MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — The Ramsey County Sherrif's Office is warning that "bump and rob carjackings" are becoming more common in the Twin Cities Metro.
After a fender bender in Maplewood on Wednesday night, four people exited their vehicle and approached the driver of the car they had bumped into.
One of them pointed a gun at the driver who was hit and then the group drove off with his vehicle.
It happened close to Edgerton Elementary School near a busy intersection.
"They were surrounded by four males who got out of another car and robbed the occupant at gunpoint and took that person's vehicle as well," said Mike Martin, the undersheriff of regional services for RCSO, in a statement.
Martin said there have been about a dozen cases like this in the Twin Cities Metro.
"We're starting to see an increase in incidents like this," said Martin. "And it's something that we're very concerned about.”
A day later, officers spotted the stolen car.
This time, six juveniles inside the vehicle tried to get evade the authorities but crashed, and most of the group tried to run.
According to officers, all six of the suspects were taken into custody and no one was seriously injured.
"There's no car, there's no purse or wallet, or cell phone, that's worth risking your life," said Martin. "So if you end up in the situation, just comply with whatever they're trying to get you to do and call 911 as soon as you can."
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