All this week on WCCO Radio, we are taking a look at 2023 and the stories that made the news.
In Minneapolis for all of 2023 one car was stolen every hour, leading law enforcement to try some new tactics.
Although thefts happen all over the metro, Minneapolis' numbers continue to surpass prior years, even as other cities like St. Paul have seen a 41 percent decrease.
Police believe many of the crimes are being carried out by minors.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara called for deeper solutions after the deaths of some of the children committing these crimes.
"A 12-year old boy was shot two different times in one of these vehicles and in between was running from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office," explained O'Hara. "Fleeing them in one of these stolen cars."
In response, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has introduced a pilot program aimed at kids involved in crime, which has seen children as young as seven being referred into the program.
“We cannot ignore early warning signs that a child is headed down the wrong path,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Youth stealing cars and driving dangerously puts lives at risk and is unacceptable. But what we adults have been doing is not enough. This initiative gets the system and community working together to help kids and families who are at risk, and to intervene early before a kid hurts themselves or someone else.”
Police still argue that young criminals need to be held responsible as the total car thefts this year have surpassed 6,000.
SEE MORE: Part One of our year in review on the DFL trifecta and the legislative session here, the legalization of marijuana here, and the Twins breaking their playoff curse here.