Claim:   Parking lot carjackers are placing flyers on the rear windshields of automobiles, then taking the cars when drivers step out of their vehicles to remove the flyers.

Status:   False.

Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 2004]

Imagine: You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift into REVERSE. Habit! You look into the rear-view window to back out of your parking space and you notice a piece of paper, some sort of advertisement stuck to your rear window. So, you shift into PARK, unlock your doors and jump out of your vehicle to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view . . . when you reach the back of your car, that is when the car-jackers jump out of nowhere . . . jump into your car and take off — your engine was running, your purse is in the car, and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. BE AWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME Just drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later . . . and be thankful that you read this email and that you forwarded it to your friends.

Origins:   This alert has been kicked from inbox to inbox since February 2004. Although we classified it as Undetermined in our initial write-up just after the warning appeared (because at that early stage not enough was then known about it), we've now moved this alert squarely into the False category.

Since February 2004 we have been watching the news most carefully for any sign of an actual carjacking — either perpetrated or merely attempted — that followed the script outlined in the widely-spread e-mailed caution. We have yet to see evidence of so much as one. Were this "lure motorists from their vehicles by leaving flyers on their cars' rear windows, then drive off with their buggies" method in play, that surely would not have been the case.

Nothing rules out there having been one car theft carried out in the manner described that we have yet to hear about. But even if that proves to be the case, there is clearly no crime wave, no ever-present danger to motorists everywhere, no flyer-armed menace lurking in the nation's parking lots.

We generally try to apply five points in evaluating warnings about possible criminal schemes or activities:

1) Is the phenomenon outlined in the warning technically possible as described?

2) Is the phenomenon outlined in the warning plausible? (That is, some criminal schemes are technically possible, but they're too difficult, cumbersome, or expensive to plausibly enact on anything more than a very limited basis.)

3) Are there any verifiable instances of people having been victimized in the manner described by the warning?

4) Is there evidence that the criminal activity described in the warning is widespread?

5) Is the criminal activity described in the warning something the average person might fall victim to?

Tackling these points in order, we find:

1) This is a decidedly "low-tech" scheme for stealing cars, so it's certainly possible this method could be used to steal cars (although, as we discuss below, it may be a rather implausible scheme in execution).

2) Our law enforcement contacts noted that although the process described above could be used by carjackers, they were unfamiliar with any cases of cars being stolen in this manner, and the scheme outlined ran contrary to their experience of how carjackers operate. Specifically, they said that carjackings are generally crimes of opportunity, committed by persons in need of quick cash or youngsters either out for a thrill or participating in some rite of passage (such as a gang initiation). Carjackers tend to hang around places where motorists have to stop or exit their vehicles (e.g., intersections, gas stations, car washes, ATMs, freeway on- and off-ramps) and then force the drivers out of their automobiles (or simply take off with the temporarily unoccupied cars). Running around parking lots sticking flyers on windshields and then hanging around to wait for drivers to return to their vehicles involves planning and exposure atypical of most carjackers; they're more likely to approach occupied vehicles (particularly luxury cars with high resale value) and force the drivers out (by threatening them with weapons and/or physically pulling them out of their seats).

They acknowledged, however, that as improvements in car alarms, locking devices, and other anti-theft systems have made it harder to steal unoccupied vehicles, car thieves (i.e., those who boost vehicles on a regular basis, mostly without the use of violence or weaponry) may be resorting to alternative methods such as the one described above. (Many cars lack rear windshield wipers under which flyers could be placed, but the flyers might be affixed with some type of adhesive instead.)

But one aspect of this scheme sounds somewhat implausible: Drivers usually have to back up to leave a parking space in situations where they've parked head-in, and people who have parked head-in are generally approaching their cars from the rear when they return. So, a flyer posted on a rear window is quite likely to be discovered and removed by the returning driver before he enters his car.

3) We haven't yet found any news reports of cars being jacked in the manner reported above, nor any law enforcement officials who had heard of it other than though the e-mail. It's possible, though, that if this were truly a new scheme, the detail about a flyer on the windshield might not have been reported because the victim (and police) didn't realize it was an element of the carjacking.

