MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) – This week, a good Samaritan in Murfreesboro became a crime victim after he helped someone posing as a stranded driver.
The suspect pulled a gun on the good Samaritan and forced him to drive to an ATM and give him money.
In a similar incident last month in Sumner County, a 23-year-old driver was flagged down by a man and woman pretending their car was broken down in order to rob her.
News 2 asked people around town Wednesday what they would do if they saw a stranded motorists who appeared in the need of help on the side of the road.
“I would just stop and ask them do they need help. Give them a little cash if I had some, see if I could put them somewhere to stay or give them a ride somewhere,” Juanita Cox said.
Another would-be good Samaritan said they would also stop, “Mom and dad raised me right. If someone needs help, I would hope if I was in the same position someone would help me too.”
But, is extending a helping hand a safe thing to do?
To answer that question, News 2 turned to Buford Tune, a former Metro police officer of 25 years. He also owns the Academy of Personal Protection and Security.
He shared his experience helping a stranded driver in an unmarked car.
“When I got out, to go over, I was in uniform and changed the tire for her, then right in the middle of this here comes a guy out of the bushes,” recalled Tune.
Tune told News 2 he believes nothing bad happened that time because he was in uniform.
So what should you do if you see a stranded driver?
Tune says you should call 911, provide the operator with a vehicle description, tag number and distressed driver’s location.
“Picking up the phone and calling 911 is helping,” said Tune.
Police said they are still looking for suspects in both of the recent stranded motorist cases.
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