Carjacking is a very serious and dangerous crime with the potential for catastrophic personal injury to the victim. It can occur in just about any jurisdiction at any time of the day or night. The make model and year of the vehicle targeted is not limited to high end vehicles. The target vehicle of a carjacker could be any vehicle currently sought after by chop shops that finance this type of illegal activity. Criminals intending to steal a vehicle and flip it for a quick profit are typically unconcerned with the safety of the owner or driver. These thugs are financially motivated and disregard the toll of human suffering that they leave in their wake.

There are many different types of motor vehicle theft. The most common is the unattended vehicle being swiped from a parked location. Advanced car thieves can be into your vehicle and down the road in less than a minute. This type of theft usually occurs under the cloak of darkness in a public parking lot or in front of a residence. The victims’ loss is generally only financial as no interpersonal violence occurs during the theft.

The more serious type of auto theft is the taking of the vehicle by force or threat of force. A criminal with a weapon can simply walk up to a vehicle at a traffic light or approach a person as they attempt to enter their vehicle and force compliance. This can occur with a knife, gun, bat or other deadly weapon. Many times the victim is ambushed and unable to protect themselves as the criminal depends upon the element of surprise.

A popular scheme of carjackers is a low-impact bump and run technique. This ruse usually occurs on a dark or isolated roadway and is a planned event by the carjacker. A vehicle is intentionally bumped by the driver of another vehicle in an attempt to get the victim to stop and pull over. The normal reactions when a driver is rear-ended are for that person to stop, exit his/her vehicle and examine the damage. This is exactly the type of response that the carjacker is attempting to illicit. The criminal now controls the movement of the victim and the vehicle. The opportunity for an assault and theft of auto is readily apparent at this point. The best way to avoid being a victim in this type of scenario is to lock your doors, drive to a well lit, populated area and immediately notify the police. Drivers who are in possession of a cellular phone should contact the police as they drive away. Florida law requires a driver that has been involved in a crash to stop and exchange information. However, that does not mean that you have to stop at the crash scene and immediately exit your vehicle (unless the crash results in injury or death). Florida Statute 316.027 specifically allows for the driver to stop at the crash scene or “…as close thereto as possible.” If the crash is legitimate the other driver will most likely follow suit. Here are some tips to avoid being a victim of carjacking:

-         Keep your doors locked while driving.

-         Don’t daydream at a traffic light or stop sign.

-         Scan the area around your vehicle for suspicious persons or vehicle movements.

-         Have a cellular phone easily accessible.

-         Be aware of your surroundings as you approach your vehicle.

-         Park in a well lighted populated area.

-         Utilize a remote keyless entry apparatus with audible panic alarm button.

-         Approach your vehicle with keys in hand.

Dr. Santarlas is a former Deputy Chief of Police in Florida. Thomas Santarlas