LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Several juveniles were arrested late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning in connection to a string of armed carjackings across areas of south and east Louisville, according to police.
Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said there were four "successful" armed carjackings:
- One on Newbridge Place, just off Bardstown Road in Fern Creek
- Two on Hames Trace, off South Hurstbourne Parkway in Fern Creek
- One on Brattle Court, off Shelbyville Road just east of Middletown
Several juveniles were ultimately arrested after one of the stolen cars crashed into the sign at Pleasant View Baptist Church at South 26th and West Oak streets in Louisville's Parkland neighborhood. Mitchell said along with the arrests, officers recovered several stolen cars.
Courtney Richardson lives in one of the areas hit overnight, and said it's sad because people work hard for their things.
"I mean I think if people valued their own things they have themselves or when you work hard for something yourself, you have a different value and things."
The identities of those arrested weren't released due to their ages.
Police said there have been 98 carjackings so far this year. That's down from 150 last year. In 2021, there were 248 carjackings, 212 carjackings in 2020 and 81 in 2019.
"Yeah I don't know how people do this," Richardson said. "You know, like I said — people work so hard for what you have. And just for someone to steal it, and there's nothing you can do about it."
LMPD provided four tips to help prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a carjacking:
- Park in busy, well-lit areas
- Always be aware and limit distractions such as cell phone use, make eye contact
- If someone is approaching your vehicle drive away
- Be a good witness (get detail of clothing & physical descriptors) and call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so
"We urge the public to remove firearms, purses, wallets, and keys from vehicles when parked for an extended period of time or overnight," Mitchell said in a news release Thursday. "Please ensure your vehicle is locked, even when you are pumping gas. Stolen cars/carjacked vehicles are frequently used in the commission of other serious crimes."
More Area Crime Stories:
- Louisville police still searching for several suspects of retail theft
- Man shot by Louisville police near Churchill Downs Friday facing drug charges
- Woman arrested after allegedly trying to kidnap 1-year-old at Wayside Christian Mission
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