Trapped – Escaping from the Trunk of a Car
We live in a time when criminals have taken to placing victims in trunks. This could be the trunk of your own vehicle after a carjacking, or could be the trunk of their car in an attempted kidnapping. It is important for all people to know what to do if they were to ever find themselves in this dark and scary place. This is just as true for adults as it is for children! The story below should make this very clear.
“EL CAJON — Deputies who stopped a driver for a running a red light on an East County road Wednesday found a 75-year-old apparent kidnapping victim bound and battered in the vehicle, a sheriff’s official said….
The woman found in the car, whose name is being withheld, told investigators she had bought a vacuum cleaner from one of the suspects. About 9 p.m. Monday, he returned to her La Mesa-area home and asked to use her telephone.
Once inside, the man overpowered the woman and took her captive, Brugos said.”
In the end, the victim survived her injuries. The story, however, shows you two things: first, sometimes bad news DOES come right to your door. And second, you just don’t know what other people will do. Your best defense always lies in the self defense tactics you learn to implement at home and out in town.
Self defense training (sometimes misspelled self defence training) is vital for all people; children, college student, adults and seniors. Every person has the right and the ability to learn what self defense tactics they can employ if needed. This could be pepper spray, use of a weapon like a cane or a purse, or strikes and kicks.
OK, if you were to be placed into the trunk of a vehicle, what can you do? Most vehicles do not come equipped with the trunk release that new cars feature.
The first order of business in any defense situation is to remain calm (number two self defense tactics, after awareness). Locked in a trunk, this can be difficult. Your mind will want to make sense of what is happening and question where you are going and what lies ahead. You must push these thoughts away and focus on the here and now – getting out. Trunks are not air tight, so you will have oxygen for several hours of healthy breathing. The goal is to stay calm and not hyperventilate.
Do not assume there is no trunk release. Look for a toggle switch, cord or handle. New vehicles are equipped with trunk release handles that glow in the dark. Feel around the top and sides of the trunk with both hands. If you find something you can pull or push, give it a try.
The trunk release button that is located inside of a vehicle is operated by a cable attached to the trunk. If there is no trunk release handle, your next step is to look for the cable that runs from the trunk to the inside of the car. This may be under the mat. If you find a cable, pull on it in the direction of the front of the vehicle. These cables can be sticky and may take some pulling to get the trunk open.
The brake lights may be accessible through the trunk; and can be used to signal other drivers. Using any tool that is in the trunk, push or kick out break lights. The goal is to get the light completely out so that you have an opening from which to breath and to stick your hand through. However, if all you can do is disconnect the brake lights, do it. After all, it was a simple traffic violation that saved the 76-year old woman in San Diego.
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