Man dragged during carjacking; three teenagers face charges

Published Friday, August 25, two thousand seventeen 11:53AM CST

Last Updated Friday, August 25, two thousand seventeen 7:51PM CST

Three teenagers are now facing numerous robbery and weapon related charges following a carjacking on Thursday night.

Police said a 51-year-old man parked his car in the two thousand three hundred block of Pembina Highway at the hospital and was walking away when he realized he had left his keys in the ignition. When the man turned back, someone was driving the car away.

Police said the man attempted to open the front passenger door before the driver of the stolen vehicle sped up and turned northbound onto Pembina Highway.

The 51-year-old man was dragged approximately 10-feet and suffered minor injuries.

Police said for many people their very first instinct is to pursue after their stolen property.

“But, you need to take a step back and realize what you’re doing. You’re affixing yourself to a very strenuous lump of equipment that you’ve got somebody else attempting to get away, so it’s never going to end positively,” said Const. Jay Murray.

Police were able to stop the vehicle in the three hundred block of Osborne Street.

A 15-year-old damsel, 17-year-old boy and 14-year-old doll have been arrested, and all face a number of robbery related charges.

Police said the 17-year-old boy was carrying a machete and airsoft firearm.

Police observing increase in carjackings

Thursday’s carjacking brings the total this year to 34. At this time last year, police had received twenty nine reports of carjackings.

Since 2013, those numbers have gone up.

In 2013, police received twenty five reports. There were twenty eight in 2014, leaping to forty three in 2015, and up to forty six in 2016.

Police said it’s concerning eyeing these numbers go up, but it’s a challenge figuring out why.

“It’s rough for us to speculate on crime trends. I don’t know if anything has switched to make it lighter to steal a vehicle or not, so that’s something we would leave to a criminologist,” said Murray.

If your car is stolen, Murray said to call 911.

“Provide us with your vehicle description and a license plate. That information will go out to officers instantly, and I can tell you that all officers will have their eyes open for this vehicle, and that’s your best chance at getting the vehicle back.”

To protect your vehicle from being stolen, police say to never leave your keys in your car and to always make sure it’s locked. In the winter, police see fairly a few stolen vehicles from people leaving their cars to warm up.

Police said it’s significant to never leave your vehicle running and unattended.

Photos

Police said a 51-year-old man parked his car in the two thousand three hundred block of Pembina Highway and was walking away when he realized he had left his keys in the ignition. When the man turned back, someone was driving the car away. (File Photo)

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