Posted on 02/08/25
| News Source: FOX45
It’s been nearly two weeks since Baltimore Police responded to reports of an 81-year-old man carjacked and robbed at gunpoint in east Baltimore.
Last week Baltimore Police released images of the believed suspects, but so far, no arrests have been made.
While carjackings were down 15% across the City compared to the first 25 days of 2024, in the eastern district the crime had spiked 300%.
According to the latest online data provided by BPD, from January 1, 2025, through January 25, 2025, there were at least eight carjackings in the eastern district. That’s at least three carjackings a day.
FOX45 News sent Baltimore Police the following questions:
The eastern district is a very small district,” said Jason Johnson, a former deputy commissioner with the Department. “We know carjackings are what we call spree crimes. Carjackings are typically committed by younger offenders, often but not always juveniles. I think that is probably what you’re seeing, a new crew or group that’s out doing carjackings and they’ll continue to do that until they’re removed from the street for a meaningful period of time.
That’s if they’re removed from the street for a “meaningful” period of time.
Johnson believes part of the problem is consequence.
An offender caught in a carjacked vehicle doesn’t automatically prove they committed that crime, and often a lesser charge comes with little to no consequence especially for juveniles.
If you’re in a carjacked vehicle you didn’t necessarily do the carjacking,” said Johnson. “Certainly, it's part of the issue. The overall juvenile justice system in Maryland is always part of the issue when we’re talking about holding juvenile offenders accountable, particularly violent juvenile offenders. Removing them from the street has become very difficult to do. Most people would say the DJS doesn’t have a good handle on how to actually track juveniles who have been arrested and put back on the street.
BPD released the following statement,
"At this time, we do not believe these incidents are connected; however, investigations remain ongoing. Two of the reported cases involved delivery drivers. Please find attached safety tips for delivery drivers. So far this year, three adults have been arrested in connection with carjacking incidents in the Eastern District."