California carjacker thwarted by confusion over stick shift

CONCORD, Calif. — Police in Northern California say a man attempting an armed carjacking bailed when he couldn’t drive a stick shift.

Concord police Lt. Tim Runyon told the Contra Costa Times that the owner got into his car early Sunday to find the carjacker in the passenger seat, apparently in the middle of a burglary.

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Runyon says the carjacker ordered the victim at gunpoint to drive him to another location, where he forced the owner out of the car.

Runyon says the carjacker tried to drive off, but gave up when he couldn’t operate the manual transmission.

Runyon says officers couldn’t find the carjacker, who had run away.