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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The Police Department
would like to advise all residents of a fraud attempt. One
of our citizens was contacted by telephone and the caller
claimed the Federal Government owed the resident several
thousand dollars. The caller then asked for bank account
information. This is currently under investigation and it
appears to be fraud. If you receive a similar type of call,
DO NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION to the caller.
Attempt to get a name and phone number, then contact the
Police Department.
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"How can I reduce
my risk of being carjacked?"
----Armed theft...the
newest twist in automobile theft----
Imagine having someone approach
you while you're sitting in your car at a traffic signal, pointing
a gun at your face and taking your car. Or having your vehicle
stolen as you park (even in your own driveway), or while getting
gas.
It can happen anywhere, not
just in "high crime" neighborhoods. It can occur during
the daylight as well as after dark.
----Why is carjacking
on the increase?----
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It's a crime of opportunity—a
thief searching for the most vulnerable prey. Sometimes it's
part of another crime.
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Car thieves find it easier
to steal a car while the owner is there—with the keys
in the ignition—than to break into a car, especially if
the car has an alarm.
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Cars equipped with sophisticated,
built-in alarm systems and theft-deterrent devices are
becoming harder to steal.
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Cars, especially luxury
models, provide quick cash for drug users and other criminals.
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Carjacking may be a rite
of passage, an initiation act, or just a thrill for some.
----Windows of opportunity
that carjackers look for:----
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Intersections controlled
by traffic lights
or stop signs.
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Parking garages, shopping
malls and
grocery stores.
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Self-service gas stations
and car
washes.
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ATMs (automated teller
machines).
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Residential driveways
and streets as
people get in and out of their cars.
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Highway exit and entry
ramps, or other
places where drivers slow down or stop.
----Before you enter
your car...----
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Be alert to any activity
near your car. Pay attention to your surroundings.
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When approaching your
car, have your key in your hand, and check the back seat before
getting in.
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If someone is loitering
near your unoccupied car as you approach it, keep walking
until the person leaves.
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Be wary of people asking
for directions or handing out flyers. Trust your instincts—if
something makes you feel uneasy, get into the car quickly, lock
the doors, and drive away.
----Once you're
in your car...----
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Keep your doors and windows
locked, no matter how short the distance or how "safe"
the neighborhood.
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Avoid driving alone. Have
someone with you whenever possible, especially at night.
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When you're coming to
a stop, leave enough space to maneuver around other cars. If
you sense trouble, this will allow you the room needed to get
away.
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If a suspicious-looking
person approaches your car, drive away carefully. In extreme
situations, you might even consider going through a traffic
light, as long as you can do so without causing an accident.
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Drive in the inside (center)
lane to make it more difficult for would-be carjackers to approach
your car.
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Don't stop to assist a
stranger whose car has broken down. Instead, help by driving
to the nearest phone and calling the police to help.
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If you're driving home
and notice someone you don't recognize, drive around the
block and come back after the person has left.
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Park in well-lighted areas,
near sidewalks or walkways. Avoid parking near dumpsters,
woods, large vans or trucks, or anything else that limits your
visibility.
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Never leave valuables
in plain view, even if the car is locked. Put them in the trunk
or out of sight.
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Try to park in a garage
with an attendant. Leave only the ignition key, with no
personal identification.
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Even if you're rushed,
look around before you get out and stay alert to your surroundings.
----If it happens
to you...----
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If a carjacker threatens
you with a gun or other weapon, give up your car. Don't argue.
Your life is worth far more than a car.
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Get away from the area
as quickly as possible.
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Notice and remember what
the car-jacker looked like—sex, race, age, hair and eye
color, special features, clothes and anything specific or unusual
like an accent.
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Report the crime immediately
to the police.
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Work with Neighborhood
Watch groups, law enforcement, automobile clubs, and other concerned
groups to get the word out about carjacking prevention.
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Contact school officials
to make sure that driver education classes talk to teens about
preventing carjacking.
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Ask the local media to
air carjacking prevention tips as public service announcements,
perhaps during commuting hours.
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Ask your insurance agent
or company to provide carjacking and other auto theft-prevention
information in notices and bills.
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Enlist parking lot owners,
shopping mall security, and transit authorities to print and
distribute educational materials with carjacking prevention
tips.
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Get permission to place
carjacking-prevention flyers or brochures in the waiting rooms
of automobile service departments, repair shops, and gas
stations.
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Ask your state's Motor
Vehicle Administration to display carjacking and auto-theft
prevention advice—posters, handouts, etc., in its offices—and
distribute prevention tips in all mailings.
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