Angry customer' takes BMW receptionist hostage

csv8 · 09-11-2010, 09:58 AM

'Angry customer' takes BMW receptionist hostage
November 9, 2010 - 6:27AM
A man enraged by problems with his BMW car grabbed a shotgun and took an employee hostage at the automaker's French headquarters on Monday, an official said.

The man fired twice in the air with a pump-action shotgun without shooting anyone and took a receptionist hostage briefly before surrendering to police at the German manufacturer's offices west of Paris, officials said.

"It's an average customer who complains that his vehicle has mechanical problems and that BMW is unable to repair them," state prosecutor Luc-Andre Lenormand said, adding the man had targeted BMW several times before.

"It was premeditated," Lenormand said.

"He will be charged with arson, armed threats and illegal detention" and will be examined by a psychiatrist, he added.

The receptionist was receiving psychological counselling.

The man was already facing charges for assaulting an employee at a BMW dealership and was suspected to have plotted in 2006 to hire accomplices to break into a BMW dealer's home and kill him and his family, Lenormand said.

In 2003 the suspect had tried to set himself on fire in front of the BMW dealership where he had bought his car.

Earlier media reports had said the man was a former BMW employee and that a salesman had also been taken hostage.

Police said the man lit a fire in the headquarters which did not cause much damage and no one was hurt during the incident.

An employee raised the alarm by text message.

A BMW spokesman, Patrick Lucas, said there were about 80 employees present and "they evacuated when they learned there was an intruder downstairs".

The head of communications at the site, Jean-Michel Juchet, said the employees fled to the canteen and police soon arrived, adding he was "happy this incident ended up as just a minor story".

flappist · 09-11-2010, 10:35 AM

That will teach them to not void warranty after a flash tune.....

gcg2503 · 09-11-2010, 11:06 AM

It is standard for your diff bushes to make clunking sounds under acceleration monsieur!

Put the weapon down

**Dave R** · 09-11-2010, 11:27 AM

This kind of thing crossed my mind last week when Ford told me my diff bush isn't covered under warranty. I still might go through with it.

Whitey-AMG · 09-11-2010, 11:43 AM

Oh dear......

Is that a gun in your pocket sir, or are you just glad to see us again ........

vztrt · 09-11-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

This kind of thing crossed my mind last week when Ford told me my diff bush isn't covered under warranty. I still might go through with it.

Interesting seeing as mine was done under warranty.

.....

As for the hold up, must be all that good BMW service people keep telling me about.

The G6ET Spot · 09-11-2010, 05:37 PM

So it isn't just confined to Australian Ford dealers that car owners get fed up with.

Sometimes you just feel the same way as the French guy.

**Dave R** · 09-11-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Interesting seeing as mine was done under warranty.

Ford are going to pay for it whether they like it or not, I don't care if I have to take staff members hostage. If it's not fixed by tomorrow arvo I'm going in there with a bazooka.

gtfpv · 09-11-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Ford are going to pay for it whether they like it or not, I don't care if I have to take staff members hostage. If it's not fixed by tomorrow arvo I'm going in there with a bazooka.

BUBBA the parts storemen will be waiting for you

ELGT4me · 09-11-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The G6ET Spot

So it isn't just confined to Australian Ford dealers that car owners get fed up with.

Sometimes you just feel the same way as the French guy.

Absolutely brilliant!!!

b2tf · 09-11-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Ford are going to pay for it whether they like it or not, I don't care if I have to take staff members hostage. If it's not fixed by tomorrow arvo I'm going in there with a bazooka.

Service the bazooka first or it may misfire and they will tell you they all do it

seduced_xr · 10-11-2010, 03:12 AM

if i wasted $100 000 on a car that had the same features as my neighbours $45 000 falcon id go mad to

x series · 10-11-2010, 08:11 AM

At least the problem is fix now

!

Corzza · 10-11-2010, 08:39 AM

haha this is classic

Ringo · 10-11-2010, 01:04 PM

Who says that the French are cheese eating surrender monkeys? This guy was never going to give up...against Germans what’s more!

At the prestige german car brand dealership I used to work at in 90’s there was a Customer who was a bit agro who was known by sight and by name and car. He used to get very hot under the collar about such petty things and was a bit intimidating. He ended up physically grabbing a service advisor by the upper arm while ranting away and we wondered if there was going to be fisty cuffs next. Swearing and gesturing the customer ended up leaving, only to come back the next day with a bottle of something and an apology for his behaviour. Service advisor suggested he visit another dealership in future but customer refused and kept coming back. The Service Manager who (was not easily intimidated by anyone) dealt with him personally from then on.

WILDB · 10-11-2010, 09:32 PM

I feel sorry for the people in those situations...

I'm sure the goal of most service advisors is to have happy customers, obviously this guy wasn't one of them.

Another thing many people may not realize is that the person you see at the desk (the service advisor) isn't the one who makes the decision about whether something will or wont be warranty either....