History of Carjacking in Timeline

Carjacking is a robbery where a motor vehicle is taken directly from its occupant, often involving violence or threats. Unlike simple car theft, carjacking occurs with the victim present. It's a prevalent crime worldwide, prompting legal and criminological attention and is often portrayed in films. While any vehicle can be a target, commercial vehicles with valuable cargo are frequently targeted. Carjacking often includes physical harm to the victim and, rarely, sexual assault.

1991: Term coined by The Detroit News

In 1991, the term "carjacking" was coined by reporter Scott Bowles and editor E. J. Mitchell at The Detroit News. The term was first used in a report about the murder of Ruth Wahl, who was killed for refusing to surrender her Suzuki Sidekick.

October 25, 1992: Federal Anti-Car Theft Act takes effect

On October 25, 1992, the Federal Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 (FACTA) took effect, making it a federal crime to use a firearm to steal a motor vehicle that had been shipped through interstate commerce.

November 29, 1992: First federal prosecution of a fatal carjacking

On November 29, 1992, the killing of two men in Osceola County, Florida, by carjackers using a stolen 9 mm pistol resulted in the first federal prosecution of a fatal carjacking.

1992: Annual Carjacking Statistics in the United States

From 1992 to 1996, about 49,000 completed or attempted nonfatal carjackings took place each year in the United States. About half of the incidents were successful.

1993: Carjacking Statistics

From 1993 to 2002, approximately 38,000 carjackings occurred annually in the U.S. Men were more often victims than women, blacks more than whites, and Hispanics more than non-Hispanics. Most carjackings happened in urban areas.

1993: Increased media coverage of carjackings

Throughout 1993, articles about carjackings appeared frequently in newspapers across the country, highlighting the growing concern over this crime.

1994: Federal Death Penalty Act expands carjacking penalties

In 1994, the Federal Death Penalty Act, as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, made killing a victim in the commission of carjacking punishable by the federal death penalty.

1996: Annual Carjacking Statistics in the United States

From 1992 to 1996, about 49,000 completed or attempted nonfatal carjackings took place each year in the United States. About half of the incidents were successful.

1998: Reported carjackings in South Africa

In 1998, South Africa reported 16,000 carjackings, indicating a significant problem with this crime in the country.

2002: Carjacking Statistics

2003: British Journal of Criminology study on carjacking

In 2003, a study published in the British Journal of Criminology found that carjacking remained an under-researched crime. Interviews with active carjackers in St. Louis, Missouri, suggested their motives were linked to the 'street life,' which emphasized spontaneity and the display of wealth.

2005: Release of the movie Tsotsi

In 2005, the film "Tsotsi", depicting the carjacking issue in South Africa, was released and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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2005: Reported carjackings in South Africa decreased

In 2005, the number of reported carjackings in South Africa dropped to 12,434, showing a decrease from the 1998 figures.

2008: High carjacking rate in Detroit

In 2008, Detroit had 1,231 carjackings, more than three a day, making it the major U.S. city with the highest rate of carjacking.

2008: Australian Institute of Criminology paper on carjacking

In 2008, a paper by the Australian Institute of Criminology conceptualized carjackings into four types based on method and motive: organized and instrumental, organized and acquisitive, opportunistic and instrumental, and opportunistic and acquisitive. The paper provides examples for each type of carjacking.

2008: Analysis of carjacking in Australia

In 2008, a paper by the Australian Institute of Criminology estimated that fewer than 300 carjackings occur annually in Australia, attributing the low rate to low firearm-related crime and good socioeconomic conditions.

2009: Detroit Police Department initiatives

In 2009, the Detroit Police Department centralized all carjacking investigations and developed a suspect profiling system in response to the high rate of carjackings.

December 2010: Carjacking wave in Essex County, New Jersey

In December 2010, Essex County, New Jersey, experienced a wave of 69 carjackings. Unlike previous carjackings, these appeared to be done by thrill-seeking young men who would steal cars for short periods and then abandon them. The Mall at Short Hills is located in Millburn, New Jersey, which is in Essex County.

2011: Reported carjackings in South Africa continued to drop

In 2011, South Africa saw a continued drop in reported carjackings, reaching 9,475 incidents, which was a record low.

2012: Reported carjackings in South Africa at record low

In 2012, South Africa recorded 9,475 carjackings, a record low. This number was the same as the number in 2011.

December 2013: Murder at The Mall at Short Hills

In December 2013, a Hoboken lawyer was murdered at The Mall at Short Hills in Millburn, New Jersey, while defending his wife from carjackers. The assailants were later convicted of the crime, which brought national media attention to carjackings in Essex County.

2013: Journal of Contemporary Ethnography study on carjacking

A study published in the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography in 2013, noted that "carjacking requires offenders to neutralize victims who are inherently mobile and who can use their vehicles as both weapons and shields." The study highlighted the use of fear by carjackers to compel compliance from victims.

2013: Detroit still highest in carjackings

By 2013, Detroit had 701 carjackings, a fall from 2008 but still the highest known number for any major city in the country.

November 2014: Carjackings down in Detroit

Through mid-November 2014, Detroit had 486 carjackings, down 31% from the previous year, but still three times more than New York City experienced in all of 2013. Even the chief of police was victim of an attempted carjacking.

2014: Reported carjackings in South Africa increased

In 2014, reported carjackings in South Africa increased to 11,221, marking a rise as part of an overall increase in violent organized crime.

2015: Carjackings in Philadelphia

In 2015, the police department of Philadelphia reported 170 carjackings.

2016: Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 in the Philippines

In 2016, the Anti-Carnapping Act was enacted in the Philippines, penalizing the act of carnapping (carjacking) in the country.

2017: Justice Quarterly study on auto theft and carjacking

A 2017 study published in Justice Quarterly examined auto theft and carjacking in the context of "sanction threats" that promoted fear and influenced "crime preferences" among criminals, thereby redirecting criminal activity. The study showed that auto thieves are reluctant to embrace the violence of carjacking due to concerns over sanction threat severity.

2017: Risk Terrain Modeling analysis of carjacking in Detroit

A 2017 study used "Risk Terrain Modeling" analysis to identify spatial indicators of carjacking risk in Detroit, identifying factors like proximity to service stations, stores, bus stops, demolitions, and areas with high drug arrests and restaurants.

2018: Carjackings in New Orleans

In 2018, 105 carjackings occurred in New Orleans.

2019: Chicago began experiencing a surge in carjackings

Chicago began experiencing a surge in carjackings after 2019.

2019: Carjackings in New York

In 2019, New York City recorded 132 carjackings.

2020: Carjackings in New York

In 2020, New York City recorded 328 carjackings.

2020: High carjacking rate in Chicago

In 2020, at least 1,415 carjackings took place in Chicago, which is contributing to the spike of carjackings. The Chicago Police Department indicated that face masks were contributing to the identity concealment of the carjackers.

January 27, 2021: Chicago's response to carjacking surge

On January 27, 2021, Mayor Lori Lightfoot addressed the worsening wave of carjackings in Chicago, stating it was 'top of mind' and adding 40 police officers to the CPD carjacking unit.

2021: Increase in carjackings across various cities

In 2021, several cities experienced a significant increase in carjackings. New York City recorded over 500 carjackings, Philadelphia reported over 800, New Orleans had 281, and Oakland reported 521 incidents.