Editing Carjacking (section)

==Prevention and response==
Common carjacking ruses include: (1) [[Traffic collision|bumping the victim's vehicle]] from behind, and taking the car when the victim gets out of the vehicle to assess damage and exchange information; (2) staging a fake car accident, sometimes with injuries, and stealing the vehicle of a passerby who stops to assist; (3) flashing lights or waving to get the victim's attention, indicating that there is a problem with the victim's car, and then taking the car once the victim pulls over; and (4) following a victim home, blocking the victim's car in a driveway or in front of a gate.<ref name="Diplo">''[https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rpt/19782.htm Carjacking—Don't be a Victim]'', U.S. Department of State, [[Bureau of Diplomatic Security]] (August 2002).</ref>

[[Police department]]s, security agencies, and [[Auto insurance|auto insurers]] have published lists of strategies for preventing and responding to carjackings.<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA">[http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/06/nopd_crime_prevention_how_to_a.html NOPD crime prevention: How to avoid being carjacked], [[New Orleans Police Department]].</ref><ref name="III">[http://www.iii.org/article/preventing-carjacking-theft Preventing Carjacking / Theft], [[Insurance Information Institute]].</ref> Common recommendations include:
* Staying alert and being aware of one's surroundings<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA"/>
* Parking in well-lighted areas<ref name="NOLA"/><ref name="III"/>
* Keeping [[vehicle door]]s locked and [[car windows|windows]] up<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA"/>
* Avoiding unfamiliar or high-crime areas<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA"/>
* Alerting police as soon as is safely possible following a carjacking<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA"/>
* Avoid isolated and less-well-trafficked parking lots, ATMs, pay phones, etc.<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA"/><ref name="III"/>
* When stopped in traffic, keeping some distance between the vehicle in front, so one can pull away easily if necessary.<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA"/>
* Using the Vehicle to ram the car jacker to avoid being confronted in the vehicle, if confronted, it is often safer to give up the vehicle and avoid resisting<ref name="Diplo"/><ref name="NOLA"/>