NCJ Number
140810
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 60 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1993) Pages: 18-19,21,23-24
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This overview of armed carjacking discusses the offense statistics, criminal methods and victim selection, causal theories, and recommended countermeasures.
Abstract
Armed carjackers are terrorizing the Nation in epidemic proportion. Carjackers have struck not only in major cities, but also in suburban towns and rural areas; they may rob and kill victims to possess their luxury vehicles, convert parts to cash, commit another crime, or just have transportation. Although many of the victims have been alone or isolated at the time of the carjacking, there are numerous cases where offenders have targeted parents with children. Many armed confrontations have occurred while victims were at red lights, stop signs, fast food drive-through lines, automatic teller machines, self-service gas stations, convenience stores, parking lots, shopping centers, pay telephones, and self-serve car washes. Causal theories proposed for armed carjackings include the "anti-theft device" theory (circumvention of anti-theft devices), "economics" theory (sale of vehicle and parts for cash), "desperation" theory (desperation for immediate money), "availability" theory (victims are easy prey), "brazen" theory (arrogance and thirst for confrontation), and the "sociological" theory (availability of handguns). State and Federal laws have sought to counter the problem by targeting armed carjacking for harsh penalties. This article suggests how vehicle owners can better protect themselves and their vehicles from robbery and how police can improve their identification and apprehension of armed carjackers, including the establishment of a specialized task force and the maintenance of a special carjacking modus operandi file. 27 notes