Corvette’s Stick Shift Confuses Florida Carjackers

Orlando, FL – A pair of carjackers who attempted to steal a Corvette were ultimately foiled by the vehicle’s stick shift.

Authorities explained that 51-year-old Randolph Bean was outside of Orlando Regional Medical Center when the carjackers struck. After forcing the door open and pointing a gun at the man, they forced him to lie down on the ground. According to UPI, the manual transmission proved to be a serious hiccup in their plans.

Bean explained:

“They apparently couldn’t start it. I had to tell him four different times to push in the clutch, because it’s a standard transmission. My first thought was I guess we don’t have driver’s ed in school anymore because no one knows how to drive a stick. And my second thing was, ‘don’t shoot me because you can’t start the car.’ I’m trying to help you out here. You know. Thankfully they didn’t.”

USA Today explains that the carjackers were ultimately stumped by the Corvette’s stick shift. Instead of sticking around for a driver’s lesson, the thieves escaped on foot. Bean said that they took his wallet, phone, and house keys. However, they left the car keys behind.

Although police searched for the suspects, the carjackers are still at-large.

Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time carjackers in Florida have been stumped by a stick shift. According to the Tampa Bay Times, two would-be car thieves attempted to steal a 2007 Nissan in 2011. Unfortunately for the criminals, the car was equipped with a manual transmission.

The situation unfolded in pretty much the same manner. After forcing the car’s owner out of the vehicle at gunpoint, the thieves attempted to speed away. Despite their best efforts, the pair couldn’t figure out how to operate the stick shift. The duo eventually ran away.

What do you think about the Florida carjackers that were foiled by a stick shift?