Vehicle Security (Part One)

 Personal Security In and Around Vehicles

Because many crimes are committed in and around your vehicle, you should consider yourself to be in a “red zone” whenever you approach or leave your vehicle.  A “red zone” is any place that by its very nature merits extra attention and precautions.  

Many ambushes occur in and around vehicles.  This is true for everything ranging from a stalker or jealous ex, to a sophisticated terrorist attack against a high profile target.  This is due to the fact that vehicles bring with them vulnerabilities that criminals can exploit.  If you leave for work or back home at a predictable time it is easy for a criminal to watch for you to approach your vehicle which will probably be parked in the same location and drive the same route day after day.  You probably have just one driveway and entrance to your garage, and it is quite likely that the number of directions from which you can reach a destination may be very small, perhaps just one.  

Parking lot muggings, carjacking, angry protesters blocking streets, drive-up ATM robberies, road ragers, and stalkers following you are some of the most common dangers associated with being near or inside your vehicle.  Simply driving in an unknown area or through “a bad part of town” may be risky as well.  As always, with regards to personal security, awareness comes first.  Practicing good awareness skills allows you to more effectively avoid or respond to threats.  Avoidance is always the best option.  You will never lose a fight that you are not in; on the other hand it is difficult to take countermeasures against a threat of which you are unaware. 

Pay attention to the details of crimes, especially those in your community.  What useful information can be learned?  Where and when did it happen? How many people were involved?  What actions did the criminal take?  What actions did the victim or others take?  Identify any mistakes that were made.  Likewise, identify how crimes were successfully thwarted.  A knowledge base of these details is useful for your protection.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe in and around vehicles!

Awareness

• Keep your head and eyes up and off the phone. Do not use earbuds.  Do not handicap your natural senses or allow yourself to become distracted.  Criminals look for people who do not appear to be aware of their surroundings. You would not want your professional bodyguard to become distracted.  Since you are acting as your own bodyguard, your own behavior must not resemble that of a negligent or inept bodyguard.

• Trust your instincts and subconscious gut feelings.  If something doesn’t look or feel right, go elsewhere if possible or proceed with extra caution.

• Pay attention to what is normal and what it looks like at the places you go. If you pay attention to normal life it will help you take notice when things are not normal.  Are people behaving normally? Are the usual number of people present? Do not dismiss it when things appear to be different from the norm.

• Whether out and about on foot or by vehicle, maintain a relaxed level of awareness. You are paying attention to what is behind you and what lies ahead.  Is there a blind spot?  Is someone acting erratically?  Could those kids chase their ball into the street?  Your mind continuously processes endless scenarios such as these and you make adjustments both consciously and subconsciously.  You are not paranoid, you are simply paying attention.  

Plan Your Trip

• Fill your tank, visit an ATM or store during daylight whenever possible. Avoid going to remote locations or during times when few people are around. Whenever possible, don't go alone!

• Know your route and alternative routes

• Maps and GPS are useful.  Learn how to use them.

• On long trips, plan your route and stops and overnight accommodations.  Do not wait until your tank is nearly empty to refuel leaving you little choice where to stop.  You should have enough fuel onboard to go to an alternative gas station.

• Keep your vehicle in good running condition and have a spare tire.  Know how to change a tire, or have roadside service such as AAA.

Your Parked Vehicle

• Doors must be locked with windows rolled up

• Do not leave young children unattended

• No visible valuables to tempt theft

• If you have a garage, use it.  Keep the garage door closed when you are not present.

• If there is a connecting door from the garage to your house, keep it locked the same as you keep all outside doors locked.  Don’t make it easy for someone who gains entry into your garage to gain entry into your house as well.

• Keep your garage door opener hidden, not in an obvious spot such as the visor.  Consider bringing the opener into your house. 

• Consider getting a garage door opener that requires entry of a code to open the garage door

• Do not leave your vehicle keys laying in the open inside your house

• Do NOT leave your keys inside your car!

• Do NOT leave your car running unattended!

• Park in well-lit areas

• Park close to your destination to minimize the distance you must travel to or from your vehicle

• Think and plan into the future.  While a parking spot may be in daylight and in a crowded area at the time you park, how well lit and how many people will be at the time you leave?  Will it now be a dark and deserted lot?

Carjacking

Carjacking is the crime of stealing a vehicle that is occupied.  Sometimes an occupant is kidnapped in the process.  

• Frequent locations for carjackings include:

• Parking lots

• Shopping centers

• Gas stations

• Drive-thrus

• ATMS

• Convenience stores

• Carjackers sometimes stage accidents to get you out of your car.  Be wary if your car is bumped in traffic.  

• Carjackers often block your car in traffic.  Leave enough room to maneuver around the vehicle ahead of you when stopped at a light or in traffic.  A good rule is to make sure you can see the spot where the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you touch the pavement.  If you cannot see this spot you are too close and will not be able to pull around that vehicle without backing up.  Backing up may not be possible if there is a vehicle close behind you.  A ploy that carjackers use is to box you in between two vehicles making your escape difficult.  You cannot control how close a vehicle behind you pulls up to you, but you can control how close you pull up behind a vehicle.  

Approaching and Entering a Car

• Always approach your vehicle with at a high level of alertness

• Watch for anyone lingering around your car, in nearby cars, or along your route to your vehicle

• Keep your head up and look directly at any person who appears to be watching you.  This tells criminals that you are alert, making you less attractive as a victim.

• When in a parking lot, do not walk too close to parked cars.  If someone is lurking between cars you don’t want to be within grabbing distance as you pass by.  (See below).  Obviously you cannot walk in traffic in a busy lot, but you are far less likely to be grabbed in a busy lot.

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• Glance between parked cars as you pass by and scan ahead looking for signs of someone lurking, e.g. feet, shadows, movement

• Never enter any vehicle without checking the back seat first.  This applies equally to your vehicle and another person’s vehicle.  A bright tactical flashlight will make it easier to check.  It will also be useful to check for people lurking between or behind cars as you approach yours.

• Enter your car with the least amount of delay and make it a habit to lock your doors immediately upon entering your vehicle (within 3 seconds)

• Do not fill your arms and hands with shopping bags.  When people are attacked they have a habit of continuing to hold onto things in their hands instead of dropping them.  You want your hands free to strike if needed.

• Forget about the old tactic of placing your keys between your fingers to strike someone who attacks you.  It is slow to place your keys between fingers, it is obvious, and you may injure your fingers if you do happen to strike someone.  A much better method is to simply carry a key the same way you hold it when you are going to unlock the door: between your thumb and index finger.  It is faster, and you will not injure yourself as you jab and slash an attacker’s face, eyes and throat and you will have a strong grip on this improvised weapon.  Plus, you will have your key ready to open your door and minimize the delay of entering your vehicle.

• Do not leave your car unlocked when you return the shopping cart.  It only takes a few seconds for someone to enter your car.