Reader-Asked Questions: Baltimore Auto Thefts

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Photo illustration of block of Baltimore City row houses against dark purple background, with one parked car in front and three other parked cars cut out of image to show bright teal behind. Isolated teal-colored cars randomly scattered above and below the photo of the row houses.

We answered reader questions.

Auto theft is rampant in Baltimore. Even Banner journalists have had their automobiles stolen or broken into, one within days of moving to the city.

The trend started in May, when a national increase in auto thefts coincided with the “Kia Boys” TikTok challenge. Videos on that platform and other social media sites showed how to steal Hyundais and Kias in under 30 seconds with just a screwdriver and a USB.

Compared to neighboring localities, though, Baltimore’s auto theft rate this year has been especially high. The city’s rate was also higher than nearby neighbors Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

Where is it happening most?

Inside the city, no neighborhood has had more auto thefts this year than Frankford. This Northeastern Baltimore neighborhood is the 2023 epicenter of auto thefts — and a three-block area near the Goodnow Hill apartments has had it the worst.

Photo illustration of apartment complex with cars parked in front against a dark purple background; two cars are removed from the image, showing teal color in the cut out areas.

Car theft rates have tripled in Baltimore. We visited the hardest-hit neighborhood.

Jasmine Vaughn-Hall and Greg Morton

Nov 13, 2023

Auto theft is rampant in Baltimore. Look up your city or county neighborhood here.

Greg Morton

Nov 13, 2023

Photo illustration shows, on left, photo of parking lot with apartment condominiums in the background, with three cars cut out of image, showing a teal background. On the right is a dark purple map of Maryland and the District of Columbia with teal behind Prince Georges County.

Outside the Baltimore area, auto thefts are up most in Prince George’s County

Natalie Davis, Dylan Manfre and Sarah Siock, Capital News Service

Nov 16, 2023

How can people protect themselves?

Our Anne Arundel County reporter, Royale Bonds, had her car stolen within days of moving to Baltimore. She wrote a step-by-step guide on what to do if your car gets stolen. There's not much you can do about your insurance rates, though.

Illustration of woman standing in parking lot in between parked cars, with empty parking space in front of her. She holds her hands on her head and her mouth is wide open in shock.

Comic: What to do if your car is stolen in Baltimore

Laila Milevski and Royale Bonds

Nov 13, 2023

Photo illustration of white sedan driving toward the left of the image against a dark purple background. The rear of the car is cut out, and a pile of one hundred dollar bills fills the back silhouette of the car. One hundred dollar bills fly away from the rear of the car.

Baltimore has the highest car insurance rates in Maryland. Here’s what you can do about it.

Penelope Blackwell

Nov 14, 2023

What happens after the vehicles are stolen?

People whose cars are stolen aren't the only ones affected by this spike in auto thefts. The industries that tow, repair and sell cars have had to handle the surges, too.

For almost 19 years, Salifor Savadogo has operated a towing service and auto repair shop called Good Luck Towing on East Fayette Street in east Baltimore. Good Luck gets a call when bad luck strikes: dead batteries, empty gas tank, accidental lockout, flat tires, car crashes, and lately stolen cars. A lot of stolen cars.

Your bad luck is this tow truck driver’s good fortune

Hugo Kugiya

Nov 14, 2023

Tino Bertin, owner of Tino Auto Service and Sales, poses for a portrait outside his shop in Baltimore, Friday, November 10, 2023.

For repair shop owner, auto thefts reaching point of no return for fixes

Penelope Blackwell

Nov 14, 2023

Greg Ey the owner of Rosedale Auto Service, runs an auto repair shop in Baltimore and has fielded about 20 repairs for Kia and Hyundai vehicles this month alone.

Body shop owner sees work on stolen cars as ‘not the business we want’

Lillian Reed

Nov 14, 2023

Carl Moore, a salesman at used car dealership Dynamic Cars Inc., poses for a portrait at the company’s Old Goucher location on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

Kias and Hyundais are ‘on the move’ at North Baltimore dealership

Brenna Smith

Nov 14, 2023

Who is stealing the cars?

Most people arrested by Baltimore Police for auto thefts are adults. Just 35% of people arrested for stolen cars this year are juveniles, according to the Baltimore Police Department. Even when a juvenile is arrested, things get complicated.

Photo illustration of silhouette of teenaged boy framed by four photos around him. Clockwise from top left: photo of young man with handcuffed arms behind his back; photo of apartment complex with parked car cut out of image; photo of inside of empty courtroom; photo of apartment complex with parked car cut out of image.

What happens to Baltimore teens arrested for stealing cars? Here’s what the data says

Brenda Wintrode

Nov 16, 2023

What are officials doing to address the problem?

Baltimore officials are expanding a slew of efforts to combat auto thefts in the city. The car theft spike could be a political liability in the 2024 mayoral election.