I first saw the story had only stupid comments. So sorry for your trauma, but thanks for your advice and your willingness to tell your neighbors the story.
yes, thanks WH. It sounds terrifying. In moments of crisis, people cannot be as composed as they might be sitting in front of a computer criticizing. I’m very sorry you had to experience that and I hope you can feel safe soon.
WH Resident, thanks for the explanation, the way this was originally reported was confusing. I’m glad you are OK!
Thanks! Yes, the way it was originally reported in the summary from the police wasn’t precisely correct. Also, the original news report stated I was driving once he was in the car, but I was not. Regardless, I just really hope and pray that no one else will have that experience. Thank you all again!