Carjackings on the Rise in Atlanta Neighborhood
It’s fair to say that most people expect to be able to drive their vehicles without incident. Unfortunately for residents in one Atlanta neighborhood, carjackings are on the rise, leaving everyone on edge. The East Lake neighborhood has seen multiple carjackings, but no arrests.
For some victims, the carjackings aren’t ending when the crime does. The victims are reliving the details of the crime, making it impossible to regain their sense of security and belonging. Police located one such victim’s car and returned it to the rightful owner. Police would not tell the victim where the car was located, nor did they give any indication of knowing who the criminals were.
It’s not only adults who are falling victim in the East Lake neighborhood. Recently, a 16-year-old girl was carjacked. Victims are describing a similar perpetrator in most of the crimes. Victims have described a man in dark clothing with a bandana over his face. While some victims have reported having a gun pointed at them, not all have had the same experience.
Hijacking a Motor Vehicle
Hijacking a motor vehicle in Georgia is against the law. By definition, a person hijacks (or carjacks) a motor vehicle when they use a weapon to take a vehicle from another person by force or by threat of force. When a person is arrested for and convicted of hijacking a motor vehicle, they face between 10 and 20 years in prison.
When a person is found guilty of the crime, they also face a fine of no more than $100,000. If the person has been convicted of hijacking a motor vehicle in Georgia or any other state prior to the new hijacking charge, that person faces life in prison. The person convicted of a second hijacking of a motor vehicle also faces fines that will not exceed $500,000.
Sliding Considered Hijacking
One crime that legislators are taking a closer look at is sliding. Sliding is currently looked at more leniently than hijacking, but legislators want to make it a category of the larger crime of hijacking. If lawmakers have their way, the act of sliding, or getting into someone’s car and driving off, will be on par with hijacking.
Some people may be more familiar with the crime of sliding if they read of the incident involving Queen Latifah that occurred in December. During that incident, the actress’s car was stolen from a gas station in Fulton County. Slider crimes are particularly troublesome for businesses like gas stations that want their customers to feel safe.
If you have been arrested for a crime in the city of Atlanta and need an experienced attorney, reach out to our team today. We will review the details of your case during a free consultation and advise you of your legal options. You are not alone in this fight for your reputation, your rights and your freedom.