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Woman’s luxury SUV taken in carjacking inside her own St. Charles Co. garage

While inside the garage, the victims said two armed men demanded their cash, cards and keys to the car.
Credit: St. Charles County Police Department

Two women said armed men took their luxury SUV right inside the driver’s home garage, St. Charles County Police reported.

Officers responded to the report of a carjacking at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday in the River Bend Estates subdivision.

The women said they noticed a car following them. The driver pulled into her home garage and noticed the other vehicle parked in a neighboring driveway. While inside, the women said two armed men demanded their cash, cards and keys to the car.

No one was hurt.

READ MORE: There’s been over 200 carjackings in the City of St. Louis this year

The men were described as being about 5’7” to 5’9” tall and weighing 130 to 150 pounds. They were last seen wearing black and gray hoodies. The women said the vehicle that followed them was a small, silver passenger car.

The car was found near Delmar and Skinker. No arrests have been made.

Sandie Staszcuk lives nearby. She thought her neighborhood was safe, but this recent crime made her wonder if any neighborhood is.

“If someone can drive a vehicle and follow you, it doesn't matter what neighborhood you’re in,” Staszuck said.

5 On Your Side reached out to Mike Barbieri, a personal security expert with Global Intelligence Consultants. He said, drive to the nearest police station and call 911 if you ever think you’re being followed.

Also, when you are coming home, do not open your garage door from down the street. It gives criminals time to get in, hide in there, and wait for you.

And, if you are parked on the street or in a parking lot, do not unlock your car door from afar. It sends a signal to criminals that your door is open.

Finally, do not sit in your car and get tied up with distractions. Instead, get in, lock the door and drive away.

“They're not aware and someone comes up, taps on the window, taps a gun on the window,” Barbieri said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Charles County Police Department at (636) 949-3002.

This is the latest in a string of carjackings across the St. Louis metro area.

On Tuesday morning, a man was shot in the neck in an attempted carjacking near the Forest Park Golf Course.

Late Sunday night, four people were carjacked over the course of an hour in north St. Louis County.

And over the course of a week, two carjackings happened a block away in Dogtown.

Preventing carjackings

5 On Your Side reached out to Mike Barbieri, a personal security expert with Global Intelligence Consultants, for some tips on how to avoid being carjacked.

Carjacking safety: Getting home

Carjacking safety: Being followed

Carjacking safety: Locking and unlocking your car

Carjacking safety: Getting out of your car

Carjacking safety: Parking safety

Before You Leave, Check This Out