According to the Met Police there are about 950 carjackings every year in London. All the news stories I have read always feature Mercedes and BMWs

Am I being over protective?

Yes. News doesn't give a reflection of what is happening in society; it is a cross section of the noteworthy events that have happened. Events are noteworthy often because they are rare. 950 sounds a lot but in the context of the tens (hundreds?) of millions of car journeys that take place in London each year, the risk of carjacking to any individual is tiny.

We tend to be poor judges of risk, giving undue prominence to scenarios that frighten us the most rather than scenarios that pose the greatest statistical risk.

P.S. Lock the doors whilst in the vehicle?!

I'd agree with Uns sentiments, but would add this from a purely technical point of view:

# you would probably find that most car jackings are not opportunist crimes. they are probably planned, the target having been researched and followed.

# it's a legal requirement in the US for all booted cars to have a means of release for the boot lid in the trunk. The reason for this is that around about year 2000 ish there were about 12 child deaths per year in the USA where children were becoming trapped in trunks and dying, usually in sweltering heat. A side benefit of this requirement is that anyone carjacked and bundled into the trunk has a means of escape. So, they could choose a model that is also sold in the US and ask the dealer to have this feature fitted.

# in the name of greater crash safety, many car makers would like to fit laminated glass to the side windows. Unfortunately it's more expensive than toughened and as it is not a legal requirement it would put that manufacturer at a cost and weight disadvantage. Another benefit of laminated side glass is improved vehicle security. Some manufacturers do offer it as an option (Volvo is one) on certain models. It also makes the car slightly quieter as noise transmission through the glass is reduced.

# many cars now can be programmed to lock the doors automatically as soon as you drive off after starting. Another US feature that's made it over here.

# a defensive driving course may be a good investment.

# help them to be aware of things like "crash for cash" etc

A very real, and sensible, concern. A few simple steps can help a great deal though:

ALWAYS drive with the doors and boot locked, regardless of the journey or the destination.

ALWAYS carry a mobile phone with you. Don't be afraid to show it, it can be very off-putting to a criminal in the act.

Be suspicious of anybody who approaches the car, for example as if they need to speak with you so that you feel obliged to lower the window. If you do open any windows for that reason, a few inches is plenty - never open it far enough for somebody to reach in and grab the keys.

If a dubious crash takes place, i.e. the seemingly deliberate rear end shunt, gesture to the occupants of the other car for them to follow you, and drive to a place of relative safety. If they have an 'ambush' operation with other people hiding in the street, that will foil their attempts. Once you stop, stay in the car and make very obvious use of your mobile phone. If you're still concerned when the other party emerges from their car, drop your window enough to talk to them and tell them you have called the police, just to be on the safe side, because you know somebody who recently got carjacked. If they are still hanging around after that, they probably aren't carjackers.

'Dash cams' are now readily available; buy two and fit them to the front and rear of the car. Don't be shy in letting anybody who approaches the car know that they're there. These also guard against dodgy staged 'accidents'.

Fit a tracker if the car has any value. Again, let people know about it if you think they are trying anything on.

Essentially, just be super cautious and keep your eyes open! It's a shame, but it might save a very unpleasant experience.

Edited by happy polo on 21/05/2013 at 01:29

"With regard to locking yourself in, won't you be trapped inside if you're knocked unconscious in an accident? Or am I missing something here?"

The answer is surely to lock the doors in towns and cities (where you're less likely to overturn or hit something hard enough to be knocked unconscious) and leave them unlocked on the open road (where you're less likely to be carjacked).

Thank you for the replies. I do not intend to have this dicussion with my friends. I would rather not make them think London is an unsafe city. But I will advise them to follow basic safety as mentioned above and I will steer them towards a more ordinary vehicle for practical/costs issues rather than crime .

But I do like the idea of the rottweiler.

Edited by Pos on 24/05/2013 at 23:31