14 Arrested In Series Of Baltimore Carjackings, Police Say
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Police have arrested 14 people in a series of carjackings in Baltimore in recent weeks, city police said Wednesday.
Of the 14 people arrested, two have been charged as adults and 12 have been charged as juveniles and released. Police did not provide their names.
The arrests were tied to ten carjackings in the city, eight of which happened in the northwest police district. The other two happened in the southeast and southwest districts.
"People are driving and they are looking all over, and looking around when they get out of the car, when they go out of their house, and people shouldn't have to live in fear," Baltimore City Councilman Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer said.
Police sent out a public safety alert last month after detectives noticed similarities between the crimes, the department said.
Detectives are reportedly looking into whether any of the 14 people who were arrested may be tied to other incidents.
Schleifer said updates on the status of juvenile suspects are private, but now he's calling for a way to track cases involving juveniles without disclosing their names.
"The victims in these communities plagued by these incidents simply have no closure and will get no closure because they won't know what happens next," he said.
The department also said it has increased patrols in the areas that have been most affected.
Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said in a statement that, "these acts of violent crime are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
"We are working with our partners in the criminal justice system to ensure the certainty of consequences for these types of violent acts, to better protect our communities," Harrison added.
