Vehicle Hijacking Prevention Tips

With the occurrence of vehicular hijackings becoming more common in Oak Park and surrounding communities, the Police Department is offering tips to reduce the odds of becoming a victim:

• Stay alert – this type of crime can occur any time of day or night.
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• When parking in garage – back in, stay in the locked, running vehicle until the overhead door has completely closed, and stay off phone until safely inside your residence.
• Trust your instincts. If a stranger or strange vehicle is in your alley, go around the block and call Police from your cell phone. Call 911 and immediately say Oak Park in case your phone pings a cell antennae in a neighboring community.
• Make sure your garage and backyard are well lighted. Consider installing lights with features such as dusk-to-dawn illumination or motion seniors.
• Always drive with car doors locked and windows rolled up.
• Keep valuables out of view.
• Never leave an unattended vehicle running.
• Be aware that thieves sometimes bump a vehicle from behind and then steal the victim’s vehicle when they stop to exchange information. Wave for the driver to follow you to a heavily populated area or the Police Station.
• If you become the victim of a vehicle hijacking, don’t resist. Material items can be replaced, but you can’t.
• Call the Police as soon as possible and try to have a good description.
• Record your vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate number and keep the information at home in a place that is easy to remember. The quicker you can provide this information to the Police, the quicker the offenders who stole your car can be apprehended.

Vehicle Hijacking Prevention Tips(PDF, 49KB)