‘Call home, then police’

He told them to have their families contact the police and inform them about their whereabouts.

This advice was offered by Snr Supt Gopiechand Ganga, head of the Northern Division, following a series of car thefts in the St Joseph and Tunapuna areas between Thursday and Friday night.

"Recently we have observed a new strategy by carjackers who wait until the driver of high-priced vehicles pulls up to his gate and leaves the key in the ignition whilst the car is running, to open the gate. The bandits jump the driver’s seat and drives away.

"What we are advising drivers to do when nearing home is contact their families. The family member in turn should contact the nearest police station or the E-999 unit and tell them what is happening and ask for a patrol.

"If there is no response from the family or police, the driver should drive around a few times until they get some response. You do not know who is watching.

"While we have patrols every night, this is not enough because some time after the bandits do their robbery, they change number plates and have false insurance papers. And unfortunately gets through some of the road blocks.

"Drivers are to use caution, especially for their own safety because sometimes these carjackers do not only rob, they commit violence."