Vehicle Safety

Carjacking
Carjacking and vehicle theft are two different things. Carjacking is when a vehicle is taken by force or the threat of force from a person who is in the car or is attempting to enter or exit the vehicle. Police should be called immediately if you are the victim of a carjacking. There are ways to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of carjacking.

• Lock all doors and raise windows when driving
• Don’t park in isolated areas or near walls or shrubs where someone can lie in wait unnoticed
• Use parking garages that employ attendants
• Ask to be escorted when leaving malls or businesses at night
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Have your keys in hand when you approach your vehicle; don’t spend time fumbling for them
• If you are victimized in this way and a family member or pet is still in the vehicle, tell the carjacker that there is someone else in the vehicle and reassure the carjacker they can have the car. In many cases the carjackers will comply with your request. Remember it is the vehicle the carjackers really want
• Do not leave keys in the ignition or your vehicle running
• Report suspicious people or vehicles to police

If you become a victim of carjacking, cooperate and be the best witness possible. Remember everything you can about the offender including their description and clothing.

Vehicle Theft
Most incidents of vehicle theft are preventable. Following these safety tips can reduce the risk of having your vehicle stolen:

• Never leave your vehicle unattended and running, even for short periods of time
• If you must warm up your vehicle, remain inside or lock it and keep a spare key with you
• Invest in a keyless remote starter
• Maintain control of your keys at all times
• While you are at home, keep keys out of sight, not near the door or hanging on a hook near the door
• Keep your doors locked and windows up
• Park in a locked garage whenever possible
• Use the emergency brake
• Don’t park your vehicle in isolated areas
• Place valuables in the trunk, out of sight
• Don’t hide a spare key in the vehicle
• Invest in an anti-theft device like steering-wheel locks, ignition or fuel kill switches, car alarms or tracking devices

Personal Safety in Your Vehicle

• Keep your vehicle locked at all times
• Try to use well-lit streets when driving at night
• If you think you are being followed, pull into the nearest gas station or other public place. Do not drive home
• Plan your route before you leave
• Don’t pick up hitchhikers
• When getting into your vehicle, check to ensure no one is inside
• Carry a road map

Thefts from Vehicles

• Always keep your car locked, even in your driveway
• Always place valuables like cell phones and GPS systems out of sight or in the trunk
• Place packages and purchases in the trunk, out of sight
• Consider installing anti-theft devices such as alarms and vehicle-tracking systems
• Always place valuables in the trunk, out of sight of passers-by

Distraction Thefts

• Don’t leave your car running while unattended
• If you are approached in a parking lot by someone claiming your tire is flat, your vehicle is damaged, or you have dropped money on the ground, immediately retrieve your purse or wallet, turn off your vehicle and take your keys out of the ignition. This may be a ploy to distract you in order to steal your purse and possibly your vehicle
• If there is a problem with your vehicle, stop in a well-lit area and call for assistance. Stay inside your vehicle and keep the doors locked

Child Safety Seats
Ensure your children are safe and properly secured while travelling in a motor vehicle. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation advises that the correct use of a child restraint on every trip can prevent 75 per cent of crash-related deaths and serious injuries to passengers who are children.

• Always follow the instructions according to the child seat manufacturer’s manual and the vehicle owner’s manual
• Make sure the restraint system has CMVSS (Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) on the label and comes with up-to-date and complete manufacturer’s instructions
• Check the weight and height limits of the seat to be sure that it is correct for your child
• Before you buy a seat, try it in your vehicle to be sure that it can be installed properly and can be tightened so that there is little movement
• Children 12 and under should be properly restrained in the back seat, especially if there is a front passenger seat air bag

ALTERNATE LANGUAGE CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION
York Regional Police offers much of the above information in Chinese, Farsi, Italian and Russian.

Vehicle Safety - Italian
Vehicle Safety - Farsi
Vehicle Safety - Chinese
Vehicle Safety - Russian