Brock Bridge Road in Laurel, Maryland, usually sits quiet after midnight. Most drivers expect nothing more dramatic than a wandering deer. So a motorist heading through the 500 block around 1:30 a.m. on November 28 likely felt a flash of concern when he saw someone on crutches trying to cross the road. He slowed, then stopped. But suddenly, everything went very wrong.

Anne Arundel County Police reported that two men burst out of the tree line as soon as the car halted

One suspect possibly held a shotgun. The trio pulled the driver from his car and took off with it. 

Investigators later found the stolen vehicle, but the people involved are still missing. Police identified all three suspects as men, including the one on crutches.

Justin Mulcahy with Anne Arundel County Police told WUSA 9 that detectives haven’t confirmed whether the person with crutches staged the scene.

He explained that the investigation is still early and that officers want tips from anyone who might know more. He also noted that drivers should avoid resisting if confronted. The priority should be personal safety, not the keys.

Scams that rely on driver sympathy or surprise happen fast

University Park Police Chief Harvey Baker laid out a set of habits that can keep drivers one step ahead of anyone scouting for an easy target.

Start with the basics when you walk back to your car. Move with intent. Scan the area. Keep the keys in your hand so you aren’t digging around while someone closes the distance. Look inside your car before you open the door. If anything feels strange, get in, lock up, and pull away.

Once you’re rolling, keep your defenses up. Lock the doors. Keep the windows mostly up. Watch the space around your car when traffic slows. Leave enough room to steer out of trouble if someone tries to box you in. At night, skip lonely gas stations and ATMs. 

Stick to the center lane when you can because it makes it harder for someone on foot to approach from the curb. And if you see a stranded driver on the shoulder, call police for them instead of stopping. You can help without putting yourself in the same vulnerable position as the victim in Laurel.

Choose well-lit parking spots and avoid anything that hides sightlines. Take the keys. Hide valuables. Look around before stepping out.

If someone does target you anyway, hand over the car and focus on getting to safety. Then concentrate on details you can give officers: what the person looked like, how they moved, what they wore, and what they drove.

Police asked anyone with information about the Laurel carjacking to contact detectives at 410-222-4730. The investigation continues.