Carjackings in the United States, 1992-96

• NCJ Number: 171145
• Author(s): Patsy Klaus
• Date Published: March 1999
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Series: BJS Special Reports
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)

Annotation

This report presents data from the National Crime Victimization Survey about carjackings that occurred during 1992-96 and notes that an average of about 49,000 completed or attempted nonfatal carjackings took place each year during that period.

Abstract

Presents data from the National Crime Victimization Survey about carjackings that occurred during 1992-96. Carjacking is defined as completed or attempted robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger to the victim. It differs from other motor vehicle theft because the victim is present and the offender uses or threatens to use force. Carjackings resulting in murder of the victim(s) are not covered by the National Crime Victimization Survey. According to FBI data, however, each year about 26 homicides by strangers involved automobile theft. These incidents may have been carjackings. The report includes the incidence of carjacking; demographic characteristics of victims and offenders, such as age, race and sex; and characteristics of the incident, such as time and place of occurrence and weapon use.