Was I almost hijacked???

[bikebuddy351]

Take heed, especially solo travelers.

This is what happened to me when I was returning home from California recently.

I stopped at a rest stop on I-80, in Iowa, to have lunch and walk my lab. There were several people, cars and trucks plus one older brown class A. Everything looked normal. So I took my dog out for her walk.

This sketchy looking guy came up to me pointed and asked if that was my motorhome and toad. I said yes. He didn't ask anything about it like most people do. Instead, he said that there was a high roller in the class A who had just won big at the casino. He was handing out $100, $200 to vets, to anyone who went in and shook his hand. And I had to go in now because he was leaving soon. I didn't see anyone coming out waving money, but there was another sketchy looking guy circling around. It seemed a bit off. So I said I had to take my dog back first.

I went back to my RV and got out my lunch fixings. Then, knock, knock, knock. There was sketchy guy #1 knocking on my door and sketchy guy #2 craning to look in my windshield. Fortunately, I had the window blinds pulled, to keep the hot sun out, making it hard to see in and they couldn't see me. After 2 tries, they wandered off. I thought this is too weird, put my sandwich fixings away, and took off for the next rest stop about 45 minutes down the road.

There were only a couple of trucks at this rest stop, but I was hungry and stopped and got out my sandwich fixings. Then, bam bam bam on my door. There was sketchy guy #1 again banging on my door like he thought his wife was inside with me. I looked back and saw sketchy guy #2 trying to look in through my back window. I thought what the hell is going on, but didn't make a sound. After banging again, they conferred, then headed up to the restroom to see if I was there. I threw everything in the sink, took off, and didn't stop again until I needed gas 2 hours later.

So you tell me. Did my paranoia get the better of me or did I narrowly escape from 2 inept bagmen and their mysterious high roller boss? I don't see any other posts on attempted hijackings. But, I do remember those Iowa corn fields stretching to the horizon where it would be very easy to stash any number of bodies in shallow graves.

[Tabasco_Joe]

You should have called the cops at stop number 2.

[slammer]

Always trust your gut, If in doubt assume the worst. You did the right thing.

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by Tabasco_Joe

You should have called the cops at stop number 2.

Maybe even stop number 1.

[oxcamper]

Originally Posted by Tabasco_Joe

You should have called the cops at stop number 2.

x2, although I woulda called the first time.

Glad you safely exited the situation, although it is scary to think who is out there preying on unsuspecting folks.

It's a shame we have to stoop to being suspicious of people, but there is a reason for it.

[Tabasco_Joe]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Maybe even stop number 1.

I might have depending on the situation.
Once you are moving you have a lot fewer options.

Be interested to hear the opinion of any LEs on the forum.

[ppine]

Situational awareness saved you. The US is full of desperate people now. Homeless, druggies, and people down on their luck. Desperate people do dangerous things.

I have been on the road a lot in the last 55 years, and there have only been a couple of dangerous and scary episodes. You did fine and used your gut feelings. I agree that calling those guys in would probably save someone some trouble down the line. Be careful out there.

[wyodrums]

That is a very scary story! To follow you to the next rest stop shows they did not have good intentions! I'm glad you got the heck out of there!

[SetauketJeff]

Maybe they wanted a meth lab, and your RV was perfect....

[Pred]

Although we are living in unusual times with rampant lawlessness in many known areas we avoid, curious to know where exactly did this happen?

[Rhumblefish]

Classic scam, taking advantage of people's inherent "what's in it for me" mentality. Thieves know this, and prey on victims using confidence schemes (eg, "cons").

The "too good to be true" story is always just that. You dodged a bullet, my friend. A call to the cops after the fact would provide intelligence; alerting authorities to their presence and activities, and/or back up someone else's call to report the crime that happened to them (that you avoided).

I like that we all look out for each other, but be safe out there. There are many who want to prey on our approachability and affable nature.

[conceptumator]

I saw several comments about self defense and wanted to share something I read. Best non-lethal self defense is wasp spray! Get it anywhere, shoots up to about 25’ fairly accurately, temporarily blinds the aggressor. Best part? They HAVE to visit the ER to reverse the effects…which leads to law enforcement.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

Glad you made ok.

