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'He kind of cursed and jumped out' | Carjacker foiled by stick shift in Montgomery Co.

When the suspect realized the car was a manual, which he couldn't drive, he got out of the car and ran away.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Police are searching for a man they say attempted to steal a car at knife-point before realizing it was a stick shift, which he couldn't drive.

According to the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD), officers were called to a Safeway in the 900 block of Thayer Avenue on Monday. 

Investigators believe the suspect walked up to a driver and took out a knife before demanding the car keys. The victim handed the keys over and the suspect got into the car. However, when the suspect realized the car was a manual, which he couldn't drive, he got out of the car and ran away. 

WUSA9 spoke with the man who owns the car, who we are only identifying by his first name, John. He said he was not going to put up a fight with the man after seeing the knife, more concerned with getting his son out of the car.

"I said fine you can have the car, I'm not gonna get stabbed for my car, I said let me get my son out," said John.

As he got his son out of the backseat, the person got into his car but didn't drive off.

"I could see him kind of fumbling. I said, 'you know it's a stick right?' He kind of cursed and jumped out of the car and ran away," said John.

The suspect is described as a man around 20 years old. He is between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8 and weighs around 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark jacket, dark pants and a black mask.

Anyone with information about who or where this suspect may be is asked to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).  A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Callers can remain anonymous.  

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