Posted on 07/15/25
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - July 15, 2025 - The city has experienced a 34% decrease in auto thefts compared to the same period last year, according to the latest police data. Despite the drop, some in the insurance industry say car-related crimes continue to drive up insurance rates.
Drico Hill, an insurance agent with 17 years of experience at the Baltimore National Insurance Network, said, "It's one of the biggest claims when it comes to insurance." Hill said that crimes such as car thefts and break-ins can result in millions of dollars in costs, which are ultimately passed on to policyholders.
"Claims are so expensive," Hill said. "There was a time when you got your car broken into you only had to essentially pay for a window. But with these cars nowadays, they have so many safety features, so much to them, that the days of $1,000, $2,000 claims are over with. The average claim nowadays is around $10,000."
As of June 28, Baltimore police reported more than 2,391 auto thefts and over 1,747 larceny from auto incidents citywide. These figures, according to Hill, have contributed to rising insurance premiums, with some companies opting not to insure certain vehicles in the city.
"Hyundais and Kias, the ones that are not push start, cheap ones, those basically can't get insured," Hill said. "Nobody would insure that vehicle because they know they're waiting to get stolen. So, those vehicles are problems, the Kia, the Hyundais and then a lot of times, Tesla as well. They're getting vandalized a lot, because of what's going on or what was going on in the White House."
Hill was referring to Elon Musk, known for his leadership of Tesla, who was recently a former senior advisor to President Donald Trump. Hill added that while insurance rates typically spike before eventually dropping, he is not optimistic about a decrease happening soon.