During 2021 and 2022, Minnesota was seeing an alarming number of carjackings, so much so that state lawmakers made changes to laws to try and get the crime spree under control. The rise in incidents made national headlines and left many residents feeling uneasy about safety in their own neighborhoods.
Carjacking incidents in the state peaked in 2021, with over 780 reported cases, according to the BCA. In 2022, the state had around 600 incidents, leaving lawmakers and law enforcement officials scrambling to get a handle on the problem. Communities, particularly in the Twin Cities, were looking for answers as victims continued to pile up.
In 2023, new carjacking legislation passed, which included stiffer penalties for offenders and redefined carjacking as a felony. Several law enforcement agencies also launched dedicated carjacking and auto theft units within police departments, focusing more resources directly on the problem.
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Stronger Laws + Community Efforts Pay Off
These efforts from officials, along with hard work from various community groups, have helped bring the numbers down a shocking amount. In 2024, there were 379 incidents, a sizable drop from previous years…