As of Sept. 17, a total of 18,876 incidents of grand theft auto were reported this year in Los Angeles County, according to Los Angeles Police Department’s crime reports.
Although there were no solid statistics available reporting the number of carjacking incidents that occur annually, it is estimated that these sometimes violent forms of automobile theft account for as much as three percent of grand theft auto crimes.
In case a person finds himself the victim of a carjacking, there are certain pieces of information that he should remember to ease the situation.
Michael Nunez, director of campus safety and transportation at the University suggests three important tips to help possible victims.
These suggestions are guidelines and are not guaranteed to work all of the time.
• Give the car up and get out of the car without hesitation. Cooperate and never fight the carjacker in an attempt to save your vehicle.
• Once the carjacker has entered the vehicle and driven away, call 911 immediately.
• Report the license plate number of your vehicle as well as the last direction of travel. Police will also ask for a complete description of the suspect and his clothing.
Nunez also encourages students enrolled in night classes to walk to their cars in groups and never hesitate to call campus safety for assistance.
“We tell everyone, especially females, that if they feel threatened they can call us and we will have a car patrolling the area when they leave class,” Nunez said.
Valerie Rojas can be reached at skalivornia@hotmail.com.
