According to a report from the ONS (Office of National Statistics), the total number of vehicles stolen or carjacked from Wales and England, for example, increased by 24.9% YoY. Furthermore, 130,389 vehicles were stolen in 2022; that’s up from 104,435 in 2021.
How to stay safe during a car-jacking incident
One search online and you’ll find dozens of links to stories of people being violently dragged out of their cars with the robbers driving away or people’s cars disappearing after having parked them for only a few minutes – returning to discover, to their shock and horror, that their car is gone.
A common tactic car-jackers now use is to ram your car from the back during a red light, making you believe that it’s an accident. The moment drivers get out, they discover that they are being car-jacked!
Instances of car-jacking are still on the rise across the nation, unfortunately, although there are several steps you take to stay safe from it:
Call us now on 0330 174 8540 for a no obligation discussion
WhatsApp on 07535 812 049
Be alert and assess your surroundings
Pilots, soldiers and law enforcement personnel call it ‘situational awareness’, a vital skill to have nowadays, even as a civilian!
As you walk toward your car, walk with purpose and stay fully alert. Make sure your hands are not busy and have the key in hand when you’re at least a few metres away from your car.
Avoid the urge to check your phone, fumble around in your pockets or do anything that might give car-jackers the window of opportunity they need to ‘surprise attack’ you.
Always exercise caution if people approach you with flyers in their hand or act as if they are out of town and need directions. It’s okay to walk away with “Sorry, don’t know”. Just get in your car safely and drive off.
Rely on your instincts
If you feel that something is wrong, then chances are there IS something wrong!
Are there people checking out your parked car from a distance? Is there someone across the street keeping an eye on you? Do you think somebody is standing around your car, ready to create a diversion or distraction the moment you approach it?
If you just look around, you may be able to identify multiple factors that could indicate that you’re about to get car-jacked. Approach your car with caution and waste little time starting it up and driving off.
If you believe that someone is about to steal your car in your absence, call the police immediately and in the meantime, create a racket or attract attention in any way you can so as to discourage the criminals from breaking into your car. However, you’d want to do this from a safe distance as they may be armed and dangerous!
Keep your eyes (and senses) peeled when approaching a stop light
Statistics indicate that many car-jackings occur when people stop at a red light. So, this is where you need to take a few extra measures.
When you come to a dead stop, always leave a little room between your car and the one in front of you. If you sense any trouble heading your way while you’re waiting for the light to turn green, at least you can floor it, and manoeuvre to safety.
Call us now on 0330 174 8540 for a no obligation discussion
WhatsApp on 07535 812 049
Hitchhikers – That’s a “no”!
It can be tempting to pick people up from the side of the road to help them get to their destination, especially when their car has broken down – or so they lead you to believe.
You never know if their car has genuinely broken down or not, so what’s the best thing to do in this situation? Call for help, that’s what.
Never stop to assist a stranger who wants to hitch a ride or waves at you in the hopes you will offer help with their broken car. It’s better not to stop and just drive on. But if you feel that they might be in genuine need of some help, call the police.
That is the safe thing to do, so please, don’t stop. It’s probably not worth the trouble!
Leaving valuables in your car
Just don’t!
Leaving any kind of valuables in your car, even things like expensive snacks, memorabilia, or other items of interest, can signal to potential robbers that you’re “loaded” and that, in addition to stealing your car, they might also be able to walk away with cash and valuables.
It’s a bad habit to begin with, so either don’t carry valuable things with you while driving or if you must, keep them on you, and not in the car while it’s parked.
It may also help to tint your windows but make sure that you’re following the tinted vehicle window requirements according to your specific area or county. This will discourage people from peeking inside your car and checking things out to see if you are a “worthwhile target”.
Call us now on 0330 174 8540 for a no obligation discussion
WhatsApp on 07535 812 049
Take your time while getting out of the car
Sometimes, all you want to do is find a good parking spot, rush out the car, get stuff done, and get back into the car.
However, if you believe that you’re parking in an area or locality which is more prone to robberies and car-jackings, exercise some caution.
Look around before you get out of your car and stay fully aware of your surroundings. If you feel that something isn’t right or someone is just waiting for you to leave the car on its own, don’t stop to
park. Just drive off and go elsewhere to get what you need (groceries or clothes, for example).
Be responsible with parking
Do not park in dark, secluded areas, or rundown areas. Even if you have to take a few minutes’ walk to get to the intended location, park your car in a safer spot!
If it’s the evening, always park in a well-lit area or preferably in a ‘Park Mark’ zone. You can find out if the area you’re visiting has a Park Mark car parking zone.
If someone has a gun pointed at you, do not resist
In the unfortunate situation where a car robber approaches you with a gun or other weapon which they can use within close proximity, don’t resist. Give up the car, and not your life or safety!
We’re here to help
Liber Financial can help you determine eligibility and make the entire process really easy for you.
Call us now to explore a variety of car financing options: 0330 174 8540
WhatsApp on 07535 812 049
