Carjacking safety tips: Police share ways to protect yourself amid rise in carjackings

ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. - Amid the recent rise in carjackings across the area, one police department in Northern Virginia is sharing tips on how to keep yourself safe if ever confronted with a dangerous situation.

According to the Arlington County Police Department, in just the first month of the year, the department has investigated five carjacking reports. As a result the trend, the department has increased the visible and non-visible police presence throughout parts of Arlington County.

Police are also sharing tips with people to help them avoid situations that could put them in danger of being carjacked.

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ACPD says that in recent carjacking reports, the suspects have approached victims as they are sitting inside a parked car. They add that the suspects are generally armed and will demand the victim's keys and property. Police said in some of the cases, the suspects use a stolen car to approach the victims.

According to ACPD, the reported incident generally involve multiple suspects.

To help keep yourself safe, police say you should consider taking the following measures:

• When inside your vehicle, keep your doors locked and windows up
• Exit your vehicle and continue to your destination promptly after parking
• Be aware of your surroundings when entering and exiting your vehicle
• Limit your use of devices that may distract you, such as cell phones and headphones
• Don’t leave items unattended or visible in your vehicle

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Police also urge residents to call police immediately whenever they are a victim of a crime or observe criminal activity.

Click here to read additional safety tips from ACPD.