Keeping Her Wits About Her and Awareness Saved Her Life! (Part I)
Posted on June 8, 2008
Filed Under Carjacking, Fighting back, Security and Safety Tips, Self-Defense Tips
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It was August of last year that Cidney Smith, IUPUI student, and a friend of my son was carjacked and kidnapped outside an upscale mall parking lot in Indianapolis. Luckily, Cidney kept her wits about her and was able to ultimately escape before her kidnapper could do any major harm to her.
One thing Cidney said that actually helped her know what to do to save her life was something she had seen on an Oprah show. There was a self-defense security expert and victims of crime on the show discussing what to do if you are attacked, assaulted, or kidnapped. She remembered some of the things the expert and victims had said to do and she did them.
What a brave young lady. Most women without any knowledge of what to do in a situation like this would tend to give up or do something to cause the attacker or kidnapper to do grave harm to them.
Here is an excerpt of the events that happened to Cidney on that horrible day in Indianapolis. It is my belief that self-defense, safety awareness, and knowledge of how to protect yourself if attacked or assaulted can ultimately save your life as it did for Cidney.
Carjacking Suspect To Hear Charges Friday (Updated: Aug 24, 2007 02:46 PM CST) Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News - Thursday Update
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| Jeffery Burger |
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Suspected carjacker Jeffrey Burger may learn Friday about formal charges he’ll face. A Marion County judge gave prosecutors until 9:00 a.m. Friday morning to file charges against him.
Indianapolis - An IUPUI student says she was carjacked at knife point, but quick thinking and composure may have saved her life.
Even while 21-year-old Cidney Smith was putting in a secret SOS call to 911 dispatchers, she said she was in a trance-like state. "I’m like, ‘Is this seriously happening to me?’" Smith said.
But she had the presence of mind to drop clues to dispatchers, hoping they could locate her and send help. "I was asking him questions like, ‘You’re taking me to 86th Street? You’re driving my red Volkswagen?’"
It happened August 10 2007 when she was leaving the Castleton Mall. She told police a man in his 40s with grey hair attacked her. Police arrested a man Tuesday in connection with the carjacking.
"He had a knife, kidnapped me, abducted me, stole my car, was driving it for 11 days, using my cell phone. That’s just nuts," Smith said.
She had heard stories like this before on Oprah, and recalled the helpful advice from victims the talk show host interviewed. The main thing they discussed was - "You need to get out of the car and you can’t go to the second location and I knew if I got on that highway there was nothing I could do."
Smith says she was forced onto the passenger-side floor board of her car, and was told to keep her head down, which is how she was able to conceal her phone that was connected to 911 dispatchers. As soon as her kidnapper caught on and took her phone away, she knew she had to do something. That’s when she grabbed car door handle and jumped out.
"At this point he’s picked me up, has his arms around my neck and I’m literally making eye contact with people as we’re turning the corner and I’m screaming at the top of my lungs and my legs are like flying out of my car. And then as we’re making that turn in the wide lane, just with all my might I just pull out of his arms and I hit the ground and I just roll," Smith said.
She landed near the Kittles parking lot. The car kept going onto the highway. Eleven days later the car was spotted at a Meijer store. Police responded and tried to block him with a patrol car, but the driver took off.
"My mom calls me and says you’ll never believe this. There was an accident on 38th and High School Road. One of my co-workers’ husbands heard it on the scanner; called us; why don’t you go check it out. It’s a stolen Volkswagen," Smith said. Sure enough it was Cidney’s.
"I saw my car, on the tow-truck totaled, cops everywhere and there was the man that carjacked me. Sitting on the sidewalk, handcuffed with his head down and I knew right away that it was him ’cause of that hair."
The suspect, Jeffrey Burger, has an arrest record that dates back to 1989. It includes allegations of stalking, domestic battery, and theft. He’s set to appear in court Thursday to face a number of charges related to this carjacking.
I know Cidney’s family and all of us are very proud of her by remaining and staying calm and alert to her situation and using her head. Wonder what you would do in a situation like hers?
Read Part II of Cidney’s story - the Transcripts from 911.
Remember, Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!
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Empower yourself or your loved ones with self-defense products to defend yoursevles.
I totally agree. I never leave home without personal safety being in the back of my mind, plus carrying my Taser C2 and pepper spray. Good advice!
Cheryl