A late-night carjacking attempt in Brooklyn Park turned violent Sunday, but the would-be thief left without the one thing he wanted most: the car keys.
Police say the incident unfolded around 11:40 p.m. on the 7300 block of Regent Avenue North, where a man reported he was struck several times with a handgun by a suspect who then tried to steal his vehicle. The victim managed to break away and run off with his keys, cutting the crime short.
According to CBS Minnesota, officers searched the surrounding area but came up empty. The suspect was not located, and detectives are now taking over the investigation.
The Brooklyn Park Police Department is asking anyone with video or information to call dispatch or send an anonymous Tip411 report. Residents can find non-emergency contact numbers and instructions for sharing security footage on the city's police alerts and tips page.
A Broader Regional Trend
This attempted carjacking lands in the middle of a larger wave of vehicle thefts and related violence across Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Minneapolis police data shows more than 2,000 vehicles stolen so far in 2026, and newer cases increasingly involve key-programming gadgets that can fire up a car in seconds, a trend detailed by CBS Minnesota. Investigators say those tools have helped fuel fast-moving theft crews, often involving teenagers, that can escalate into robberies and carjackings.
What This Means Locally
Brooklyn Park has logged several recent armed robberies and searches tied to stolen vehicles, including a May 24 incident where suspects ditched a stolen car and vanished into nearby woods. That pattern has pushed officers to lean more on K-9 units, drones and multi-agency collaborations during pursuits.
In the wake of Sunday night's attack, detectives say they are following up on leads and are urging residents to review doorbell, security and dash-cam footage for anything suspicious. Anyone with information is asked to call Brooklyn Park dispatch at (763) 493-8222 or submit a Tip411 report through the city's police alerts page. Law enforcement also continues to recommend basic precautions such as locking vehicles and keeping key fobs out of sight to lower theft risk, guidance echoed by FOX 9.
