Police presence increases after string of armed robberies, carjackings in West Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- Car thefts are up more than 200% this year over last year.

The latest rash of thefts happened in the normally quiet Bolton Hill neighborhood over the weekend.

 Four incidents occurred in Bolton Hill between Sunday and Monday.

In almost all the incidents, the victims described there being four to five suspects involved with at least one of them armed.

One of the victims spoke with WJZ by phone.

"My approach to situational awareness is different than it was before," Tom Moloney said.

Moloney told WJZ that he was robbed and assaulted in one of the incidents.

He said that he was loading his car on West Lafayette Avenue around 6 a.m. on Sunday when a car pulled up beside him. The driver spoke to him and then several suspects got out.

"All four doors popped open and all of a sudden people are running at me and that's when it dawned on me what was going on," Moloney said.

Moloney said he tried to run away, but the suspects chased him, and he tripped.

One of them kicked him in the head, giving him a black eye, he said.

Moloney says he pretended like he was unconscious, and then the suspects fled after stealing cash.

Three similar attacks happened that day, all involving several suspects.

There was one on the 1900 block of Eutaw Place at 3:18 p.m and then another less than ten minutes later a half mile away in the 1700 block of Park Avenue.

The fourth happened just after midnight Monday on West Lafayette Avenue a block from where Moloney Harmon's attack happened.

In the last two incidents, the victim's cars were stolen.

Neighbors say they want more police patrols.

"It's trying to figure out what the optimal balance is between an amped up sense of discipline or punishment and just an amped up sense of presence," Jeanne-Marie Jackson, a Bolton Hill resident, said.

Police have not said whether these incidents are connected.

According to City Councilman Eric Costello, officers have increased patrols in the Bolton Hill area.

WJZ has reached out to Baltimore police and is awaiting a response.