BALTIMORE, MD. – In response to a significant rise in auto thefts, particularly of Kia and Hyundai models, Baltimore City has unveiled a comprehensive strategy. This approach, spearheaded by Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Richard Worley, aims to address the 229 percent increase in stolen auto incidents recorded up to October 28, 2023.
The city’s strategy, outlined at the Baltimore City Impound Lot, involves a blend of prevention, deterrence, and enforcement, complemented by legal action against manufacturers and enhanced intergovernmental cooperation. Mayor Scott emphasized the importance of utilizing every available tool to confront this challenge, while Commissioner Worley highlighted the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies.
Key elements of Baltimore’s strategy include distributing anti-theft devices, utilizing data for targeted law enforcement deployment, implementing advanced license plate recognition technology, and organizing system upgrade clinics for vulnerable Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Additionally, the strategy incorporates digital tracking of stolen vehicles and improvements to the city-owned impound lot to aid victims of auto theft.
The city has also taken legal steps against vehicle manufacturers for not equipping cars with standard vehicle immobilization technology, seeking to recover damages and compel the inclusion of these security features. This initiative aligns with Baltimore’s broader efforts to collaborate with various government partners and local stakeholders to understand and mitigate the underlying causes of the recent surge in auto thefts.
In a notable policy shift, Baltimore has eliminated recovery fees for stolen vehicles, allowing victims to reclaim their vehicles from the city-owned lot without incurring towing costs, a change that relieves victims of the financial burden associated with auto theft recovery.