Jessica Babb | Fox45 News | Dec. 3, 2024 | Original Source
As Baltimore County Police continue to investigate recent crimes near the Towson Town Center, including an attempted carjacking where five teens were arrested and an earlier assault, data shows hundreds of incidents have happened at or near the mall this year.
According to crime statistics provided by the Baltimore County Police Department, there have been 492 incidents in the 800 block of Dulaney Valley Road so far this year.
In 2021, during the pandemic, there were 269 incidents. In 2022 the data shows an increase to 425 incidents, and in 2023, there were 551 incidents.
The incidents recorded include thefts, burglaries, assaults, destruction of property, robberies and carjackings.
While it’s not clear how many of the crimes were committed by juveniles, based on information released from police, at least some of them were, including the recent attempted carjacking. Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said his office received the police report from the incident this weekend, and that all five teens were immediately detained after they were arrested. He said there will be hearings soon to determine the next steps in the case.
“It’s a very difficult crime for two people who are minding their own business at the shopping center, walking to their car, believe they are being followed, start running to their car, then they get accosted while they are in their car,” Shellenberger said. “Fortunately one of the victims in the car was able to dial 911, and once that happened the potential defendants ran away.”
While new juvenile justice laws took effect in November, Shellenberger said his office has not seen much of a difference yet. He said the review process in some cases can still take up to almost 30 days, based on when police finish their investigation, when the Department of Juvenile Services reviews the case, and when the State’s Attorney’s Office receives it. However, he said he expects to have a better idea of the law’s impact in the coming weeks.
“What I believe we will see, we will be receiving more cases in our juvenile system and be able to bring more cases to court to make it a more formal process,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Baltimore County Police Department said the department will “maintain a presence of additional officers at various times throughout the holiday season” and that “deployment decisions are data-driven and re-evaluated regularly.
Comments