CAR SNATCHING is fast becoming a well organized, booming and attractive venture for criminals. It is considered as one of the dangerous and heinous crimes against persons and properties. In 2013, the Greater Accra Regional Command alone recorded 116 cases of car snatching. The figures may be a bit frightening but they are real. It is always said that as knowledge increases, so does crime. Criminals on daily basis devise clever but deceitful ways to outwit their victims. Where the victim suspects the slightest doubt and resists, violence becomes the only option for dispossession. Since desperate people do desperate things, weapons, knives, machetes, sharp and deadly instruments are used on victims who may be bold to resist. At this moment, human life does not matter anymore. What matters is a malicious means to an end.
A lot of reasons may be assigned to this type of criminal acts. To steal expensive vehicles or car parts to other regions or countries for good sales; to quickly escape from previous or present scene of crime; to use the stolen vehicle to commit further crimes, especially robbery, to target the occupants of the carjacked vehicle with the intention of either robbing, kidnapping or committing other offences.
Odd Hours
In most of the cases reported, victims of such crimes were people who drove in isolated, dark and odd hours, especially taxi drivers, female drivers, the aged and perhaps people who may be less security conscious of their surroundings and leave everything to chance.
Recalling some of the incidents reported to the police by victims of this dreadful crime shows the extent to which criminals could go to unlawfully deprive you of your property.
A taxi driver, who came perilously close to losing his life in a carjacking attack, recounted that a young man hired his services around 6:30 pm one of the weekdays, from the central business district of Accra to Mallam off the main Accra-Weija road. On reaching Mallam, the young man either intentionally or whatever, answered a phone call and indicated that his mother had been rushed to a hospital at Saltpond in the Central Region, where his presence was urgently needed. He pleaded with the taxi driver to extend his services to Saltpond and offered to pay a good amount, knowing very well that contracting any driver at that ungodly hour to a far place like Saltpond would have raised suspicion. As helpless as he was, the taxi driver then agreed to send him to Saltpond. After they were half way through the journey, the occupant requested to respond to nature?s call. Two strongly-built gentlemen rushed into the vehicle from the bush and pointing a pistol at his head, they slashed his wrist with a knife, collected the sales he had made, snatched his mobile phone and sped off with his taxi, leaving him to his fate.
In another ?fortunate? incident on the part of a driver, who narrowly escaped what would have been a bizarre encounter with his predator ? but his security consciousness and alertness saved him that misfortune. This man, on the way home from work, about 8:00 pm realized that a vehicle had been following him for about 20 minutes and became suspicious. He deliberately applied different routes to confirm his suspicion but the vehicle continued trailing him. He eventually went to park at a nearby police station. This time his followers drove past the station and that was how vigilance could sometimes safe you.
CONTINUE FROM HERE
.
Like any other driver on the road ? irrespective of your status ? you could become a victim of car snatching. Commercial drivers, ministers of state, security personnel, students, to mention but a few, one time or another, had lost their vehicles to car snatchers. In fact, no one is spared the horrifying brutality of this obnoxious act. If your life is spared in the act, you must be very fortunate.
Ordeal
Many victims have recounted their ordeal and the police have also made efforts in fighting the menace with all diligence and professionalism. However, you are reminded to be on the lookout for such persons anytime you pick your car keys. The points enumerated should serve as a guide against car snatching.
v Since your life is key, in all circumstances, never resist or struggle with your attacker.
v Be conscious of any suspicious vehicle trailing you, especially when you are from the bank.
v Drive to the nearest police station immediately you suspect a vehicle following you and report it.
v Avoid displaying valuables such as laptops, pistils, ladies? bags (whether they contain money or not), phones, iPods, etc. in the full glare of passersby. It can draw the attention of criminally-minded persons. Instead, keep them in the booth.
v Avoid dangerous but short routes to your destination. Consider using safer main roads.
v Avoid using one particular route always. Try to apply different routes.
v Some criminals throw eggs on windscreens to cause poor visibility and rob their victims of their vehicles the moment they stop. Don?t stop when your current location is unsafe. Drive ahead and stop at a safe place.
v Car snatchers mostly re-spray stolen vehicles to make it much difficult for identification. If possible, have a personal identification mark which would be used to identify the vehicle if later impounded.
v Avoid confrontation with drivers who may intentionally bump your car at odd places and hours. A method normally called ?bump and rob? is what some victims have reported. The criminals, mostly two in a vehicle, calculatedly bump the rear of your vehicle. The moment you come out to assess the extent of damage, the other person quickly jumps into your vehicle and drives off. If the location is not safe, consider using your side mirrors and rear view to observe the occupants; where they appear suspicious, drive away. After all, your life is more important.
v Always keep your vehicle doors looked, especially in traffic.
v Avoid leaving your ignition key on when you stop to urinate or come out of your vehicle briefly.
v Use car tracking devices if you can afford.
v Insure your vehicle(s).
These may be useful to Commercial drivers
v Avoid picking more than two passengers at odd hours to unsafe locations, even if the fare is attractive.
v Avoid using unfamiliar routes on the request of passengers.
v Always put off your engine with your keys out when looking for change for your passengers ? even when they request to listen to your car radio.
v Observe any suspicious movements of your passenger from your mirror and quickly drive to the nearest safe place for assistance.
v Avoid engaging the services of spare drivers; they may join a gang to attack you after carefully monitoring your movements for some time.
v Be careful with persons who may pose as heavily pregnant women, seeking help at odd hours. They may belong to a syndicate.
A life lost is irreplaceable; always remember not to struggle with an attacker and be the best police of yourself in order to stay safe.
By ASP Effia Tenge
Note:
FOR ANY INFORMATION ON CRIME AND POLICE ASSISTANCE,
CALL NATIONAL CRIMEFIGHTERS NUMBERS
0302 773695 0302 773906
MTN & VODAFONE TOLL FREE 18555
191(VODAFONE/EXPRESSO/AIRTEL & TIGO) .
