1. Install a trunk release in the interior of your car trunk. We have enclosed some basic directions for those of you who want to "do-it yourself." You can also have an interior trunk release installed at an auto dealer ship.
2. Locate victims of trunk entrapment incidents or their family members. We need people who can spend time finding and contacting victims or their families. It is very important that victims be made aware of our organization and understand what we are trying to accomplish.
3. Help us build our database. We need information regarding people being entrapped alive in a car trunk. "Crimes involving trunks" is not a specific category tracked by law enforcement agencies and it is very difficult to get these statistics. These crimes are filed under kidnapping, carjacking, robbery, rape, assault, etc. We would appreciate any newspaper articles, hand-written stories, or names, dates and particulars of any incident. Spend some time at your local library. Tap into the UMI newspaper index, EBSCO host, etc.. You can find incidents by performing key word searches using words such as "kidnapped," "locked-in," "trunk," "carjacking," "robbery," "trapped," etc.. The stories you locate will help us make the auto manufacturers and legislators aware of how frequently trunk entrapments happen. Accidental lock-ins by children are very important stories too. If you have access to the "Lexis/Nexis," "DataTimes," or "Dialog" databases; please search for information about people being locked in the trunk of a car.
4. Initiate a petition campaign. Obtain signatures from people who would also like to insure that inside trunk release devices are installed as standard equipment.
5. Talk to your friends, relatives, co-workers, church community, professional associations, clubs and schools about this cause. Many times people know someone that has been locked-in a car trunk and will share that story with you. It also is a great way to spread the word about what we are trying to accomplish! We can provide "ready-to-print" articles about this issue if you can get them placed in newsletters etc.
6. Make copies of the auto manufacturers’ suggestion forms and request your friends, relatives, etc. to send them in too.
7. Write to the automobile companies and express the need for an interior trunk release.
8. Write to your local and national legislators about the importance of this safety feature. Don't know your congressional representatives? Find your senators at http://www.senate.gov/ or your representative at http://www.house.gov
9. Financially contribute to TRUNC to help defray some of the expenses for mailings, copies, postage and phone calls, etc.
10. At the very minimum, keep a crowbar, pliers, wrench, flashlight, and/or screwdriver in the trunk of your car to pry open the latch or bang for help.

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