Tim has no idea the guys in front of him buying duct tape and tire thumpers at the truck stop have been tracking him since he picked up a load of computers. When they grab him at a rest area stop and throw his duct-taped body into the back of his sleeper, he wonders: Where is John Wayne when you really need him?
HOW TO GET HIJACKED AND LIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT
1. Don’t resist. Your load is never worth your life.
2. Follow directions if you are told to drive.
3. Don’t look the hijacker in the eyes. Bad guys consider direct contact a threat because they assume you are trying to memorize their features for future identification.
4. Listen for accents and any identifying language. If blindfolded or stuck in a van, listen for traffic sounds or background noise that could help in tracing your location.
REMEMBER: Cargo thieves don’t want to kill you; they just want your truck or your cargo. Your odds of survival depend on how calmly you cooperate.
Source: Jim Harris, Cypress, Calif., private investigator specializing in cargo theft investigations
