BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Baltimore is seeing an increase in car break-ins this year, with new police data showing thefts from vehicles are up 19% compared to the same time last year.
For some residents, the problem has become all too familiar. Travis Hedgepath says his car was broken into twice within the span of just one week.
“Honestly, just anger. It’s just so frustrating,” Hedgepath said.
After the first break-in, Hedgepath said he paid several hundred dollars to replace his smashed window. The thief also got away with about $100 in cash.
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“We got it fixed day after, had to pay a couple hundred dollars for that,” Hedgepath said, “Then a week later, we wake up, we noticed that the window smashed again.”
Hedgepath said he has since seen similar reports from neighbors and on community Facebook groups. In another recent incident in Canton, an HVAC worker said a thief targeted his work van in broad daylight and stole roughly $3,000 worth of tools.
The reports come as Baltimore Police data shows a significant increase in larcenies from vehicles across the city.
According to BPD’s latest crime report, Baltimore recorded 3,559 larceny-from-auto incidents so far this year, compared to 2,983 during the same period last year. That represents a 19% increase and an average of nearly 13 incidents per day.
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“You just want to be able to live comfortably where you live,” Hedgepath said.
While violent crime has been trending downward in Baltimore, Hedgepath said quality-of-life crimes like car break-ins still come with a significant financial and emotional cost for residents.
“Even though we’re not, like, fearing for our lives, it’s still not only us, but it’s costing the neighbors thousands of dollars and just adding stress to people’s lives,” Hedgepath said.
FOX45 reached out to Baltimore Police asking what the department believes is contributing to the increase in thefts from vehicles and what is being done to address the trend. As of Wednesday afternoon, BPD had not responded.
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In a statement to FOX45, Baltimore Police said there is no single factor driving the increase, but described many larceny-from-auto incidents as crimes of opportunity. The department also said some repeat offenders have been arrested for multiple incidents, released and later accused of similar crimes.
BPD said it has made 1,229 theft-related arrests so far this year, compared to 1,211 during the same period last year.
Police said officers are using crime data to identify areas seeing increases and deploy additional resources and patrols. The department is also distributing crime-prevention materials and working to recover stolen property that is later pawned.
BPD is urging drivers to remove valuables — particularly tools and electronics — from their vehicles, keep anything left behind out of sight, lock their doors and park in well-lit areas whenever possible.
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