NEW ORLEANS (Audacy) — It's a simple round disk with letters reading "Don't carjack me, kids inside."
A New Orleans mother created a series of signs to respond to the continued increase in carjackings across America, one that seems to be growing in pace. There were more than 700 carjackings in Philadelphia in 2021, with 90 carjackings alone in the first two weeks of 2022.
"A friend of mine, a neighbor, had it happen to her, so it's in a pretty close circle," said Gabriela Barnetzer, who developed the car signage.
"I see it happening with all kinds of people, people with pets, people with kids, and I just can't imagine being in that kind of situation, I find it extremely terrifying to me."
Barnetzer said she didn't intend for the signs to be a deterrent, rather a statement on the craziness of the situation in New Orleans.
"I'm not a politician. I'm not in law enforcement, I'm just a mom. I'm just a regular citizen and I don't like to sit on my hands," she said.
Related
"I figured just putting this out there is a statement. And if people are talking about it, that would be great."
Barnetzer said she didn't intend for the magnetic signs to get the kind of reaction, or demand they're not receiving:
"I originally made a few for myself and my friends," she admitted. "That was out of frustration of not being able to do anything. And then people saw them and started asking me for them."
Barnetzer said she will donate any money raised from the sale of the magnets. She said she's glad people have noticed the signs and are talking about solutions.
Related
"I wasn't trying to start a huge revolution. It was just a thing for me and friends," she said. "I'm really glad that it is getting noticed, only for the fact that it will come up with different solutions because it is so terrifying."
KYW Staff contributed to this report.
