Carjacking |  | "It changed everything... the innocence of my children."
Gail Simpson | Carjacking reconstruction |
Carjacking Cars are now more secure than they've ever been - and vehicle thefts have fallen by about 11 per cent in the last few years. Factory fitted alarms, immobilisers and deadlocks mean cars are now much harder to steal. But there's still one weak spot - carjacking. Hijacking is on the increase according to every motoring organisation. Thieves now understand that compared to the time and risk involved in hot wiring a car, getting the key is much simpler. And the easiest target is the driver... Victims of carjacking Matt Smith is a 16 stone, six foot three tall flanker with Sedgely Park Rugby Club and he's used to physical aggression. But he wasn't prepared for what happened on the night he stopped outside a friend's house in his brand new car.  | | Risk of attack - carjacking can happen to anybody |
He was the victim of carjackers who attacked him so they could steal his vehicle. Matt needed 22 stitches to his wounds - but no one has ever been arrested. There was nothing Gail Simpson could do either when her car was taken - with her children still inside.
As they returned home from a swimming gala, her daughters - aged 10 and 13 - stayed in the car as Gail went to open her garage. Gail and her daughters escaped with a few cuts and bruises - the car jacker has never been caught. But the mental scars of that evening remain with them. World wide problem
Car jacking is a world wide problem - and measures to tackle the issue are now being developed. Inside Out visited a remote Ministry of Defence air base where one company is using hostile environment training to teach government agency drivers how to deal with it. ArmorGroup uses former Special Forces personnel, including the SAS, to show drivers how to recognise threats - and how to respond to them.  | | Top advice - learning how to deal with the carjackers |
Inside Out went on the course to learn some evasive driving tips. The ex-Special Forces trainers explain how you should keep your windows and doors closed if you're suspicious. But it's still all too easy to lose your vehicle, especially if you let down your guard.
Technology could be one solution to dealing with car jackers. A company in Bolton will soon be launching a device which will disable a car's engine if it doesn't stay within a few feet of a small transmitter, like a keyfob, which the owner holds. If the car's taken without the transmitter, the car will start to slow, acting as a disincentive to potential carjackers. As well as technology, the best piece of advice is to be extra vigilant when driving - lock the doors, close windows and be alert. Links relating to this story:The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites | 
Inside Out - North West: Friday February 2, 2007
