SAFE-GUARD YOURSELF AGAINST IT
Vehicle crime is a highly planned and unlawful activity distressing the entire world. In a few cases a link has been established between Vehicle crime and terrorism. The vehicles are stolen to possess them and also used as a funding source for numerous other graver crimes.
Vehicle crime is a very widespread malice in the society, and accounts for almost 13% of all crimes registered in England & Wales. The year 2007- 08, witnessed around 1.5 million cases of vehicle crime and thefts related to vehicle security, and were around 11% lesser than 2006-07. The peak of the vehicle crimes were in 1995 in England, but the matters have improved quite a lot since then with the present situation showing almost 66% reduction in the incidents.
The statistics in USA also follow a comparable pattern with the maximum number of vehicle crimes being conducted between 1998 and 2005. Though the latest incidence of these vehicle crimes are yet around 3,633 per 100,000 of population, the only heartening feature is that the rates of incidence have fallen considerably and are on a constant decline
How are the vehicles stolen?
- The prevalence of the high tech burglar alarms, engine cut-off devices and steering locking systems to boost vehicle security have given birth to a more dangerous vehicle crime called as carjacking.
- Carjacking is a term used to describe the event in which criminals use violent force to steal the cars, and may end up injuring or even killing the owners in the process.
- Carjacking can usually take place in a busy area, like a commercial locale, and the carjacker can target the victim while he / she is either getting in to or out of the car.
- This is because the carjacker prefers to have the keys accessible and also to find the doors open, enabling him to escape with the stolen car in a split second.
- Majority of these vehicle crimes or carjacking attempts have been reported to take place within 5 miles of the car owner's residence.
- The amazing fact is that the daytime vehicle crimes or attempts at vehicle theft were twice more likely to be successful as compared to the night time attempts.
Techniques used in vehicle crime:
- The criminals may use a variety of different techniques to attain success in a vehicle crime, and they have no concern whatsoever, for your life or your safety.
- The usual technique used is to slam in to your car from behind and as soon as you get out of your car to inspect the damage and exchange words with the person in the car behind you, an accomplice gets in to your vehicle and rives away with it
.
- The next popular technique used by these criminals is to rob your vehicle at gun point while you are at a roadway intersection.
Preferred locations for the Vehicle crime:
-- parking lots
-- shopping centers
-- gas stations
-- car washes
-- convenience stores
-- ATMs
-- hotels
-- valet parking
-- fast-food drive-thru and
-- outside of retail stores
-- Roadway junctions with a stoplight.
Safe-guarding measures for Citizens and Vehicle security
As citizens or the general public, we all need to safe-guard ourselves against such incidents and in order to do that we ought to recognize the various measures to boost our vehicle security.
- Try to park your vehicle in properly illuminated areas, especially if you expect to travel after dark.
- Under no circumstances, should you leave your vehicle parked in isolated spots, or places with a wall or perhaps thick foliage adjacent to them.
- Try to make use of valet parking or garages with people attending to your vehicle, especially if you are a woman driver.
- Always be alert and check for people with suspicious looks, loitering around, while getting back to your car.
- Request a security escort to accompany you to the parking lot, when you are alone at a shopping mall.
- Try and develop a habit of getting in and out of your vehicle with the minimum possible delay, and teach your kids also to do the same.
- Never turn your back and let your defenses down, while loading stuff in to your vehicle
- It is better to practice driving your vehicle with the windows all rolled up and all doors kept locked.
- Your gut instinct will never lie and if it warns you of impending danger in a particular situation, never ignore it.
- Your life and wellbeing is more important than the vehicle security. In case you ever get threatened to give up your vehicle keys or your wallet, do so immediately without any hint of resistance.
- If the criminal has managed to force you to drive the car after carjacking, try and ram your car in to a busy junction somewhere along the way, so that you can attempt to grab public/ police attention
- Finally prevention of vehicle crime can be done by making use of vehicle security devices like the Immobilization devices, Identification markers and VIN etching etc.
Simple but timely efforts as listed above can go a long way in improving your vehicle security and safe guard you against any possible vehicle crime.
Article Written by Liam Edmenson
Visit my website on crime. [http://www.crime-analysis.com]
