LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police said violent crime and property crime is down in the Highlands, but car thefts are still common.

Police encourage people to lock their cars and never leave anything visible inside.

LMPD has also increased patrols around a popular stretch of bars on Baxter Avenue and Bardstown Road after numerous shootings over the past few years. In August, two men were killed and another was injured in a shooting.

LMPD Resource Officer John Keeling said the new ordinance to take cars related to street racing has helped. Just in 2024, 59 cars have been cited or seized.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg suggested "crushing" confiscated vehicles to deter street takeovers, but Keeling said that could be harder to achieve.

"That's going to be difficult to get done," Keeling said. "A lot of these guys, they're expensive cars, they're putting a lot of money in and they owe a lot money on them. They got liens on them. So that's going to be difficult. I don't know the legal aspects of that but you got to give them credit for trying."

LMPD chief Paul Humphrey said he thinks it will take new legislation to crush confiscated vehicles to deter street takeovers. 

Since 2022, LMPD said it's seized more than 120 cars. 

Keeling also urged business owners and neighbors near Bardstown Road to call police when they see something. The Fifth Division officer said it takes a community effort to combat crime.

Earlier this month, LMPD released data reporting that homicides are up 6.8% year over year, but non-fatal shootings are down 9.7%, and robberies are down 36%. However, the robbery numbers don't include carjackings, LMPD said, of which there have been 70 in 2024.

Anyone with information about crimes are asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online through the LMPD Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

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