We must pay closer attention to our surroundings because there seems to be a new Chicago trend: carjacking. Carjacking crimes have seen a dramatic increase over the past year in the city and its surrounding suburbs. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) has responded to over 200 carjacking in January alone. According to investigating reporting from the Chicago Tribune, Carjacking in Chicago rose about 135%, to 1,415 in 2020 from 603 in 2019.
In response to the crime epidemic, CPD has held virtual town halls in some districts–especially in heavily-targeted (or vulnerable) areas. To protect civilians in the most targeted neighborhoods, the South Chicago Police District has recently partnered with “Operation Safe Pump.” This organization is operated by the owner of W&W Towing as well as several security firms. The initiative here is to protect customers of gas stations and certain stores by keeping a watchful eye over the designated area.
While this is a great sense of community, the city needs to take action sooner so there would be a stronger influence than before. It seems that Mayor Lightfoot of Chicago is seemingly more interested in shoving teachers back into school during a deadly pandemic. While the Chicago Police Department has allocated more officers and detectives to stop the surge of criminal activity, more action must be taken to protect the people. According to reports from CPD, the assailants range from the age of just fifteen years of age to twenty. So far, police say that the carjackers seem to be targeting the elderly and women. This past Saturday, a mother of an eight-year-old was injured trying to save her son from their hijacked vehicle. Luckily the two were able to be reunited and not seriously hurt. This particular incident did not involve a firearm weapon to overtake the car, but that is not the case in most of the situations that have been plaguing Chicago recently.
What do you do if you are in a situation (hopefully not) like this? CPD emphasizes that while a vehicle can be replaced, a life cannot. CPD is urging people to comply with their commands and provide specific details on the carjacker. If you have a child in the car, say, “My child is in the car.” They also advise people to avoid physical and verbal confrontation with the aggressor. Once you hand over your keys to them, get to a safe location and call 911 immediately.
How can a carjacking be prevented? In a safety flyer, CPD tipped, “Always be aware of your surroundings. Make it a habit to enter your car, lock your doors immediately and drive away. Look around for suspicious persons sitting in vehicles or loitering in the area before entering your vehicle. Always:
- Park in well-lit, visible areas
- Keep your windows up, and doors locked
- Equip your vehicle with anti-theft/GPS
- Give yourself room to maneuver around stopped traffic. Don’t get ‘boxed’ in.
- Keep your cell phone in your pocket
- Trust your instincts
Most of these acts seem to be COVID-19 related. However, it does not excuse the horrendous act. Please take all the safety precautions the Chicago Police Department has issued, call your family–especially the older ones–and advise them of said precautions. Be safe out there!