There were six carjackings in Oakland over a three-day span this week, adding to a tally that has seen numbers more than double so far this year.
Police are warning drivers to be on guard.
There were 200 carjackings in Oakland this year versus just 93 in the same time frame last year, a substantial increase even after considering that many people weren’t supposed to be on the road during the first five months of 2020.
"It’s an alarming increase, and that’s what we want to make sure our residents and visitors are aware of,” Oakland Police Spokesman Paul Chambers said.
The robberies are happening at traffic lights and stop signs, with some criminals even intentionally causing collisions.
"There’s only so much you can do. We don’t want you to put up some type of argument or fight with the person," Chambers said. "Give them your vehicle, but also try to get a good description. Also if you can, you want to park in well-lit areas, have your key accessible before you go to your car."
"If there’s a situation where you actually have gotten into an accident, you want to pull into a well lit area like a gas station or business if possible. Do not get out of your vehicle if you don’t feel safe and definitely call 911," he added.
The dramatic rise in carjackings comes as the police officers union launched a series of paid ads urging the city council to hire more officers and not cut the budget to stem the spike in crime.
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