Random act of kindness goes wrong in Pittsfield Township carjacking
A person trying to show kindness to a stranger ended up becoming a victim instead, according to Pittsfield Township police, who responded to an alleged carjacking in the parking lot off the southwest corner of Carpenter and Packard at around 5:40 p.m. on Saturday.
The matter is under investigation, said Sgt. Pam Hamilton of the Pittsfield Police Department. No arrests have been made.
The carjacking allegedly occurred when the suspect approached the would-be victim and asked for a ride, which the victim agreed to provide. After the victim started driving, the suspect pulled out a weapon and instructed the driver to follow the suspect's directions.
When the car reached the corner of Textile and Munger, the suspect ordered the victim to stop and get out of the vehicle. The victim then called police.
Asked if there is any lesson the public should take from the alleged carjacking, Sgt. Hamilton said: "Don't pick up just anybody who asks for a ride. Be smart."
Comments
Rasputin
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 12:28 p.m.
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robyn
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 11:27 a.m.
I can't fault people who act kindly toward others. I can fault those who take or use that kindness to hurt someone. I've stopped to help out strangers, nothing bad has happened - but I will admit, I do so cautiously. I've also had more than one occasion where a complete stranger has helped me out. Which is sort of funny becuse it's always seemed to happen at a time when I had the least amount of faith in humanity. I remember about 10 years ago - a man and his wife were heading back home to the Detroit area, their car broke down in front of one of my Dad's barns. He helped them push the car into the driveway and told them he'd make sure it was okay until they could get someone to tow it or fix it. They still didn't have a way to get home - so he gives them the keys to his pick up truck and 20 dollars for gas. True - the pick up was not exactly new, but it ran well and was worth at least a couple grand. People told my Dad he was nuts - he'd never see his truck or the $20 again. They kept giving him classified ads with trucks for sale and cards for towing companies that would haul away the 'scrap car' in front of his barn. About a week later - the truck pulled into the driveway and the man and woman handed my Dad $20 - they asked him why he'd done that for them. He just told them "I knew you'd be back. Besides - if you didn't come back, YOU'D have to live with not doing the right thing, not me." Everyone was totally surprised that he got his truck back. After that they just made fun of him because they said his truck was such a piece of $&*# no one even wanted to steal it. But I think everyone knew what kind of man he was and they respected him for it. I know I always did.
Rasputin
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 9:48 a.m.
Back in the 70s I used to get rides to school from strangers heading my way down Packard. In the 80s, I would return the favor, but not anymore. Heck no! Back then, our fair city was a small sleepy, college town which it no longer is. We have become a big city with big problems, e.g. drunks, drug fiends, gangstas etc.
HeavyMental
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.
@L Cool story bro!
Themadcatter
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.
I have been the giver in several acts of kindness to strangers. I admit I have been lucky as I have put myself into some possible risky situations. One that comes to mind was a 50-ish woman who flagged me down at midnight on a somewhat busy residential street near my Ypsi home. My passenger told me if I stopped to help her she would get out and walk home - which she did. The who flagged me down hopped in and went on and on about how thankful she was and how the Lord blesses me. She said she was delivering meat to an incapacitated friend. At midnight??? I drove her to a government subsidized housing complex and let her off. She then asked if I'd wait for her and give her a return ride. I reluctantly agreed. I sat there in my car, at midnight, in a risky area wondering what the heck I was doing. I wasn't afraid but I did keep my eyes and ears open. When she returned 10 minutes later some man was chacing after her screaming foul language. She jumped in and told me to go. I took her to a house - I have know idea whose. I later came to conclude I had just helped her complete a drug run. I risked a lot for that act of kindness. I was foolish. Another day I was driving down Washtenaw and saw a young man running full speed towards a bus. I decided if he missed his bus I would offer him a ride. Upon my return, after a very quick errand, I saw him sitting at a bus stop. I pulled up and offered him a ride after explaining I had witnessed his chacing the bus as it pulled away. I did not feel I was in any risk making this offer...however the young man who missed the bus had to size me up and trust I was legit. He accepted the ride and we both felt there are good people in this world. This is why I continue to offer my hand when I can. I try to be careful but someday It's very possible I may make a terrible error in judgement. I hope not, but I do not want to live my life so paranoid that I would refuse to help another.
miman
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 9:56 a.m.
I have to agree with jackson72 on this. Growing up in Detroit my father from time to time would see a family at the bus stops near our home and would offer total strangers a ride to where they were going. This of course was before car jackings and the city itself became more dangerous. Maybe we were lucky that nothing terrible ever happen because of my father's kindness. He would say it was because "I could not get a cab in the cold and I had you guys with me". He never ask for money, just wanted to help someone out. I am happy that people to this day can have that type of compassion. But please be careful, the world can be a little nasty at times.
jackson72
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 8:55 a.m.
Nice jwally. You change the Sargent's quote to fit your misguided and unwarrented criticism. The officer did NOT say "Don't pick up anybody...". He said "Don't pick up JUST anybody...", which is a totally different thing. What the officer was very clearly saying was be careful of whom you give a ride to, which makes pretty darn good sense. If you disagree with that advice, then we'll be reading about you in crime notes in the not too distant future.
jwally
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.
@Asked if there is any lesson the public should take from the alleged carjacking, Sgt. Hamilton said: "Don't pick up anybody who asks for a ride. Be smart." God forbid anyone who shows another an ounce of human compassion. How many crime free random acts of kindness are there that don't show up on the crime blotter? 10:1, 100:1, 1000:1, 10,000:1, 1,000,000:1. Sorry Sgt. Hamilton that the good intended act of one person in the middle of the afternoon ruined your day by causing you to do more paperwork than you wanted. The world is a better place with charitable acts than without. "Sarge", I have an extra magnifying glass if you want to spend your off days burning ants in your driveway.
stonecutter1
Sat, May 22, 2010 : 11:07 p.m.
Derr... Tell me about the rabbits George!