ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 12, 1995 TAG: 9512120034
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: reporter's notebook
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN
Last week's slaying of Alexander DeFilippis has us all shaking our heads in disbelief.
It's inconceivable to many that such a horrible crime could be committed here.
Given our recent and not-so-distant past, though, I am surprised when others are so shocked that these things can happen in the New River Valley.
The New River Valley has witnessed some pretty notorious crimes in the past 20 years.
But folks who moved here to escape big-city crime; students who view the campus and its surroundings as a safe cocoon; and long-time residents, some of whom claim they still leave their doors unlocked, all were taken aback by DeFilippis' slaying.
We should continue to be upset when these things happen, but we should no longer be surprised.
National statistics show an increase in the likelihood that a person's killer will be a stranger. We should recognize that danger does lurk in the most innocent of surroundings, and while we should not let fear overtake our lives, we should take precautions that can reduce the chances of becoming a target.
Tod Burke, a Radford University associate professor of criminal justice, was a Howard County, Md., police officer for five years; and he's written about 30 articles for police and law-enforcement journals, including several on the rise of armed carjackings and how to survive them.
While many of these tips will sound like common sense (and that's what most such tips are), a refresher course doesn't hurt.
"The easiest thing to do to prevent it [carjacking] is to lock your car," Burke said. Lock your doors as soon as you get into the vehicle and before you put on your safety belt.
If you haven't locked your car and someone jumps in, there still are actions you can take.
"Carjackers are looking for the easy target. That's all they're looking for. Once they're in the car, if you can get out of the car immediately, do it," he said.
"They don't want you. The want the car. So my suggestion is give them the car. Don't let [yourself] become a hostage."
You're safer if you're not alone in a car. Carjackers work on the element of surprise, and they rarely target someone who has a traveling partner.
If you're outside your car and you're approached by carjackers, throw them the keys, Burke suggests, and try to attract the attention of passers-by.
"Once you're with them, you're chance of survival becomes slim. As soon as you get in a car with someone who has a gun, your chances of survival decrease."
That's because armed carjackers are brazen. "They don't care, they just don't care," Burke said. "They feel that they won't get caught."
Other carjack-avoidance tips from Burke include:
When driving on multi-lane roads, choose the middle lane. That safeguards you from carjackers who pose as pedestrians at stop signs or traffic lights.
Create a comfortable space between the car you're following and the ones behind and around you. Don't allow yourself in a situation where you are boxed in.
If you're hit by another car and you're not sure if it's a genuine wreck or a "bump and run" carjacking attempt, keep driving until you're at a busy or well-lighted area where others can see you. Wave to the driver and let him know you intend to stop, but don't be afraid to keep driving until you reach the police department, if necessary.
When walking to your car, be observant. Look around your car as you approach it, noticing its surroundings and even looking underneath. Larger areas have experienced carjackings where the criminal hides under the car, then slashes at the motorist's ankle with a knife.
And look inside your car before you get inside.
Burke said that it's likely that residents of the Hethwood community will panic for a while, but he adds that it's important to remember that this was an isolated incident that happens much less frequently here than it does in larger, urban areas such as Los Angeles or Detroit.
"We should not become a paranoid society," Burke said. "We should become a cautious society."
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