rape van

rape van (plural rape vans)

1. (slang, vulgar) A vehicle with a large interior body having no windows or blocked windows, such that it would be easy to lure or force a person inside and thereafter conceal their presence in the vehicle in order to commit a sexual assault against them.
   • 1997, Wendy Kaminer, True Love Waits: Essays and Criticism, page 133:

     It would be difficult even to raise questions about the accuracy of the rape van story, however, in the highly emotional atmosphere of a slide show; you'd be accused of "not believing the women."

   • 2008, Anthony Swofford, Exit A: A Novel, page 14:

     There were no abductions, no girls lured into rape vans with promises of modeling careers or screen time, no burglaries in the parking lot.

   • 2010, Eric Smith, Textual Healing, page 183:

     ...if you want to teach younger kids a lesson, then teach them not to talk to strangers, how to cross the street, not to take candy or puppies out of scary looking rape vans... things of that nature.

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:rape van.