OAK PARK : Victim, 71, Foils Carjack Attempt

A 71-year-old Oak Park man foiled a gunman who was attempting to steal his Mercedes-Benz on Monday by throwing the vehicle into reverse and scaring the man off, officials said.

Ercole Caroeflli had just pulled into the driveway of his residence on Churchwood Drive about 7:15 p.m. and was waiting for his automatic garage door to open when a man holding a gun approached him, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies said.

The man opened the driver’s door and pointed a small semiautomatic handgun at Caroeflli and his passenger, deputies said. Caroeflli told deputies he remained calm and, instead of getting out of the car, he put it into reverse and accelerated back down the driveway.

The man then fled, Caroeflli told deputies. Witnesses reported seeing two men run from Caroeflli’s home into a waiting dark-colored Lexus auto driven by a third man.