According to the U.S. State Department, carjacking is a non-political crime that can and does occur across the nation. There’s neither rhyme nor reason why a carjacker targets a specific vehicle or driver; mostly, it’s just a crime of opportunity.

Carjackers generally use one of four tactics to hijack a car:

• The Bump
• The Good Samaritan
• The Ruse
• The Trap

The Bump gets such good results, according to the U.S. State Department, that it is the number one ploy used by carjackers and would-be carjackers. Here’s how it happens:

You’re driving along, minding your own business, when all of a sudden out of nowhere, you’re bumped. It’s generally not a big bump; just enough of a jar to have you (after cursing out the driver who hit you, of course) reaching for your insurance card and forcing you to get out and take a look at the damage. That’s when the action really happens.

You should be aware of the most common places for Bumping… drum roll, please!

• High crime areas (a d’oh! response if ever there was one)
• Intersections with traffic lights or stop signs
• Roads which are primarily rural
• Congested urban areas that are prone to traffic jams
• Parking lots (generally in more isolated areas)

To be continued…