Another juvenile carjacking in Baltimore raises questions about new intervention efforts

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Another reported juvenile carjacking in Baltimore City is raising questions about how Maryland is addressing repeat juvenile offenders, nearly a month after Governor Wes Moore directed the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) to expand intervention efforts targeting youth auto thefts.

The latest incident happened Wednesday evening along Harford Road, where Baltimore police say a man was pumping gas when two suspects, claiming to be armed, stole his vehicle.

About an hour later, officers spotted the stolen car, but police say the driver refused to stop, leading to a pursuit that ended in a crash.

Police arrested the 15-year-old driver, who they say already had eight prior arrests, including for auto theft and first-degree assault.

“When there is arrest after arrest after arrest, and these kids are let out with an ankle monitor on home detention, or sometimes not even that. It’s going to keep happening again and again and again,” said Sgt. Betsy Smith, a spokesperson for the National Police Association.

The incident comes amid ongoing concerns about juvenile crime in Baltimore, including a September crash involving a 12-year-old accused of causing the death of a 69-year-old motorcyclist while driving a stolen vehicle.

Under Maryland law, the 12-year-old cannot face criminal charges in that case because of restrictions on prosecuting children under 13.

In October, Governor Moore directed DJS to develop an intervention program targeting youth motor vehicle thefts, including children too young to face criminal charges.

But nearly a month later, questions remain about what specific changes have been implemented.

Over the past two weeks, FOX45 News has repeatedly contacted DJS requesting data on juvenile auto thefts, repeat offenders and details about the intervention program ordered by the governor.

So far, the agency has not provided specific information about new measures being taken, how the program will operate or how its effectiveness will be measured.

“Things in government always work rather slowly, so we could be positive and think that they are really doing a lot of research bringing in various partners and stakeholders,” Smith said. “But the reality of it is that this is not particularly difficult to figure out.”

Smith argues that without meaningful consequences for repeat offenders, intervention efforts alone will not be enough to break the cycle of crime.

“Look, it’s not working, and I think that we are going to see a continued uptick in these kinds of crimes if the state of Maryland doesn’t do something different,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, during a recent consent decree hearing, it was mentioned that the Baltimore Police Department and DJS were expected to meet last week to discuss the intervention program.

FOX45 has since reached out to both agencies multiple times, but neither has confirmed whether that meeting took place.

For now, questions remain about what progress has been made on the governor’s directive as another juvenile carjacking adds to concerns about repeat offenders in Baltimore City.