Last week, everyone was talking about the latest high profile carjacking incident that involved the parents of actor/model Derek Ramsay.
The incident happened right in front of the actor’s house. The thieves took their vehicle forcibly and subsequently used the vehicle to further their carjacking activities.
I’m not the panicky type of driver but this really really scares me. These are not mere carnapping incidents anymore. They involve gun-toting thieves and they happen in broad daylight…right about the time when most of us are all driving. And they don’t choose areas anymore. They don’t strike in dark, empty allies. The incidents happen in front of houses and in parking lots.
Ever since this fresh wave of carjacking incidents I have been on guard. In the past when I would bring my kids to school, I would sit in the car while their yaya would go down with them. I would simply lock the door and wait. This was because the kids didn’t want me to go with them. It was quote, “embarassing”, to have their Mom take them to their classroom.
Now I never stay in the car until I have to. I go down with the kids even if they don’t want to be seen with their Mom. I walk until the gate and see them off and wait until there is a wave of people going to their cars. As much as possible I don’t go alone. I’d rather be caught in a little bit of foot traffic as well as vehicle traffic instead of risking the possibility of being caught off-guard by a roving carjacker because I happened to be alone.
Anyway, since I’m at it, I also started reinforcing the house. Lets face it, folks, when carjackers strike, the “akyat bahay gang” will not be far behind. I made sure that all our door locks are secure and I installed new ones as well. I’m thinking of getting a motion detector…if we can afford it.
You can never be too safe. And too paranoid.
