Carjacker Drives 3 Blocks, Walks Away

A carjacker jumped into an auto occupied by a woman and three young children in Canoga Park and fought with the female passenger as he drove three blocks before stopping the vehicle and calmly walking away, Los Angeles police said Friday.

Nobody was injured in the bizarre incident that began Thursday about 4:40 p.m. when a 22-year-old Woodland Hills woman parked her Toyota Tercel in the 7500 block of Vassar Avenue, Sgt. Craig Crosby said.

The woman, whose name was not released, left the car running with the key in the ignition, Detective Fred Ricen said. Her 33-year-old friend, also of Woodland Hills, remained in the car with her 1-year-old son, 2-year-old daughter and the driver’s 1-year-old son, Crosby said.

Moments later, a man described as 35 to 40 years old got into the car and demanded food and money from the woman, and then ordered her to get out of the car, police said. “He didn’t notice there were three children in the back seat,” Crosby said.

The woman refused, but the carjacker started the car and began driving south on Vassar Avenue, fighting with the woman as he drove, Crosby said.

“She would put the car out of gear and we would put it back in gear and try to drive forward,” Crosby said.

The chaotic event ended when the man suddenly abandoned his attempt to steal the car, Crosby said. “He just stopped the car and casually walked down an alley,” Crosby said. Nobody was injured in the incident and the man was not taken into custody.