Posted on 11/30/23
| News Source: FOX45
A spike in carjackings, thefts and other crimes that started during the coronavirus pandemic is continuing in many parts of the country as fearful residents push their city’s leaders to do more to address the problem amid fears for their safety or discovering they lost their vehicle.
FBI data shows a noticeable and aggressive influx of car thefts in 2020, a trend that has continued to this year. Compared to before the pandemic in 2019 when there were 220.8 car thefts per 100,000 people, the rate of the incidents has continued to climb. Car thefts jumped to 246 per 100,000 people in 2020 and reached 282.7 in 2022, the most recent year in the FBI’s crime database.
Property crimes — which the FBI includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson — were also on the rise in 2022, which comes after a steady decline since 2012. There were about 1,954 property crimes per 100,000 people in 2022, an uptick from 1,832 the year prior.
The surges in property crimes comes as many parts of the country are seeing reductions in the levels of violent crimes like murders and shootings — though they are still above pre-pandemic levels — but many residents and businessowners have voiced safety concerns or frustrations with lost time, money and sense of security as some crimes continue proliferate.
The nation’s capital has struggled to get a hold of soaring carjackings and car thefts, making it one of the most dangerous places to have and drive a vehicle in the country.
Washington has had multiple high-profile incidents over the last several years that highlight the growing issue, including an FBI agent being carjacked this week, a U.S. congressman who had his vehicle taken at gunpoint by three suspects outside his apartment and an attempted carjacking last year that left Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson with gunshot wounds.
Despite the series of notable incidents, the city has struggled to get a handle on the problem. It has already surpassed 900 carjackings in 2023, a 100% increase from last year. The Metropolitan Police Department said 77% of the incidents involved guns and 66% of the 157 arrests made so far involve juvenile suspects.
City officials are set to address a crime bill later this week in an attempt to tamp down the rate of crime that has plagued Washington.
“This legislation reflects what our community is telling us: they want appropriate accountability for those who choose to commit crimes and inflict fear in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser, when announcing the legislation. “At a time when we’re dealing with historically low staffing levels at MPD, we’re making common-sense changes that recognize the day-to-day operational challenges our officers experience and that will better support safe and effective policing.”