FYI. Be careful, times are really bad.

-----Original Message-----
From: Maurice R. Calingo [mailto:mrcalingo*rcbc.com]
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 9:05 AM
To: beldoratan*hotmail.com; botski_liz*yahoo.com; clark_114*hotmail.com; dmacaspac*adb.org; eab*bdo.com.ph; giselle.samia*shell.com;

It might be a good idea to program your keyless entry open only the
driver's door.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPI [mailto:mluakian*info.com.ph]
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 7:47 PM
To: alfiesy*mac.com; Maloy Luakian; BMWCarClubPh*yahoogroups.com; Charmaine
Chua; Crystalle Ozamis; dette escudero; elaine thessa pua; Elenette Uy;
Emlyn Silva; Harvey N. Dychiao; Irene Isip; Jerome Chua;
silverg8*info.com.ph; Kim Pamintuan; *kym*; Midiy Nacague; myketanto;
Patricia Francisco; Rochelle.Dalton*avon.com; sad ; Unimex; Tonichi
Pugeda; shelvs*pldtdsl.net; Vince Garcia; 'Jane Lua'; mj_lua*hotmail.com
Subject: [BMWCarClubPh] FW: hold-up

Please be careful guys!



Mike Luakian
+(63917) 538-6688



This is first hand information which really happened to me last
Monday, July 26, 1:30 pm at Cash and Carry supermarket in Makati. I
was held-up right inside my van.

How did it happen-----> di ba keyless entry na ngayon all cars. So
when I click the RC, all doors open. As soon as I sit down
simultaneous with putting on the key, the man entered on the right
back door and immediately grabbed my neck. So, normal reaction---> I
struggled, tried to get the key and open the door but did not
succeed. While struggling, I already asked him what does he want, and
definitely money and the cellphone.Then I suddenly remember those
news who died just bec of the cellphone and my 3 kids were on my
mind. So I calmed down, open up my wallet and showed him how much
money I have, which was only P800.00 . But after I gave it, I tried
to disengaged his hands on me again and even put my feet on the
dashboard so that somebody could see me. I put my wallet on my lap
and he recognized that im still protecting something inside my
wallet. So, he got the wallet from me and got all other cash that
were secretly kept but I told him not to get my license (mabait
naman, he just really took all the money left. And I was able to
haggle with him to get my simcard on my cellphone, which he gave
naman.

He handcuffed me first on the steering wheel while removing the sim
card and while searching for other valuables in my car. He got the
one piece of earring which fell on the passenger's seat but he did
not get the one on my ear, he didn't even get my watch and ring. And
to my surprise, he even asked if my passport is also there (I found
out that it can be sold also).

When he was done getting all those valuables, I saw him cutting a big
scotch tape which he placed on my mouth. I told him not to hurt me
since I am a single mom of three kids and im just an ordinary person
working. Then he asked me to sit on the passenger seat (this was the
scenario that I was really scared, bec I only see it happens in the
movies) and put my handcuff hands on the headdress and tied my hands
there (while tying me, he was pacifying me that he will not hurt me
and even said "pasensya na, may sakit lang anak ko"). And then he was
able to leave the car na.

So as soon as he left, I tried to grab and open the door with my feet
but noticed that im tied loosely so I managed to removed it and
immediately went out of my car and went to the Security guard. So
policemen came and removed my handcuff. I did not report anymore the
incident because I felt that it's useless since our police force is
not efficient anyway. I heard that even in public parking like Park
Square, there are similar incidents that happened.

Lessons from this incident ---->
1. Be watchful on those persons near your car before you enter (avoid
using your cellphone).
2. Don't put too dark tints, though it's not also safe to have no
tints at all.
3. Have presence of mind. Just be calm and learn how to negotiate in
the process (just imagine I was able to get my simcard and he didn't
even take my whole wallet, which contains my license and ATM cards
and credit cards.)
4. Make it a habit to lock your car as soon as you enter, even before
putting the key.
5. Don't ever click your RC if you are still far from your car.
6. If possible just lock your door with the key (but yes, your alarm
is not on when you do this) so that when you open it, only the
driver's door can be opened. (I think most of the Toyota cars open
this way, but not with Honda cars, so just please check your car
system).



After this incident, I felt so blessed because there is something
much worse that could have happen to me. Reason why I shared this
incident, is a way of thanking God that I am still in good condition
after that, and I am still alive for my three loving sons.

I hope you will forward this to your friends, especially to those
women who always drive alone.

God Bless everyone!