While car thefts are down across the city of Milwaukee, the number of those having their car taken by force is increasing so far in 2023.Milwaukee police released crime data for the third quarter of 2023 on Tuesday.A total of 343 people have been carjacked so far in 2023, up 36% over 2021 and 8% over 2022. Car thefts have been dropping, 4,532 cars have been stolen, down 43% from 2021 and 29 percent from 2022.”We are seeing various crews, unfortunately, as we take one crew off, another one pops up because of the unfortunate ease of carjackings,” said Milwaukee police Chief Jeffrey Norman. “We have to be aware of our surroundings.”When asked, Norman said the data isn’t conclusive if the groups who steal cars are the same as those who are involved in carjackings. “The intel is not there, the unfortunate thing is that we see so many different varieties of who is involved,” he said. “I would say that we do still see that as a trend amongst our young adults.”Police also highlighted the dropping number of serious crimes. 23% fewer homicides have been reported in 2023 over last year. The city has seen an 18% drop in arson, a 12% drop in theft and a 17% decrease in property crimes.Shootings, however, remain virtually unchanged. 4% higher in 2023 than in 2022, and virtually the same at this point in 2021.”Guns, particularly guns at the hands of people who should not have them in the first place, they present real challenges to the overall safety in our city,” said Mayor Cavalier Johnson. He pushed for state lawmakers to better address tougher penalties for gun crimes in Wisconsin.”Can we make sure there is more responsibility for them to make sure their guns are actually locked, they cannot be used in the event that they are stolen?” he said of legal gun owners. “For the people who actually do commit the crime, who commit the crime of breaking into a car and stealing the gun with the intent to use it for harm in our neighborhoods, including shooting and killing kids, there should be increased penalties for those folks as well.The number of human trafficking reported in Milwaukee increased more than any other crime. Twenty-five human trafficking cases have been caught so far in 2023, more than double in 2021 and 32% more than last year.”While it has a troubling number to see it increase, I like to look at it from a more optimistic view of saying that we are building some type of connection with our community, with our partners, and we’re making traction of having those who are being hurt or harmed, that we’re able to do something for them,” Norman said.