CARJACKING:
Carjacking is defined in the SEAL Survival Guide as forcibly stealing a car while it is occupied. For the criminal, it is easier to steal a car that is running or one that has keys in it. Unlike other crimes that require planning, the carjacker usually makes a rapid choice of which car to steal, but there are some criteria that they are generally looking for:
- Someone who seems distracted or preoccupied
- Someone who seems weaker than the carjacker or looks like they won’t fight
- Vehicles with only a single occupant
(Courtley, 2012)
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS:
This type of crime occurs more often in broad daylight than at night, usually at intersections or in large commercial parking lots. The carjacker is not likely to attempt to jump into a moving vehicle, so the highest risk is when the car is stopped. Due to this, it is important to stay alert when at an ATM, Gas Station, less traveled road, intersections that require you to stop, isolated areas in parking lots and even residential driveways and gates.
LOOK OUT FOR THESE STRATEGIES:
“The Bump and Jump”: This technique involves a carjacker hitting your car from behind. When you stop, they’ve got you where they want you. That’s not to say you shouldn’t stop every time you are rear ended, but if the situation seems suspicious you may want to keep moving slowly and wave for them to follow you to a more public place.
“Good Samaritan”: In this case, a car may seem disabled on the side of the road, and once you stop to offer assistance they may make their move.
“Ruse Method”: This is when a car drives alongside you or a driver flashes their lights at you, wanting to tell you something may be wrong with your car, usually something that would require you to stop.
“Trap Technique”: They follow you home and wait until you pull into your driveway/community. In this situation, the attacker drives up from behind and blocks the victim’s car.
(Courtley, 2012)
While reading these techniques, I could not help but feel like I was going to be paranoid whenever I was out on the road. These cases are exceptions to the norm, but it is important to always be aware and cautious, and be perceptive of the situations you are in.
PREVENTION:
Carjackers count on the element of surprise, so it is in your best interest to always be alert and not distracted in high-risk areas. You should keep your doors locked, and windows up. Also, you should always keep some distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.
References:
Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books
think safety blog 