Like building a fire or doing your taxes , knowing how to drive stick is a life skill that's no less useful if your life is one of crime. That's the lesson a South Carolina man learned this week when his kidnapping attempt was thwarted by a manual transmission, the Associated Press reports.

According to police, 27-year-old Demetric Nelson had already entered the home of his 53-year-old victim and demanded money from her at gunpoint when he attempted to abduct the woman and steal her car. Unfortunately for Nelson, his automobile ignorance extended from the gearbox to the trunk. From WLTX:

[O]fficers say Nelson forced the woman into the trunk of her car. He attempted to drive off, but the victim said it appeared he didn't know how to drive a manual transmission. While he struggled to use the car, the woman was able to use the emergency latch in the truck to get out. She was then able to flag down an officer for help.

12 hours later, police captured Nelson, who reportedly still had the victim's car keys on him. He now faces charges of kidnapping and armed robbery, but probably avoided some pretty hefty traffic fines.

[Image via Shutterstock]