Carjacking

• NCJ Number: 147002
• Date Published: March 1994
• Length: 2 pages
• Author(s): M R Rand
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Series: BJS Crime Data Briefs
• Publication Type: Statistics

Annotation

This report presents statistics on carjacking from 1987 through 1992 from the National Crime Victimization Survey.

Abstract

An average of 35,000 completed and attempted carjackings occurred each year in the United States between 1987 and 1992. In 52 percent of the carjackings the offender succeeded in stealing the victim's motor vehicle. Men were more likely than women and African-Americans were more likely than whites to be victimized by carjacking. Persons aged 35 or older were less likely than younger people to become carjacking victims. Nine in 10 completed carjackings were reported to the police, compared to 6 in 10 attempts. Most carjacking victims escaped without injury. Victims were injured in 24 percent of the completed carjackings and 18 percent of attempted carjackings. Offenders used a weapon in 77 percent of all attempted and completed carjackings. Carjackings were more likely to occur in the evening or at night and away from the victim's home. Offenders between the ages of 21 and 29 committed approximately half of all completed carjackings. Victims identified offenders' race as white in 32 percent of carjackings, African-American in 49 percent, and Asian or American Indian in 6 percent. Men committed 87 percent of all carjackings. About half (54 percent) of all completed or attempted carjackings were committed by groups of two or more offenders. Forty-one percent were committed by lone offenders. Suburbanites were less likely than residents of a central city and more likely than rural residents to be victims of a completed or attempted carjacking. 3 figures