Status: Theoretically could happen (though there's no solid evidence it ever has)
You may have received this email warning recently:
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 no where ... 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 your read this email and that you forwarded it to your friends.
I got it and dismissed it as a hoax, given its similarity to the false warning about
people trying to sell perfume in parking lots. (They supposedly get you to sniff the perfume which is really ether and knocks you out.) But
an article in the Mercury News notes that it might be worth paying attention to the paper-on-the-rear-window warning. They interview a California Highway Patrol officer who says:
I have heard of this a few times, and it is true. What makes it popular among car thieves is that it's non-confrontational (no gun or threat needed) which equals a lesser fine or sentence if they're caught. And it's a lot easier than traditional methods. Your readers should definitely heed this advice to drive away.
David Emery notes that the warning might be a bit overblown, but also cautions that:
"Much more important than worrying about whether or not to remove a piece of paper stuck to your windshield, therefore — in any situation where you might be vulnerable to a carjacking — is being aware of your surroundings and taking note of who may be lurking nearby as you enter or exit your automobile."
Comments
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/carjack.asp
If, as Mike the CHP man says, it's actually happened and is even a "popular" technique among car theives, then why are there NO news stories of any such incidents and no official police department pronouncements on the subject other than denials?
As described above, you would be approaching your car from the rear, and so would probably notice anything stuck to the rear window as you walked towards it.
Anyway, the basic advice seems sound. If you're in this situation where you notice a piece of paper stuck on your rear window, maybe it wouldn't be such a great idea to assume that no carjackings ever happen this way, and so get out of your car to remove it. Though the odds are that you're never going to find a piece of paper stuck to your rear window.
It's not, so I think the e-mail should be labelled hoax (or hoax warning or whatever the category is).
Since there are no examples of a car-jacking happening in this manner, it's equally probable.
The important thing, as has been mentioned, is just to be aware of what's going on around you. Before you go leaving your car with the engine running, look to see that there isn't likely to be somebody lurking. That's good advice even if you're just walking up to your car, or walking down the sidewalk.
For about 2 months afterwards, the woman who sent it round the office had pieces of paper on her car's rear window every single night when she went home.
Be careful and cautious--don't spread hyped-up e-mails that are fraudulent.