Milwaukee Police Department launches Operation Winter Guardian to curb carjacking attempts

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Carjackings in Milwaukee are up 11% as compared to the same time last year.

Now, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) has created a temporary initiative to try and curb those numbers.

It's called Operation Winter Guardian and will run from Sunday, Dec. 22 through January.

"We're sitting at 504 for the year," said MPD Inspector Paul Lough. "Winter Guardian is something we came up with as an enforcement plan."

Officials told CBS 58 carjackings can happen anywhere, any time.

"It's been kind of steady throughout the year," Lough said. “What we are doing is we are putting squads out there that can rapidly respond to the new incident of a carjacking, to- in hopes- catch immediately and apprehend the offenders and also to deter those from happening.”

The goal is to not only stop and prevent crime, but to also drive forward the importance of educating those behind the wheel to always be alert.

“If we can get the word out there to people, how to keep themselves safe, how to not target themselves or their vehicles, it’ll be a success," Lough said.

At the end of next month, MPD will reconvene to discuss the success of the operation and if it could be improved or continued.