MPD: 3 carjackings, 3 more attempts reported in just over 90 minutes Monday

Police in Minneapolis say six carjacking attempts — three of which resulted in stolen vehicles — were reported in just over 90 minutes Monday night.

As of late last week, carjackings were up 38% this year in Minneapolis, according to the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee. That’s before six more were reported in a span of five hours Friday night and a total of 16 over the weekend.

Monday night’s carjackings were reported in relatively close proximity to one another. Two attempts — one of which was successful — were in the Tangletown neighborhood; two carjackings were near West Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue; one robbery and attempted carjacking was near West 38th Street and Pillsbury Avenue; one attempt was on the 4800 block of Upton Avenue South, near Lake Harriet.

The first carjacking — in the 1400 block of Lake Street West — was at 6:14 p.m. with the last coming in the 1500 block of Lake Street West at 7:48 p.m. Three of the attempts reported suspects in a black SUV, the other three didn’t list a vehicle description.

MPD said investigators are looking into the cases and will consider any potential links.

Inspector Katie Blackwell with MPD says these cases can often be a challenge to investigate.

"They happen so quickly and they are so mobile, and they are jumping from one side of the city to the other side of the city. That’s the challenge of going after these types of cases," she said.

Blackwell also says suspects are looking for victims who are distracted, either on their phones or getting something in or out of the trunk.

"Sometimes the suspects work in groups and try and distract the victims, they might walk up to you and ask you a question while other members in the group work to steal your vehicle," Blackwell said.

Blackwell said there have been 25 car jacking in Minneapolis since Friday.