Carjacking
Carjacking is a term used to describe the act of forcibly taking possession of a vehicle from its legal owner or operator.
Pronunciation
Carjacking is pronounced as /ˈkɑːrˌdʒækɪŋ/
Etymology
The term "carjacking" is a portmanteau of the words "car" and "hijacking". It originated in the United States in the 1990s during a surge in auto theft crimes.
Definition
Carjacking is a robbery-type offense where the intent is to take a motor vehicle from its driver by force or threat of force. The crime is often committed with a firearm or other weapon to intimidate the victim.
Related Terms
- Vehicle theft: The act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle.
- Hijacking: The act of unlawfully seizing and taking control of a vehicle, aircraft, or other means of transportation.
- Robbery: The act of taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, threat of force, or by putting the victim in fear.
- Aggravated assault: An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury.
Legal Aspects
In many jurisdictions, carjacking is a specific crime and may be punished more severely than other forms of vehicle theft due to its violent nature. It is considered a felony in most jurisdictions.
Prevention
Prevention strategies for carjacking include being aware of one's surroundings, keeping vehicle doors locked and windows up, and avoiding high crime areas when possible.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Carjacking
- Wikipedia's article - Carjacking
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski