If you’ve ever been the victim of a carjacking, then you know just how terrifying and traumatizing it can be. Whether it was a complete stranger who jumped into your car without warning or someone you know (or love), being in someone else’s control is something that’s never easy to get over. In this article, we’ll outline some of the steps you should take if you’re the victim of a carjacking, so that hopefully you can feel as though you’ve taken some proactive steps to reduce your chances of becoming a victim in the first place.
What To Do If You’re the Victim of a Carjacking
If you’ve been the victim of a carjacking, it’s important to know what to do. Here are some tips:
1. Remain Calm and Collected
If you can remain calm and collected, it will help reduce the chances of getting violent or losing your belongings. The perpetrator may assume that you are less likely to resist if you appear calm and unafraid.
2. Don’t Resist If You’re Held at Gunpoint
If you’re held at gunpoint, don’t resist – even if the perpetrator asks you to hand over your belongings. If you resist, the perpetrator may become more aggressive and attempt to force you into a vehicle or take your possessions against your will.
3. Call 911 Immediately
If you can, make sure to call 911 as soon as possible after the carjacking has occurred. This will let authorities know about the situation and assist in tracking down the perpetrator.
What To Do If You Respond to a Carjacking
If you are the victim of a carjacking, the most important thing to do is remain calm and collected. Do not resist the assailant, and do not try to chase after the car or driver. If you can, take down the assailant’s information, such as his name and address. Once you have collected as much information as possible, make sure to get to a safe place immediately.
What to Do If You See Someone Carjacking
If you see someone carjack another person, the first thing to do is to try to get as close to the car as possible so you can get a good description of the suspect. If possible, try to take video or screenshots of what is happening. Once you have the information, make sure to call police and report the crime.
What to Do if You Are the Victim of a Crime
If you are the victim of a carjacking, there are a few things you should do to protect yourself.
First and foremost, make sure that you keep your eyes open and your hands on the wheel at all times. If someone is trying to take your vehicle away from you, they may try to force you to drive in a direction that is not safe.
Second, make sure that you have enough money on you to pay for damages if the carjacking leads to an accident. Many carjackers will try to rob their victims even if there is an accident, so it is important that you have some money on hand just in case.
Finally, always try to get as much information about the carjacker as possible. If you can, write down the license plate number or the make and model of the car. This information may be helpful if you need to file a police report or if you want to pursue legal action against the person who took your car.