Russia can be a scary place, the highways especially.

A trucker stopped to change his tire, outside the town of Omutninsk, when local criminal elements tried to strong arm him for money, for stopping in “their” territory. The three bandits pulled up in a blue Lada and tried to extort around $100 from the working man.

However, one of the often overlooked aspects of self-defense is numbers. There is strength in numbers.

Another often overlooked aspect of self-defense is modern communications. Avoid situations where you are out of communication with potential help. And if you need help, ask for it.

Luckily, the driver had a CB radio, and got the word out.

Another trucker confirmed that the same crew had tried to get money from him, too. The truckers collectively realized it was time to take a stand, and sped to the scene.

The large vehicles boxed the Lada in. In unison, the truckers emerged from their cabs, and moved towards the bandit’s vehicle.

The three criminals exited their car, and milled around nervously, with at least one trying to place a cell phone call.

The truckers numbers increased until they had an overwhelming force. Then it was time for some attitude adjustment.

The truckers did not reply on weapons, but struck the bandits with their fists, and feet. All three criminals fled, but one was not quick enough, and a powerfully built trucker gave him about a baker’s dozen punches and kicks.

Another trucker approached, and it appeared he was going to pull the trucker off, but nope. He took over the lesson. Then two more truckers returned from their pursuit of the two bandits who fled, and they too offered a physical explanation that it is not right to try to steal money from long haul truckers.

When the caught bandit appeared to be thoroughly cowed, it was car tipping time. The group flipped the blue Lada over and into the woods.

No Lada, nada problem.

When the video surfaced, the police reported that the bandits were well-known local criminals. Police questioned the three men, but as there was no formal complaint from the truckers, the gang was let go.

A year later, the lead of the gang, Alexey Voronov, 24, who can be seen at the :50 mark in a blue Adidas track suit walking towards the truck, was sent to jail for five years, on four criminal charges.

None of the truckers was ever charged in the self-defense incident.

For more information, please check out the Russian language Omvesti.ru.