Carjacking & Personal Security
Carjackings and vehicle break-ins happen at gas stations, parking lots, driveways and stoplights. Being alert and making your vehicle a harder target reduces the risk. If you’re ever confronted, your life is worth more than the car.
- All drivers
- Work drivers
Reduce the risk
- Keep doors locked and windows up in traffic and when parked
- Park in well-lit, busy areas; back in when you can
- Have your keys ready and look around before walking to your vehicle
- Don’t sit in a parked car on your phone; lock up and drive
- In traffic, leave enough space ahead to pull out if needed
- At gas stations, take the keys with you and lock the doors while pumping
- Keep valuables, tools and bags out of sight
If you’re confronted
Give up the vehicle. Don’t argue, chase or resist an armed carjacker. Get away from the vehicle and call 911 as soon as you’re safe.
- If a child is in the car, tell the carjacker right away and ask to get them out.
- Try to remember a description of the person and the direction they went.
- Tell police if your car has GPS tracking or a connected app.
Bump-and-rob
Some criminals cause a minor rear-end collision to get a driver out of the car. If you’re bumped in an isolated area or something feels wrong, stay in the car with doors locked, call 911, and signal the other driver to follow you to a busy, well-lit place or a police station. See After a Crash.
Work vehicles and tools
- Lock tool boxes and vans; use alarms and locking racks.
- Don’t leave work trucks running unattended.
- Record serial numbers and mark tools.
- Be careful at the end of the day when unloading at home in the dark.
Standards & references
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