DC mayor blames ‘social media challenge’ for carjackings, offers free steering wheel locks for some vehicles
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced new action to tackle the city’s carjacking problem, saying the city will be handing out free steering wheel locks for select cars.
Bowser made the announcement Thursday, stating that residents of Washington, D.C. who own a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai vehicle are eligible to receive a free steering wheel lock that can be picked up at police stations across the city, as the carjackings in DC are dramatically higher than last year.
“Car theft is a serious problem – it’s incredibly stressful and often costly and time-consuming for victims, and it’s dangerous to have these stolen cars on the road,” Bowser said. “I encourage all DC residents who own a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai to pick up their free steering wheel locks as soon as possible at a district station to prevent theft. As MPD and our public safety partners work together to prevent car theft and hold accountable those who steal cars in our city is one way we work together to proactively prevent crime.”
A press release from Bowser’s office says a recent social media challenge “encourages the use of a USB cable to steal these types of cars” has led to an increase in Kia and Hyundai car thefts.
DC TEEN TRIES CARJACK ‘GRANDMA’ WITH CANCER BUT GETS A HARD REALITY CHECK: ‘YOU’RE GOING TO JAIL’
FILE – District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during a press conference November 9, 2022 in Washington. Amid rising crime rates and growing public tensions over gun violence, Bowser and the legislature are locked in a public dispute over the future of crime prevention in the nation’s capital. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
According to Washington, DC police data, carjackings are up 112% from the same time last year. So far in 2023, 1,035 carjackings have taken place, compared to 489 at this point in 2022.
More recently, a 15-year-old boy is accused of trying to hijack an elderly person who was going for chemotherapy on February 17.
APARTMENT BUILDING FIRE IN WASHINGTON DC AREA KILLS 1 AND DISPLACES MORE THAN 400 RESIDENTS
Mayor Muriel Bowser makes remarks as she and other dignitaries celebrate the opening of the new Metro Headquarters building, in Washington, DC. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The woman told WJLA that she told the teenager he was not taking his car.
“Next thing I know he walked up and said, ‘give me your keys, I’ve got a gun.’ I said, ‘baby, you better shoot me, because you’re not taking my car,’ the woman said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The attempted carjacking took place on February 17 at around 8:30 a.m. in the 22nd Street area, according to the Metropolitan Police Department, adding that the 15-year-old suspect entered the elderly person’s vehicle “demanding the keys ” of the car. According to police, the victim tried to pull the teenager out of the car while screaming for help from her family. (Google Maps)
A police report says the teenager eventually had to be taken to hospital for injuries “suffered by [the victims] family members.”
Fox News’ Lauren Blanchard contributed to this report.