Would you give up your car for your life…
Car jackings seem to be happening not only at night but in broad daylight and it could happen to you anywhere. This increase in carjacking’s over the last couple of years is a local phenomenon, and it’s only recently that people are beginning to understand that this a trend that has increased exponentially over the pandemic.
Certainly, car thefts of newer vehicles that are unattended seem to occur because you can’t really drive away a vehicle without either overriding a car’s computer system or having the key fob in your hand, so instead what is happening is that people are being confronted in order to get the key fob. Carjacking is classified as an extremely dangerous criminal activity. That’s because carjacking often resorts to violence and fear and employ actual weapons to steal the vehicles that are being carjacked.
Despite the numerous attempts of the authorities to prevent auto theft, the statistics in this country say that every 8 minutes a car is either stolen or carjacked at gun point. The majority of these acts are attempted when the driver is alone in the car or when they get out of their vehicle and predators are waiting to make the move. Carjacking is dangerous due to the profiling activity carried out by offenders. In fact, statistics show that car thieves often look for people who seem like easy targets, weak from a physical point of view or older. Similarly, these criminals also tend to choose areas that aren’t well lit or where there are very few people. Given this, the situation can quickly escalate into violence, leading to injury or even death in some cases.
On a personal note, one of these acts of crime happened to a dear friend of mine on a day and location that l was present not too far from the occurrence. He was actually followed very early in the morning from his home with the perpetrators waiting for him to park and get out of his car. Once he was out of his car two individuals approached him at gun point and demanded his keys…. he had at that moment a knee jerk reaction and yelled for help, these perpetrators were not expecting that reaction and had dropped the gun. Once that happened, they decided to leave him alone. To his credit, he was very luck and should not have reacted that way, instead he should have given them the keys. For the first couple of days after he was fine, but once the reality set in on what had happened, he was terrorized and to this day will not leave his home during off hours.
In many of these cases like so many other things in our lives, one never thinks its going to happen to you….be prepared because it may happen to you or one of your loved ones. In observing what happened to this close friend it has made me very conscious of all my surrounding and where l go especially after hours. Some recommended things to keep in mind that may help you are as follows:
Always have your phone on you and never leave it in the car…. this is probably the best advice on how to avoid carjacking that anyone can give you since it also acts as basic public safety tip. By keeping your phone with you at all times, you can contact the police or take pictures and videos, which can serve as valuable evidence. Modern smartphones have SOS functions integrated. These features can be activated discreetly and used to safely contact law enforcement whenever you are in danger. They are particularly useful when traveling in areas that are not safe and thus act as a suitable carjacking prevention device.
Avoid dangerous areas, especially when you are the only person inside the vehicle. Car thieves generally operate in high crime neighborhoods at night and in areas with little public lighting, especially if no other people are around. Therefore, it is best to avoid such areas. But if you have to go, park your vehicle in a well-lit area where other people are present. Make sure you roll up your windows and lock your doors, this will further discourage car thieves since there is no apparent way for them to gain access to your vehicle. Attacking a locked car is generally not a smart move for offenders since the car can be easily driven away.
There is quite a bit of information out there, and in my opinion all these preventative things are very good to keep in mind, but for me the one thing is to be most aware of is your coordinates…. make sure you take a few minutes at all times day or night to scope your perimeter and make sure that you are not im a vulnerable situation. Be aware of your surroundings and do not get out of the car quickly. And in the event that this does happens to you, just please give up your key. Because the alternative may not be good, your life is more valuable to you and your loved ones where a vehicle can always be replaced.
This week we are covering both carjacking’s and scams and how folks get dubbed and ripped off…. with this FTX scandal by Sam Bankman-Fried all sorts of celebrities and politicians, business types and so many other people were robbed by this bitcoin exchange scandal. Imagine, if all these sophisticated well-educated folks got ripped off, anyone is vulnerable. Always check references and get second and third opinions on investments and other types of financial deals.
Better safe than sorry!
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