PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia law enforcement leaders, investigators and federal officials were expected to announce major developments Tuesday in the effort to crack down on carjackings in the city, which are on course for a record pace this year.
In 2021, 840 carjackings happened in Philadelphia -- more than double the number in 2020 and almost four times as many as in 2019.
This year, already 192 carjackings have been reported, with the city on track for another 50% increase over 2021.
Related
Other cities have seen similar increases.
However, authorities here believe they may have cracked a local operation responsible for several of the carjackings, including a deadly one in Northeast Philadelphia on Feb. 7 in which George Briscella, 60, was shot to death while visiting his mother.
Related
They believe a Feb. 12 homicide in Eastwick is also related.
More details were expected in a news conference Tuesday morning including Mayor Jim Kenney, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, District Attorney Larry Krasner, the U.S. Attorney, the FBI and ATF.
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson had previously scheduled a virtual town hall for Tuesday evening, with Outlaw because, he said, carjackings have unsettled his constituents.
Related
"Nobody feels safe right now in the city of Philadelphia. The average citizen can’t even drive down the street without fear of somebody taking their car. I don’t even let my wife go to the gas station and we shouldn’t have to feel this way," said Johnson.
"My constituents feel like there’s a sense of lawlessness when it comes to public safety around the issue of carjackings. The bad guys just feel like they can do whatever they want without being held accountable."
KYW Newsradio Crime and Justice Reporter Kristen Johanson will be covering the news conference with city and federal officials at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Stay tuned to KYW Newsradio for more on this developing story.
The town hall will be open to anyone in the city to join. The call will be open to the first 500 people to dial in. Organizers will take questions through the chat feature, and any question that isn’t answered during the town hall can be sent directly to johnson’s office and will get a response. Only questions about carjackings will be taken.
