Emailed crime alert warns that criminals are using two new techniques to trick drivers into stopping their vehicles: throwing raw eggs at windshields and placing infant car seats with fake babies in them on roadsides.
Description: Forwarded email
Circulating since: Nov. 2009
Status: False (see details below)
2010 example:
Email contributed by Denise C., March 12, 2010:
New Warnings
FYI, passed along from personnel at the Paulding County Courthouse, in Georgia. Several things to be aware of this year... as gangs and robbers are now plotting different ways to get a person to "stop" their vehicle.
Please note:
There is a gang initiation reported by the local police department that gangs are placing a car seat by the road ... with a fake baby in it... waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on the baby. Note that the location of this car seat will usually be beside a wooded or grassy (field) area ...and the person - woman - will be dragged into the woods - beaten and raped - usually left for dead. DO NOT STOP. DIAL 9-1-1 AND INFORM THEM...IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EGGS ARE THROWN AT YOUR WINDSHIELD. DO NOT OPERATE THE WIPER AND SPRAY ANY WATER BECAUSE EGGS MIXED WITH WATER BECOME MILKY AND BLOCK YOUR VISION UP TO 92.5% SO YOU ARE FORCED TO STOP BESIDE THE ROAD AND BECOME A VICTIM OF ROBBERS. THIS IS A NEW TECHNIQUE USED BY ROBBERS. PLEASE INFORM YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.
2009 example:
Email contributed by Steven K., Nov. 18, 2009:
Fwd: NEW TRICK TO ROB YOU...
If you are driving at night and eggs are thrown at your windshield.
Do not operate the wiper and spray any water because eggs mixed with water become milky and block your vision up to 92.5% so you are forced to stop at the roadside and become a victim of robbers.
This is a new technique used by robbers.
Please inform your friends and relatives.
Analysis: As you can see from the two email examples above, the eggs-on-windshields warning first began circulating by itself in late 2009. A few months later the message was combined with a different alert (also circulating since 2009) claiming that wannabe gangsters are leaving baby car seats on roadsides to trick drivers into stopping as part of a "gang initiation" rite.
Both messages are hoaxes. I've searched for police reports and news stories confirming that criminals have actually used such tactics and found none. Moreover, law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have issued statements dismissing these warnings as fictitious (see sources below). See also: 'National Gang Week' Crime Alert - Nov. 2009
Sources and further reading:
Urban Legends of Gang Initiations
Kansas City Police Chief's blog, 2 June 2010SCPD: Reports of Gang Initiation Scenarios Fictitious
Huntington Patch (NY), 11 May 2010Dubuque Police: Email Circulating Is NOT from Them
KCRG-TV News, 9 April 2010Gang Plot Warnings Are Bogus, Police Say
Living Lake COuntry blog, 6 April 2010Egg Smashing Robbery Warning Email Is a Hoax
Decatur Daily News, 18 December 2009
Last updated 02/17/12