4) Since we haven't yet documented any occurrences of the activity described in this warning, we can't confirm that it is a widespread activity.

5) If this scheme were actually employed by carjackers (or car thieves), it's certainly something the average person might fall victim to.

The alert has gained a measure of credibility thanks to it having been forwarded by members of the law enforcement community. Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Terry Granell received the warning via the usual method (a friend e-mailed it to him), thought it something he should pass along to his daughters, and so unthinkingly volleyed it to them from his work account, which automatically appended his official signature block to the mailing. Taking their dad's e-mail for an official announcement from the Illinois State Police about a mode of crime that agency was dealing with, the alarmed girls passed along the heads up about leaflet-armed carjackers to their friends, who in turn loosed it upon a wider audience. As it sped from one inbox to the next, the alert was presumed authentic because it carried the contact information for a real police officer.

Yet appearances to the contrary, Sgt. Granell's e-mail wasn't an official statement made on behalf of the Illinois State Police about a form of crime it had noted and wanted the public to guard itself against, it was merely the passing along of a dubious e-mail by a private citizen who just happened to be a police officer.

Later versions of this e-mail identified Sgt. Granell as being a member of the Louisiana State Patrol or Louisiana State Police.

One of the many versions in circulation commences:

Detective Bledsoe, of the Florissant, MO Sheriff's office confirms that this is happening in St. Louis County, Missouri and could be happening near you, so be careful and take note. Leutenant Tony Bartholome of the Missouiri Highway Patrol urges everyone to keep this email circulating — the more people who are aware of this MO, the better. Description of new carjacking scheme:

The Florissant (Missouri) Police Department has posted this denial on its web site:

ERRONEOUS E-MAIL CAUSES ALARM IN CITY OF FLORISSANT

Chief William Karabas of the Florissant Police Department wants to make the public aware of an erroneous e-mail circulating in reference to auto thefts, specifically 'car jacking' incidents in the City of Florissant.

"I want to put an end to this rumor. The City of Florissant has not had any incidents of this nature!", said Chief Karabas. In fact, the e-mail makes reference to many false claims. Chief Karabas stated, "Some of the points include, referring to the Florissant Police Department as a Sheriffs Department, which we are not, we DO NOT have a Detective Bledsoe, there is NO State Trooper named Bartholome, there is NO Missouri Neighborhood Watch Association, there is NO such address (1456 Washington Ave) in Florissant and the telephone number given on the e-mail is NOT IN SERVICE!"

Again, there is NO validity to this e-mail. It is FALSE. We ask that people be informed and get the correct information. One way to check e-mails for validity is to call your police department or go on-line to check ‘Urban Legends’ at www.snopes.com

Detective Bledsoe of the infamous warning notoriety is an actual police officer, but he serves with the Montgomery County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, not the Florissant Police Department. (Montgomery County is just north of Houston.) He came to have this Internet can tied to his tail after receiving the "carjackers using flyers to lure victims from their vehicles" warning in his e-mail in February 2005 and sending it to some friends as an example of what possibly could happen, not realizing that his official signature block would be automatically appended to his forward. He has no personal knowledge of carjackings being carried out by this method, he has not been party to any such investigations, nor was his e-mail meant as an official alert on behalf of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Since February 2005, Det. Bledsoe has fielded more than 300 phone calls about the warning many presume he authored, with inquiries coming in from all over the country.

There is a Lt. Tony Bartolome, but he's with the Florida Highway Patrol, not Missouri's. His involvement with the e-mail began in 2004. As Lt. Bartolome states on the FHP web site: "I got that information four and half years ago from the San Diego police. I passed it on to a couple of friends. I wish I'd never sent it."

San Diego police Sergeant Jim Shorr said he's seen the message on the Internet, but to his knowledge San Diego hasn't had any cases like it. "It was attributed to us," he said. "But I don't know where it came from."

Additional information:  

Carjack Prevention Tips   (Arlington Virginia Police Department)

Last updated:   9 October 2007

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  Sources:

    Ickes, Barb.   "State Trooper’s E-mail Creates Internet Stir."

    Quad-City Times.   20 November 2004.