‘Grand Theft Auto’ blamed for recent surge in carjackings in Chicago; gaming experts object

Jagoda chats with creative partner Ashlyn Sparrow, of the Weston Game Lab, at the University of Chicago. — Chicago Tribune/TNS

CHICAGO: Wait, did you feel that shift in the pop culture universe in the last week?

It was last Monday, when Illinois Democratic state Rep. Marcus Evans (33rd) spoke out at a news conference citing video games as contributing to the carjacking surge in Chicago. In January, 218 vehicular hijackings were reported in Chicago. A total of 1,415 carjackings were reported in 2020 – the highest number since 2001, according to a Tribune review of police information.