Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office warns of increase in carjackings

Friday, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning in response to an increase in carjackings with handguns.

"In the last week, 14 carjackings have been reported to law enforcement in the East Metro area," Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said. "Many of these stolen vehicles have also been used in a series of other crimes, including street robberies and additional auto thefts. This is a serious uptick in a criminal activity that began last summer."

According to the sheriff’s office, suspects typically travel in groups of two or four in stolen vehicles. They’ll then split up when committing the carjackings, with one usually threatening the victim while another steals the victim’s car and another drives a getaway vehicle.

The sheriff’s office urged citizens to be alert to some tactics used by carjackers:

• Blocking — the suspects block the street with a second vehicle, preventing the victim from escaping.
• Bump and rob — suspects cause a minor collision to create a distraction. As the victim exits their vehicle, a suspect steals the victim’s vehicle.
• Gas pumps — suspects steal a vehicle while the victim is pumping gas, using force if necessary.
• Asking for help or other distractions — suspects ask for directions or help jump-starting their vehicle, then steal the victim’s vehicle.
• Warming up — suspects look for vehicles left unattended and running during the cold weather.

The sheriff’s office said recent trends also include the suspects asking the victims if their vehicles are trackable. If so, suspects rob the victim at gunpoint of their valuables but leave the vehicle.

Fletcher noted that some carjackings take place in broad daylight, such as one in Little Canada on Feb. 8 that happened at 2 p.m. at a busy intersection. Many also happen as vehicles are left running, including a couple recent ones where children were left inside the vehicles.

The sherrif’s office said five suspects have been arrested by law enforcement in the past two days, but additional suspects remain at large and citizens are urged to remain vigilant.

To help prevent carjackings and car thefts, the sheriff’s office urges people to:

• Stay alert and aware of surroundings while walking to and from your vehicle.
• Lock your doors and keep windows up.
• Don’t sit in your vehicle for an extended period of time.
• Don’t leave a vehicle running unattended, especially not with children inside.
• Park in secure, high-traffic, well-lit areas.
• Call 911 upon seeing anything suspicious or feeling concerned for your safety.