Lauren and the unmarked Police Car Hoax

This one used to do the rounds on email a few years ago but has now come to prominence on Facebook. In fact, a lot of the old email hoaxes are finding a new lease of life on Facebook.

Here’s one version:

1.00pm in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend, when an UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on. Lauren’s parents have 4 children (of various ages) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a service station, etc.

So Lauren remembered her parents’ advice, and telephoned 112 from her mobile phone.

This connected her to the police dispatcher she told the dispatcher that there was an unmarked car with a flashing blue light behind her and that she would not pull over right away but wait until she was in a service station or busy area.

The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was and there wasn’t and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back-up already on the way.

Ten minutes later 4 police cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her.

… One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind.

They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground……..t­he man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.

I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you do not have to pull over for an UNMARKED car.

Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a ‘safe’ place.

You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them I.e., put on your hazard lights) or call 112 like Lauren did.

Too bad the mobile phone companies don’t give you this little bit of wonderful information.

So now it’s your turn to let your friends know about 112 (112 is an emergency number on your mobile that takes you straight to the police because 999 does not work if you have no signal).

This is good information that I did not know!

Please pass on to all your friends, especially any females.

Some versions mention Dorset Police to add more authenticity to the hoax, but all are roughly the same. Legally, you do have to pull over for an unmarked Police car. However, they would understand if it was a single female and she was waiting to reach a lit up area.

112 is generally the European Union standard emergency line and works alongside 999. Always use 999. Be careful though, because if your mobile has no signal at all, then dialling 112 or 999 might not work either.

Here’s some other examples of the Hoax busted:

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2009/09/debunking-the-hotel-key-card-a.html

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/fakecop.asp