Atlanta police are urging drivers to be on the lookout for scooter riders who may hit your car and pretend to be hurt — only to take off in your vehicle.
Between Monday and Wednesday, police were made aware of seven “bump-and-carjack” incidents involving scooters, Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. Jarius Daugherty said. That prompted the department to release a video from Wednesday displaying one of the crimes.
The video shows a man on a Bird scooter passing in front of a car in the 1200 block of Peachtree Street around 11 p.m. The rider then circles around the car and eventually hits it in the back. The rider falls and remains near the back of the car until a woman exits her vehicle to check on the man.
At that point, another man rushes to the car, gets in and drives away.
Police were able to find out who had leased the scooter at the time of the crime, according to the incident report, but no arrests have been made. The car was recovered Thursday evening.
Over the past month, Atlanta police have seen numerous auto thefts with a similar pattern throughout the city.
“While most accidents are truly accidents and not cause for alarm, always pay attention to the situation. If something does not feel right, call 911 and wait,” Daugherty said.
On July 8, a woman had her car stolen under similar circumstances. While she was backing up at a red light on West Peachtree Street, a man on a scooter hit his body against her car and pretended to be injured, according to another incident report.
When she got out to check on the rider, two men came up behind her and pushed her, according to the report. They jumped into her car and sped away.
The car was recovered the following day with damage to the windows, tires and doors, the report states. No arrests have been made in that case as the investigation continues.
Police emphasize that if someone bumps into your car, you should not get out and instead call 911. You may move your car into a well-lit area, but only assess the damage after police or paramedics arrive.
APD has reported a 26% increase in auto thefts since last year around this time.
Not all of the incidents have involved scooters. Others involved a group crowding around a car and kicking it until the driver steps out and a member of the group jumps into the car and takes off.
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