Carjackings in the United States, 1992-96

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EST          BJS
SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 1999                202/307-0784
         

REPORT SHOWS ALMOST 49,000 NON-FATAL CARJACKINGS
EVERY YEAR
          

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On average, there were
almost 49,000 completed or attempted non-fatal
carjackings in the U.S. each year from 1992
through 1996, the Department's Bureau of Justice
Statistics (BJS) announced today.  Completed
carjackings, which account for 50 percent of total
carjackings, were almost always reported to
police, whereas just over half of the attempts
were reported.

     Carjacking is a completed or attempted theft
of a motor vehicle by force or threat of force. 
It differs from other motor vehicle theft in that
it only includes incidents in which the offender
used force or threats of force.

       A weapon of some type was used in 83
percent of all carjackings.  Approximately seven
in 10 completed carjackings involved firearms,
compared to two in 10 of attempted carjackings. 
Of the completed carjackings, approximately 23
percent resulted in injuries to the victims, as
did 10 percent of the attempted carjackings.

     Two in three daytime carjackings were
completed, but less than half of those at night
were completed.  
 
     Thirty-eight percent of carjacking victims
did not resist.  About 62 percent of all 
carjacking victims took some type of action to
defend themselves or their property:

     --Nineteen percent confronted the attacker by
attacking the offender or chasing or trying to
capture the offender or by threatening the
offender with a weapon. 

     --Thirty-four percent of the victims used
non-confrontational responses, such as running 
away, calling for help,  trying to attract
attention and similar methods.

     --Nine percent defended themselves in other,
unspecified ways. 

     The data were not sufficient to analyze the
relative impact of various self-defense responses
on carjacking completion or victim injury.

     Although data on fatal carjackings are not
available, on average about 27 homicides by
strangers each year from 1992 to 1996 involved
automobile theft.  Some of these may have been
carjackings.

     Overall, most carjackings occurred away from
the victim's home, although about 65 percent
happened within 5 miles of the victim's home. 
Twenty-six percent occurred at or near the
victim's home or that of a friend or neighbor. 
Forty percent occurred in an open area, such as on
the street or near a bus, subway or train station
or an airport.  Twenty percent were in parking
lots, or near commercial establishments, such as
stores, restaurants, gas stations and office
buildings, and 13 percent in other locations.

     The special report, "Carjackings in the
United States, 1992-96" (NCJ 171145), was written
by BJS statistician Patsy Klaus.  Single copies
may be obtained from the BJS fax-on-demand system 
by dialing 301/519-5550, listening to the complete
menu and selecting document number 149.  Or 
call the BJS Clearinghouse number: 1-800-732-3277. 
Fax orders for mail delivery to 410/792-4358.  The
BJS Internet site is:
           http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

     Additional criminal justice materials can be
obtained from the Office of Justice Programs
homepage at:
             http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov

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After hours contact: Stu Smith at 301/983-9354
(end of file)