Criminals are looking for easy scores. That’s why we want to be hard targets. You are most vulnerable (read: an easier target) when parking or while getting out or into your vehicle. (People aren’t going to be carjacked when driving down the Interstate. Unless, of course, the crew from the “Fast and Furious” movies are after the vehicle.)<\/p>\n

What does this mean? Pay attention when you are exiting or getting ready to enter your vehicle. Be alert and scan your surroundings. Look for anyone hanging around, or especially anyone walking toward your vehicle. Remember to use your mirrors when inside your vehicle and scanning the outside.<\/p>\n

At the service station, like in the video above, you get out and then get back in after you have filled up. Many people leave their keys in the ignition while doing this, something you should never do. Keep your keys with you. Personally, I think gas stations are a very vulnerable place to be, and therefore every time you gas up you should increase your awareness until you are back on the road driving away. Certain locations are even more risky, and if you can avoid known riskier stations, do so. It’s worth driving a little farther to fill up at a more safe station. (And remember, you should be filling up when the tank is half full, so you’ll have gas to drive to a different location.)<\/p>\n

Additionally, when you get out to fill your tank, your windows should be up and your doors locked. Check out the Gas Station Sliders page.<\/p>\n

If you see someone lurking, or someone coming up that makes you uncomfortable, leave. That’s another reason to not let your tank get to fumes. Often, just noticing someone who is up to no good is enough to make him go somewhere else to look for a victim. I do believe if the man in the video above would have been more alert to the criminal coming up behind him, the criminal would have went someplace else.<\/p>\n

Let’s go back to the above video again. Always remember, your vehicle is not worth you getting hurt or killed over. Reaching through the window to grab the steering wheel or fight empty handed with the criminal is putting yourself at unnecessary risk over possessions.<\/p>\n

Any time your vehicle is not moving, it can be an easier target. That’s why driving with your windows rolled up and doors locked is safer. More than one person has stopped at a stop sign or traffic light to be surprised by a criminal opening their door and yanking them out of the vehicle. This is done quickly and violently. Keeping your windows up and doors locked makes it much harder for a criminal to surprise you this way.<\/p>\n

Think Like A Criminal<\/h3>\n

This is the same advice as I suggest in many situations. For carjacking, I want you to think about how a criminal would carjack your vehicle. Determine where the best location would be to attack you. How would they do it? What can you do to prevent it? This kind of thinking once in a while goes a long ways to making you aware of the potential dangers and how to simply prevent them.<\/p>\n

Stopping Behind Another Vehicle<\/h3>\n

You have the advantage when you are inside your vehicle. You can drive away much faster than someone on foot can catch you. That is, if you are paying attention and are able to drive away.<\/p>\n

When you stop behind someone, you want to make sure there is enough space between your vehicles that you can still get away. For most vehicles, if you can see the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you, there will be enough space for you to turn the wheels and get out. Go to a parking lot and pull up to a parked car and check this out for yourself, so you know the distance between cars when you can see the rear tires of the car in front of you. Obviously, if you are in multiple lanes of traffic and are located in the middle, the cars on your sides may prevent you from going around the car in front of you. Sometimes this will just happen, but be aware of what is going on and how you can get out of there if needed. (On a positive note, if you are in the middle lane, it is harder for the criminal to get to you, and would be harder form him to get away, so it can be a safer lane to be in.)<\/p>\n

Be mentally prepared to jump a curb or bang into a fender to get away. Hitting the car next to you and dealing with it later can be better than getting hurt while being carjacked. If you are in fear, your safety is paramount. Hit curbs or anything else you have to drive over to get away at an angle if you can. Knowing your car and its clearance will help you know what curbs you can jump. Also, if you are in imminent danger, it is not the time to worry about traffic laws. Do drive away carefully, you don’t want to be hurt or killed in an accident trying to avoid a carjacking. But as safely as possible, get out of there, even if that means running a red light. Be prepared to do what you have to in order to escape to safety.<\/p>\n

Be alert to drive away if someone bumps you audio<\/p>\n