An 8-year-old girl became a hero when she managed to protect herself and her 2-year-old sister during a terrifying carjacking incident. On the afternoon of a seemingly ordinary Sunday, while at a Kwik Trip car wash in Oak Creek, approximately 12 miles south of Milwaukee, their father’s SUV was stolen with them inside.
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The event unfolded when their father, Adam Jorgenson, momentarily stepped out of the vehicle to pick up a cloth post-wash. During this brief moment, distracted by a passerby asking for directions, he was horrified to witness his car speeding away with his daughters inside. The 8-year-old Charley recalled debating between fleeing in fear or staying to protect her sister, Autumn. Her quick thinking was evident as she pondered over her options, eventually realizing the carjacker couldn’t operate the vehicle without the keys, which were with her father.
“I should try to kick him or defend myself and Autumn. But then, I was like, ‘I should stay in my seat and do nothing. Stay here, do the questions.’ But when I realized that dad had the key, I was like, ‘He can’t do anything without the key,’” she explained to NBC affiliate WTMJ of Milwaukee.
Charley didn’t confront the carjacker but instead waited for an opportunity to act. When the carjacker inquired about the keys, she informed him that her dad had them, subtly hinting at their inability to go far. The ordeal ended a mile away at a Batteries Plus Bulbs store, where the carjacker abandoned the vehicle. Seizing the moment, Charley retrieved her dad’s phone from the front and called her mother. She left a voicemail that conveyed the urgency and fear of the moment, with her sister questioning their father’s whereabouts in the background.
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The family was eventually reunited after the police located the girls, thanks to the mother tracking them using the location services on Adam’s iPhone. Adam Jorgenson’s relief at seeing his daughters safe was immeasurable, and he emphasized the lesson learned from this harrowing experience to always prioritize children’s safety over convenience.
The incident has caught the attention of the Oak Creek Police, leading to the arrest of three individuals, ages 17, 20, and 21, who now face multiple felony charges. This case underscores a worrying trend, as carjackings have seen a significant national increase, with a particular rise in armed carjackings in nearby Milwaukee, highlighting an urgent need for heightened awareness and preventive measures against such violent crimes.
