PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw is responding to the sharp increase in carjackings in the city since 2020 as the department is sharing tips and warning signs to help keep residents safe.
Outlaw shared a message on the department's social media pages Wednesday night saying there was no single issue more important to her and the department than "fighting the surge of violent crime that continues to plague our city."She goes on to call the 'onslaught' of violence 'unacceptable' and says the department remains committed to slowing those trends. "One of the more disturbing trends that we have seen in Philadelphia is the startling increase in the number of carjackings – the taking of a vehicle by force or fear - that have been experienced over the past two years," Outlaw wrote.
Philadelphia police say 757 carjackings were reported in the city in 2021 - and the staggering spike has continued into 2022.
The department is now sharing safety tips, details on hotspots, and information on what victims should do.According to the post, there were 757 reported carjackings in Philadelphia in 2021 – an increase of 34% over 2020.