Posted on 05/18/23
| News Source: FOX45
A letter from seven Maryland Republican delegates raises concerns about actions Baltimore City leaders are taking to stop car thefts and carjackings in Baltimore.
The letter was sent to Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison by delegates Morgan, Arikan, Grammar, Szeliga, Fisher, Chisholm and Nawrocki.
In the letter, the lawmakers say that they have been told by "numerous people" that they fear getting carjacked or having their car stolen in Baltimore. The delegates said that there were 2,473 auto thefts in Baltimore in 2022 with 397 arrests. They also said that there were seven guilty verdicts for car thefts.
"One conviction for every 353 cars stolen shows that if a criminal steals a car in Baltimore City, they are nearly guaranteed to get away with the crime. However, if the criminal is caught, they will receive a slap on the wrist, leaving victims of car theft and carjackings not receiving the justice they deserve," said the lawmakers in the letter.
The lawmakers are asking for the police department and prosecutors to hold criminals accountable for car thefts and carjackings, according to the letter. They also said that they are ready to "support any legislation you need in the next legislative session to get more criminals apprehended, prosecuted, and incarcerated when they engage in carjackings and auto theft."
FOX45 News has reached out to the mayor's office and the police department for comment.
The letter comes after Baltimore City filed a lawsuit against carmakers Hyundai and Kia. In the move last week, city officials said that Kia and Hyundai have failed to equip the vehicles with "industry-standard vehicle immobilization technology," the city said. Without that feature, the vehicles can be started without a key.
Late last month, the state of Maryland joined a coalition of states asking for a nation-wide recall of Kia and Hyundai vehicles that are prone to theft. Attorney General Anthony Brown said that the cars pose an “unreasonable risk to public safety” – and law enforcement is feeling the burden of addressing this crime trend.