A recent carjacking, plus an attempted vehicle theft and fatal shooting, are reminding residents that Webster Groves, despite being a bedroom community, is not immune to violent crime.

At personal safety education and crime prevention classes the city is hosting, the Webster Groves Police Department is outlining precautions individuals should take to avoid being victims.

Compared with national statistics, which tally 1.7 murders, 40 robberies, 92 assaults and 257 burglaries an hour, Webster’s crime statistics fare vastly better.

But with one murder, three robberies, 22 assaults, 35 burglaries, 81 vehicle thefts and 124 thefts (about 70 of which were from vehicles or vehicle equipment) in Webster last year, residents are being reminded not to drop their guard.

“Here in Webster Groves, we’re a bedroom community, so we don’t suffer those national statistics. It’s much quieter, but obviously we do have some incidents and people do need to be aware,” said Webster Police Chief Dale Curtis.

When it comes to preventing vehicle thefts, Curtis said the most effective precautions are some of the most basic: Lock car doors and windows (even when parked in your own driveway or garage), don’t leave running vehicles unattended and don’t leave valuable items in sight — preferably not in the vehicle at all. 

“The majority of vehicle thefts that we have here are from vehicles that are unlocked and some even have the keys in them,” Curtis said.

He also encourages drivers to keep a record of their vehicle identification number (VIN) in the event of a theft for better reporting and tracking.

In August, the police department responded to a common, but rare-for-this-area scenario — a “bump-and-rob,” in which a vehicle driving on South Elm Avenue was struck from behind and three masked individuals, one of them armed, exited their vehicle and stole the driver’s vehicle.

“One common carjacking strategy, and the one that happened here, is to bump your car from behind to make a minor fender bender appear like an accident,” Curtis said. “The carjacking occurs when the driver gets out to assess the damage.”

Carjackers have also been known to stage other types of accidents to take advantage of good Samaritans —sometimes flashing their hazard lights to signal a maintenance problem to lure potential victims. 

Additionally, they look for self-serve gas stations, desolate intersections with stop lights, parking garages, residential driveways and highway exit ramps for potential opportunities.

Last weekend, an attempted vehicle theft by two teenagers outside of Hotshots Bar & Grill in the Yorkshire Village Shopping Center resulted in a fatal shooting. The owner of the vehicle shot and killed one of the teenagers who was trying to break into his car on the night of Oct. 27. Police said the teen charged at him, and he fired in self defense.

To prevent carjacking, Curtis advises drivers to park in well-lit areas, be hyper aware of their surroundings, equip their car with an anti-theft device, lock doors while driving and, most important, don’t stop for apparently stranded strangers along the road.

“Instead, note their location and pull over in a safe place once you’ve passed to call for help,” the chief said. “Be aware of fake accidents. If you’re suspicious, drive to the nearest police station if possible, or the nearest populated area and call 911.

“In the event you are confronted with a weapon, do not resist,” Curtis added. “Instead, try to note as many physical characteristics of the carjacker as possible so you can provide a detailed report when you call the police. Property can be replaced. Your life is worth more than the property is.”

To prevent property crimes at home, Curtis encourages residents to keep everything locked, make sure exterior doors — including garages — are closed and locked, and consider a home alarm or, at very least, a sign noting there is one.

Residents should also avoid listing their names on their mailbox. Criminals can use this to find information about valuables in the home, according to the chief.

To that end, Curtis says, avoid posting information about vacation plans on social media — a common practice, as for four out of 10 homeowners between the ages of 18 and 34 post vacation information on their social media accounts. This, Curtis said, is a siren call for thieves that a home is open for business.

Finally, report all crime or suspicious activity immediately. Residents should call the police department’s general number at 314-645-3000, or 9-1-1 for anything that appears to be an emergency.