Police have warned drivers of "two new tricks" criminals are using in a spate of recent robberies and carjackings.
The Oakland Police Department issued a statement on Wednesday after a number of crimes are being committed in the area at all times of the day.
Cops revealed some thieves are intentionally ramming their vehicles into people's car “in hopes of getting the victim to stop."
Carjackers then use their cars to block a victim's vehicle in order to stop them from being able to drive off.
Armed robbers attempt to steal the victims of their possessions including their wallet, phones or even their car during the planned getaway.
The department are “closely tracking this current trend” and collecting "descriptions of those responsible and their vehicles".
Police have advised people to keep their car doors locked and windows rolled up if they are ever in a collision with another vehicle.
And if motorists are feeling like they're being followed by another car, they should drive to a police station or a well-lit area and call the cops.
Oakland has seen an increase in carjackings over the past five years, according to police data.
Last year there were 536 carjackings last year, compared with 529 in 2021 and 303 in 2020.
There were only 203 reported in 2019 and 176 in 2018.
The recent increase in crimes comes after a drive-by shooting on Thursday evening killed a 12-year-old girl and left an 18-year-old in a serious condition.
Secret Pierce was sitting in a parked car in Hartford, Connecticut, US when she was shot in the head.
The victim was tragically caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting and was rushed to hospital but tragically died just hours later from her injuries.
Her grandad Rev Sam Saylor spent the night at the hospital with the family praying she would pull through as he admitted "it was more crying than talking".
Medics worked through the night to try and save the 12-year-old but the family was told the young girl would not "return from the damage that had been done to her brain", according to her grandad.
Mr Saylor revealed the family is "broken" after Secret was caught up in the middle of a crossfire.
He added: "There's just thoughts of loss.. Thoughts of frustration. Just anger and bewilderment. We're broken."
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said the local community is "deeply sorry" to hear the news of the Secret's death.
He said: "This is a painful day in our community. I don’t have the words I want to say to Secret’s mom and loved ones … that we are all so deeply sorry. That we are with them today in grief, in prayer and with love.”