My only advice is what I would have done at a minimum.

Got the license number and a picture of the rig. Passed it on to the police!

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by conceptumator

I saw several comments about self defense and wanted to share something I read. Best non-lethal self defense is wasp spray! Get it anywhere, shoots up to about 25’ fairly accurately, temporarily blinds the aggressor. Best part? They HAVE to visit the ER to reverse the effects…which leads to law enforcement.

There is nothing on my wasp/hornet spray can that says you need to go to the hospital. If swallowed, it does say to call a poison control center. And unlike gun shot wounds, hospitals have no mandatory reporting for treating those having been sprayed with wasp spray, so don't expect LE to be notified. I use my wasp/hornet spray for its intended purpose. I would never use it in a personal defense situation, especially in a situation like this, where there are multiple suspects, and possibly even other suspects you haven't seen yet. I have other options for that, if you get my drift.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

There is nothing on my wasp/hornet spray can that says you need to go to the hospital. If swallowed, it does say to call a poison control center. And unlike gun shot wounds, hospitals have no mandatory reporting for treating those having been sprayed with wasp spray, so don't expect LE to be notified. I use my wasp/hornet spray for its intended purpose. I would never use it in a personal defense situation, especially in a situation like this, where there are multiple suspects, and possibly even other suspects you haven't seen yet. I have other options for that, if you get my drift.

For what it is worth, it is probably a pretty good eye irritant. Blinds the person for a good bit I imagine. The other advantage is that these cans spray a pretty good distance. Meant for people that are adverse to other means of self defense. If I was limiting myself to spray cans I might try bear spray.

[wmtire]

This thread being closed for multiple posts that are against the site guidelines. These may be edited/deleted and the thread reopened.

[Flybob]

Moderators Note:


If your post is missing it was deleted as it violated the site rules re weapons. We will try reopening the thread. If the weapons discussion continues it will be closed permanently.

[NXR]

A good ad hoc defensive weapon if you have the time is your fire extinguisher and we all have at least one by the door. A blast of dry chemical extinguishant in the face of an intruder can work well. If you aim it upwards from lower rather than a direct-on blast to the face it tends to get inhaled by the nostrils quicker.

We carry extra 5 lb fire extinguishers in the motorhome for fire safety and they have a lot more deterrent capability than the puny one the RV manufacturers install.

I would never have thought of using an extinguisher this way but I used to work as a race track medic. At one race a guy's suit was in flames and the well-intentioned person swept the driver with the dry chemical extinguisher from the feet upward.

Yup, went right up his nose and he was still wearing his helmet. Down he went but he survived. Since then we were taught to use an extinguisher on a driver from the head down to reduce the chance of choking them.

FWIW,

Ray

[bill ferns]

I am retired LE. 28 years with 2 on I-40. My advice when traveling alone is to always be aware of your surroundings. You did well by moving on. When your 6th sense tells you there is potential for a problem call 911. You may also help the next person. It will take a response in most areas awhile to get there. Accurate descriptions of what happened and persons/vehicles involved. Stay in well populated and well lit stops. Do not confront these types of people. Glad you did not go after the free money. Happy trails

[dward51]

Originally Posted by bill ferns

I am retired LE. 28 years with 2 on I-40. My advice when traveling alone is to always be aware of your surroundings. You did well by moving on. When your 6th sense tells you there is potential for a problem call 911. You may also help the next person. It will take a response in most areas awhile to get there. Accurate descriptions of what happened and persons/vehicles involved. Stay in well populated and well lit stops. Do not confront these types of people. Glad you did not go after the free money. Happy trails

Retired LE with 43 years. Situational awareness is something everyone should practice. If something seems off, that is your experience and training telling you the situation is not right (some people call it "I had a feeling....").

They either wanted to steal your rig or at the least break into it IMO. With them following you to another stop, it could be even more nefarious than either of those. Glad you are OK.