Fake Carjacking Report Results In Arrest For 'Victim'

ALAMEDA, CA — The Alameda Police Department (APD) has arrested an individual for filing a false police report and committing insurance fraud after an investigation revealed a reported carjacking was fabricated.

At 8:30 p.m. on March 25, APD officers responded to a report of a carjacking near Doolittle Drive and Island Drive. The reporting party claimed they had been forced off the road, threatened with a weapon, and that their vehicle had been stolen by two suspects who fled the scene.

Officers conducted an extensive search of the area but found no vehicle, suspects, or evidence to support the claim. Further investigation, including a review of video footage, determined that the carjacking report was false.

The individual was subsequently arrested for filing a false report and attempting insurance fraud.

“Incidents like this, while thankfully rare in Alameda, understandably cause concern within our community,” said Police Chief Nishant Joshi. “Our officers acted swiftly and thoroughly to expose the fabrication and ensure the individual responsible is held accountable.”

According to APD, only one carjacking was reported in Alameda in all of 2024, with the stolen vehicle recovered within two hours.

This false report marks the first such case in 2025.

Meanwhile, the city continues to see a decline in crime, with a 13-percent overall reduction in 2024 and a 23-percent increase in arrests—a trend that is continuing into the new year