Carjacking is a crime of opportunity, and one that has become increasingly popular throughout the world. With the advent of better electronic car security systems, anti-theft devices, and computerized ignition systems, it’s become much harder for the average criminal to steal vehicles using traditional methods. Because of this, many unskilled criminals see carjacking as a quicker and easier way to take someone’s vehicle.
Over the last couple of years, law enforcement agencies have seen a resurgence in the number of carjackings. Unfortunately they have also seen a trend in which carjackings have become more violent. They are often committed by well-armed criminals who are more than willing to use force to obtain the vehicle.
The first step in avoiding any attack is to pay attention to what’s going on around you, especially if you’re traveling through a high-crime area. Public parking lots are one of the top places a carjacker likes to target, followed by city streets, residential driveways or gated entrances, and gas stations.
Because criminals look for easy targets, you are usually most vulnerable when parking or while entering your vehicle. This is often the time when carjackers like to strike.
No matter how big of a hurry you’re in, take the time to scan your surroundings before exiting or walking to your vehicle. Watch for anyone who’s lurking near or moving toward your parked vehicle.
When pulling into a public parking lot, especially one you may be unfamiliar with, take a minute to drive around the lot before choosing a space. This will allow you to get a feel for the area and give you time to find the safest spot. Always look for well-lit areas, preferably as close as possible to the entrance.
Avoid parking near
When you park your car, leave all doors locked until you are ready to step out of the vehicle. New cars have a few different settings for the automatic door locking option. Often the factory default setting is to unlock the doors as soon as the car is turned off. Be sure to update the setting so doors remain locked until you open the door handle. Also update the remote unlocking option so only the driver’s side door unlocks on the first push of the button. The other doors can be unlocked with a second push of the button.
Before you open your door to exit your car, scan the area all around you, including behind you.
When driving, there are a couple of things you should do to prevent becoming a carjacking victim:
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re being carjacked:
If you find yourself in a situation where a carjacker has entered your vehicle, your number-one priority is to escape. I don’t care how much you love your car; no vehicle is worth losing your life. If a carjacker tries to force you to go with him, your best chance of survival is to refuse, fight back, and do everything you can to escape. Your chances of survival go down the second you allow yourself to become captive.
Be alert to where you throw your keys. Identify the safest place to run and throw the keys in the opposite direction so you are running to safety and not further isolating yourself. If the carjacker is interested in stealing your car, he’s going to go after the keys, allowing you to put distance between yourself and the attacker. If he starts to follow you, you immediately know what the attacker is really after, and you should be prepared to protect yourself if you are caught. Don’t stop to fight. Outrun the criminal if possible.
