Community Safety News
Carjacking
4/13/2003
ARMED THEFT OF AUTOMOBILES FROM THEIR DRIVERS... the newest twist in auto theft!
Imagine having someone walk
up to you while you're sitting in your car obeying a traffic signal, thrusting a
gun in your face, and taking your car from you. Or having your vehicle stolen
while you are parked, (even in your own driveway), or getting gas. This is the
new crime called
CARJACKING.
It can happen anywhere, not just in traditional "high crime" neighborhoods, and
it is just as likely to occur during the daylight as it is after dark.
WHY IS CARJACKING ON THE INCREASE?
Although statistics are not
yet available, CARJACKING has every appearance of becoming the growth crime
of the 90's.
Parked cars, especially luxury models, equipped with sophisticated, built-in
alarm systems and theft deterrent devices, are becoming harder to steal.
Car thieves find it much easier to steal a car while the owner is there, with
the keys in the ignition, than it is to break in a locked car, especially if the
car is alarmed.
According to FBI
statistics, nearly 1.7 million vehicles valued at over $8 billion were stolen
last year. Arrests were made in less than 15% of these thefts.
Some of the cars are cut up for parts, others are stolen to be exported and
sold. Many are stolen simply because the thief wants to take a joy ride.
ANYBODY CAN BE A TARGET
While most carjackers look for sleek, powerful luxury model cars to steal and sell, others will go after any easy target of opportunity, sometimes just stealing on an impulse for a joy ride.
HOW YOU CAN AVOID BEING CARJACKED
While there is no guaranteed
way of avoiding being carjacked, there are some common-sense precautions you can
take to put the odds in your favor.
Before you enter
your car...
· Be alert to any activity near your car. Pay attention to your surroundings.
· When approaching your car to enter it, have your key in your hand, and check the handles, locks and back seat before entering.
· If there is someone loitering near your unoccupied car as you approach it, keep walking until they leave.
Once you're in your car...
· Keep your doors and windows locked.
· Stay out of high crime areas, especially after dark.
· Be suspicious of people approaching your car asking for directions or change, or giving out flyers.
· When stopping in traffic, leave enough distance between your car and the one in front of you, so you can pull away quickly if necessary.
· If a suspicious looking person approaches your car, drive away carefully - even if you must go through a traffic light.
· If you're driving home, and there's somebody walking down the street that you don't recognize, drive around the block and come back after that person has left.
· If another driver bumps your car, or your tire goes flat, keep your doors and windows closed and wait for the Police to arrive - or drive slowly to the nearest Police station.
· Be alert when using drive-up automated teller (ATM) machines.
· If you have a cellular phone, call for help.
· If you are confronted, don't resist.