NCJ Number
149860
Date Published
1994
Length
9 pages
Annotation
According to Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics, the number of carjackings increased from approximately 19,000 in 1991 to over 25,000 in 1992; Uniform Crime Reporting statistics showed that 1,661,700 vehicle thefts occurred in 1991.
Abstract
Some carjackings are carried out by theft rings or criminal gangs, but most are committed by small groups and individuals. Organized groups tend to commit the highly publicized "bump and run" and "rolling road block" thefts. Most carjackings, however, occur in parking lots, residential streets or driveways, service stations, and intersections. Most vehicles stolen by carjackers are taken for joyrides or for use in the commission of other crimes. Conventional car thieves in metropolitan areas "case" parking garages, incapacitate garage attendants, and then steal the vehicles. When carjackers and other thieves steal vehicles for profit, they generally attempt to dispose of them quickly through intermediaries who provide documentation and insurance and ship vehicles across State lines. To counter the vehicle theft problem, manufacturers of luxury automobiles are taking steps to ensure that only individuals with the original keys can operate the vehicles. Further, some car manufacturers make keys that cannot be easily duplicated commercially. Some police departments have vehicle theft task forces to deter carjackers and car thieves. At the Federal level, the Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 makes carjacking and armed vehicle theft Federal offenses. The importance of cooperation between police and the community in preventing vehicle thefts is emphasized. 5 references