An expert in crime prevention and reduction told Fox News Digital that the recent rash of urban organized street takeovers leaves residents in fear, and feeling like authorities don’t have control over the streets they are supposed to protect. 

“Whether you’re having dinner or studying or getting ready to go to bed, they’re loud. They’re disorganized. They’re not good for the neighborhood or the city,” said John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Peter Moskos. “And it also gives the perception, rooted in reality in this case, that nobody’s in control.”

Over the past few weeks, there have been at least nine such high-profile incidents across the country. 

Tesla in Chicago show trying to escape a mob attack after a street takeover Oct. 13, 2023. (@jeremytrigg_ / AUTO OVERLOAD /TMX)

“Charge them for going through the red lights, charge them for endangering motorists — go after these people because unless you do that, it’s not going to stop and someone is going to get hurt, and someone’s going to get killed,” Polensek told the news outlet. 

In Cincinnati, 17 cars were involved in an early August street takeover. Four vehicles were impounded stemming from that incident. 

All in all, the crackdowns will have to continue until street takeover ringleaders and participants are totally deterred.

“You can’t just say one and done and say, look, we arrested 100 people, therefore it’s a success. No, in a way, you arrested 100 people, [and] that was a failure,” said Moskos. “It might be the path toward success, but you just have to keep it up till people change their behavior. I mean the thing about policing is it is a verb, and it’s not always done by police. But you’re trying to police behavior and it can be done.”