Mothers are known to be very protective of their children. A pair of carjackers in Florida found out about it the hard way.
Fox6 Now reports about a surveillance video showing two men, Juan Carlos Gonzales and Nicholas Rosado, aged 17 and 19 respectively, attempting to steal a car from a woman who was pumping gas. The mother fought back against the assailants, probably encouraged to fight because her two children are inside the vehicle. The men failed to carjack the mother's car and proceeded to escape using a getaway car driven by a woman named Rebecca Utria, 21.
Fortunately, a policeman, who had no knowledge of the attempted carjacking, was able to spot the speeding getaway vehicle which crashed against a fence after being followed by the cop. The three perpetrators were arrested and charged with attempted carjacking and fleeing the police. Although the three are being held with a $25,000 bond, the judge has ordered that they stay away from their victims if they happen to get released on bail.
Carl Zogby from the Hilaleah Police Department talked about the heroic efforts of the mother. "She was a mom -- and what that bad guy didn't know was in the backseat of that car were two kids -- and she wasn't going to let them be taken."
According to the U.S. Department of State, carjacking is one of the most common crimes committed, not only in the U.S., but also in other parts of the world. Their website also shared some tips on how to avoid carjacking. These include avoiding high crime areas, locking the door at all times and keeping the windows up of the car, and always checking the surroundings for suspicious activities. Likewise, the public is also advised to always bring a cell phone or radio in order to report or call for help.
Although the woman in the video was able to fight off the carjackers, the U.S. Department of State has an opinion regarding the best response when carjackers attack. "Avoidance is the best way to prevent an attack... Non-confrontation is often the best response. The objective is not to thwart the criminal but to survive!"
