Posted on 07/30/23
| News Source: FOX45
More than 5,000 cars have been stolen in Baltimore City so far this year. Just last week, Baltimore Police Department data revealed 383 vehicles were taken in the span of seven days. But finding and holding car thieves accountable may be an uphill battle.
“Because factually, how do you prove that this person broke into the car and stole the car? Not everybody has a Ring doorbell or a security camera,” said Jeremy Eldridge, an Attorney with EN Lawyers.
Some blame the spike in auto thefts on a Tik Tok challenge, which makes certain models of Hyundai and Kia cars vulnerable to being stolen.
Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said millions of cars nationwide are potential targets due to the social media trend.
“It’s a serious public safety hazard,” said Arch McKown, Safety Chairperson of the Patterson Park Neighborhood Association. “Because these cars, they’re stolen -- usually its juveniles who are doing it.”
Between July 1st and July 23rd, Baltimore Police said 312 Hyundais and 134 Kias were stolen citywide.
McKown told FOX45 News he’s tracking the trend of car thefts closely as he follows public safety concerns in his community.
“Unfortunately, very few of these folks are getting caught, and ever fewer are getting actually prosecuted or getting any consequence,” McKown said in an interview with FOX45 News this week. “So then it becomes like it's a free-for-all. Very little risk of getting caught. Very little downside. Seems pretty safe to do it and get away with it.”
In cases where a suspect is identified for an auto theft, attorney Jeremy Eldridge said proving Felony Theft is not a simple task.
Eldridge said sometimes a lesser charge is pursued.
“The crime at that point may be what’s called “unauthorized use” -- someone operating a motor vehicle owned by another without their consent,” said Eldridge.
According to Eldridge, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle is a misdemeanor and carries a sentence of anywhere between six months to four years in jail.
Meanwhile, a Felony theft charge, according to this attorney, could translate to a five to ten-year sentence.
And if a car theft case in Maryland involves a juvenile., Eldridge says levying consequences becomes even more challenging.
“When someone is young, and they’re prosecuted in the juvenile justice system – especially for an auto theft, which is incredibly inconvenient for the victim, but is not a crime of violence -- the legislature has mandated essentially that they receive probation,” said Eldridge. “So you’re gonna see somewhat of a revolving door in these cases.”
Eldridge says the best way for people to protect themselves and their cars from being stolen is to install surveillance cameras.