NCJ Number
200745
Date Published
2002
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This report presents information about the prevalence of carjacking in Maryland during 2001.
Abstract
The State of Maryland has defined the term carjacking to mean the “robbery or attempted robbery where the primary objective is to obtain the victim’s motor vehicle and the victim is in the vehicle or in very close proximity to the vehicle.” During 2001, there was a 32 percent increase in carjackings from the previous year, with 824 carjackings reported to police. The victims of carjackings totaled 917 persons; of these victims, 28 were seriously injured and 9 killed during the crime. The offenders of carjackings totaled 1,303 individuals, 47 percent of whom were between the ages of 15 and 26. A handgun was used in 61 percent of the carjackings. Forty-four percent of all of Maryland’s carjackings took place in Prince George’s County. In fact, four counties were responsible for 93 percent of all Mayland’s carjackings during 2001: Prince George’s County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Montgomery County. The most reported carjackings happened during the month of October with 80, while the least reported carjackings occurred during the month of March, with 55 carjackings reported to police. In terms of the etiology of carjackings, most incidents occurred with parked vehicles, while the second most common scenario involved a vehicle that was stopped as a result of a traffic device. Three appendices contain additional information about carjackings in Maryland, including additional details about accosting situations and vehicles.