Don’t Become A Carjacking Victim - Safety Tips While Traveling

Posted on October 14, 2008
Filed Under Carjacking, Personal Safety, Personal Security

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Courtesy of Personal Security Solutions/www.personalsecuritysolutions.com/blog

Carjacking is an especially frightening crime, as it usually involves a direct confrontation with a car thief. Carjacking usually occurs when criminals need to flee the scene of other crimes, as part of a gang initiation, or because some cars are easier to steal when the owner is there with the keys.

Stealing a car by force has captured headlines across the country. Statistically your chances of being a carjacking victim are very slim and prevention can reduce the risk even further. Carjacking can be an especially frightening crime as it usually involves a direct confrontation with a car thief. It also usually occurs when criminals need to flee the scene of other crimes, as part of a gang initiation, or because some cars are easier to steal when the owner is there with the keys.

Why Is Carjacking A Problem?

No one knows for certain, but some explanations include:

• It’s a crime of opportunity – a thief searching for the most vulnerable prey. Sometimes it’s the first step to another crime.
• For some young people, carjacking may be a rite of passage, a status symbol, or just a thrill.
• Cars, especially luxury ones, provide quick cash for drug users and other criminals.
• Sophisticated alarms and improved locking devices make it hard for thieves to seal unoccupied cars.
• It’s easy to buy, steal, or barter for guns in this country. And a pointed gun makes a more powerful threat.
• More teens and adults commit crimes of violence than ever before.
• Intense media interest may have created “copycat” carjackers.

It Can Happen Anywhere And To Anyone

• Though carjackings can occur anytime, a sizeable share appear to take place during the late night hours.
• Carjacking isn’t just a problem in large cities – it happens in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas.
• Carjackers look for opportunity. They don’t choose victims by sex, race, or age.

Golden Opportunities: What Do Carjackers Look For?

 Areas that carjackers target are: intersections controlled by traffic lights or stops lights, parking garages, shopping malls, grocery stores, gas stations, car washes, ATM machines, residential driveways, highway exit and entry ramps.
 Be alert to your surroundings, even when you feel rushed.
 When approaching your car, have your key in your hand, and check the back seat before you get in.
• If someone is loitering near your unoccupied car as you approach it, keep walking until the person leaves.
• Be wary of people asking for directions or handing out flyers. Trust your instincts – if something makes you feel uneasy, get into your car quickly, lock the doors and drive away.
• Avoid driving alone. Have someone with you especially at night.
• When you come to a stop, leave enough space to maneuver around other cars.
• In extreme situations you might even consider going through a traffic light, as long as you can do so without causing an accident.
• Don’t stop to assist a stranger whose car has broken down. Instead, drive to the nearest phone or use your cell phone to call the police for help.
• If you are driving home and notice someone you don’t recognize loitering, drive around the block and come back after the person has left.
• Avoid parking near anything that limits your visibility.
• Most importantly – If a carjacker threatens you with a gun or other weapon, give up your car. Don’t’ argue. Your life is worth far more than a car!
• If someone takes your car, get away from the areas as quickly as you can. Try to remember what the carjacker looked like and report the crime immediately to the police.

The “Bump and Rob”

It works like this: A car, usually with a driver and at least one passenger, rear-ends or “bumps” you in traffic. You quickly get out to check the damage and exchange information. Either the driver or one of the passengers jumps in your car and drives off.

• If you are bumped by another car, be sure to look around before you get out.
• Make sure there are other cars around, check out the car that rear-ended you and who is in it. If the situation makes you uneasy, memorize or jot down the car’s tag number and description: signal the other car to follow you. Drive to the nearest police station or to a busy, well-lighted area.
• If you do get out of the car, take your keys (and purse or wallet if you have one) with you and stay alert.

For those individuals who spend a great deal of time in their vehicle traveling for their job, i.e., realtors, sales representatives, business people, you are at a greater risk than most. It is very easy to become complacent as you travel through unknown areas and sometimes "zone out". The secret is to maintain a level of alertness and be especially aware of the communities and areas that you travel in.

If you are a victim of a carjacking crime, give the criminal your keys and get away as quickly as you can. Your life is worth more than your vehicle. You can replace your car but you can’t replace YOU! If the carjacker forces you into the car and drives away, be very aware that going to a second location with a criminal is not in your best interest. Remain calm and determine that you are going to find a way to get out of the car before the prepetrator has a chance to do you ultimate harm.

Make sure you absorb these common sense safety tips as you travel in your vehicle and don’t become a victim of a carjacking crime.

Also, read the story about a young lady who was a carjacking victim in Indianapolis and what she did to save her life.

Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!!!

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Comments

4 Responses to “Don’t Become A Carjacking Victim - Safety Tips While Traveling”

Beth on October 14th, 2008 7:17 pm

Hello Cheryl,

this was such a good and ‘eye-opener’ article, so much for me too since I do travel and market around the metro Atlanta area, that I had to share it with my readers. I made a post of your article on my site www.realtorsafety911.com as so many realtors are out and about daily, and need to be reminded of what can happen. Just reading your article made me think, I have got to be more careful when I’m driving around, and I need to make my loved ones more aware also.

Thanks again for such a fabulous article. Keep up the great work, I appreciate it and I know my readers do too.

Beth
www.realtorsafety911.com
Cheryl on October 14th, 2008 7:32 pm

Thanks Beth: Appreciate your comments and that’s great to put the carjacking article on your site. This is a very serious crime that is happening more and more. Plus with our changing economy and people being out of work you will find this crime becoming more prevalent.

Thanks again!!

Cheryl
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