Attention: Car thief

If you must (though I hope you’ll reconsider!), steal my stereo, steal my gas, steal my laptop that I careless left lying in full view. Please, feel free to steal the whole car (it runs best on Premium gasoline, by the way). But, please, don’t steal the car with me (or my loved ones!) inside it! Thank you for your kind consideration.

Signed: Car owner

That wasn’t funny, was it? There’s nothing at all funny about carjacking. It’s a combination of kidnapping and car theft, and appallingly terrifying for the victim. You don’t even think twice about the car (or at least, you shouldn’t); your major and only concern should be for your personal safety, or the personal safety of any other occupants.

If you are lucky, the car thief will put you off to the side of the road and drive away with your car. In a worst case scenario, you will be physically forced to drive to another area, which will become the secondary crime scene.

It’s important not to allow yourself to be in a situation that lends itself to carjacking. Naturally, larger cities are more likely to be the setting, but even small rural areas have their share of carjacking incidents. Some favorite carjacking locales include parking lots, gas stations, shopping centers, convenience stores, fast-food drive-thrus and ATMs. When you’re driving or parked in an area that may be a carjack zone, pay attention to your surroundings. Carjackers like nothing more than surprising their victim. That’s a surprise you can live without.

Carjackers are statistically more successful during the daytime hours. That could be because at night time you’re naturally more wary of your surroundings, anticipating things that go bump in the night. Here are some very basic and common sense tips to avoid a carjacking:

• Park in well lit lots, especially if you will be leaving when it’s dark;
• Avoid isolated areas or those that are visually obstructed;
• Look for strangers near your car, and look inside the car even before you unlock the door;
• Keep your keys handy, don’t be fumbling in your purse looking for them;
• Enter your car quickly; don’t loiter at the trunk unpacking; and
• Once inside, keep your doors locked at all times with the windows closed.

Finally, if your instincts tell you that something is wrong, trust them. Better to be embarrassed than dead.