METRO EAST, Ill. – A violent carjacking in the Metro East may be a small example of a much larger problem.
Police said the criminals may be working in groups and committing multiple crimes back-to-back.
One car owner said he never saw the bad guys coming. And for that reason, he may have literally dodged a bullet.
There's nothing wrong with the car Jacob Cochran’s driving. It’s a Dodge Journey that’s in good shape. The only problem is, it's not Jacob Cochran’s car.
“This is actually my mom's car. I'm sharing a car with her right now,” said Cochran.
In December, Jacob bought a brand-new Ford Fusion. So, why's he sharing with his mom?
“I have to drive it around now because my car got stolen,” he said.
The mid-afternoon crime was caught on a neighbor's surveillance camera last Thursday. Jacob's Fusion was taken right out of his grandfather's Granite City driveway.
“They were in and out in less than a minute,” said Cochran.
But the car's journey was only just beginning. Granite City police believe the thieves then used Jacob’s car to help carjack a Dodge Charger at gunpoint near the Granite City Walmart.
Investigators fear the crimes may be tied to groups on the Missouri side of the Mississippi. The theory is strengthened by the fact the Charger was found by St. Louis police. And Jacob’s car was dumped in Ferguson after being ransacked, trashed and crashed.
“It just makes me sick” said Cochran.
The thieves may have also struck other metro east towns. Alton police are investigating a Thursday night carjacking with similar suspects and circumstances.
The Alton Police Department installed license plate reading cameras on the Clark Bridge to help fight crimes like this. But, the department is still working with St. Louis police to get the cameras running.
Jacob Cochran says he’s just thankful nobody was hurt.
“A car can be replaced. Nobody can be replaced,” he said.
A Granite City investigator said violent crimes are up across the Metro East. That's something that has departments very concerned.
He said a number of departments are working together to catch the criminals responsible.
