Residents of Federal Hill expressed frustration and concern following a weekend incident where dozens of cars were vandalized by juveniles.
Jen Covino, public safety chair for the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, described the impact on the community.
“These folks are going about their daily lives and trying to do the right thing. And it’s unfortunate when they come outside and see their vehicles have been damaged by criminals in the neighborhood,” Covino said.
Covino noted that property crimes have been escalating in the area. “Unfortunately, property damage is something that has become frequent,” she said. Over the weekend, more than three dozen residents discovered their cars were not drivable due to the vandalism.
Covino has personal experience with such crimes. In 2023, her home was targeted by juveniles who threw a brick through her front window, narrowly missing her newborn baby. “It was in that moment I understood that we have a little bit of an issue here in the city of Baltimore,” she said.
When police responded to the incident, Covino felt the juvenile suspects were being protected rather than her being treated as a victim. “I’d write a report for you. That’s what I’m saying, charging wise I cannot charge kids if I don’t have their name or date of birth,” she recalled being told by police.
Covino described the recent uptick in crimes as a boiling point for residents. “I think we’re all sick of the excuses in Federal Hill,” she said, calling for more action from police and city leaders.
She urged city officials to address these crimes to prevent further issues. “I hope that as the mayor, commissioner and others involved continue to make progress on addressing homicides, that they start looking ahead in recognizing that if they fail to address these crimes, these acts of violence and property destruction,” she said, warning that the city might not see the population growth the mayor has been celebrating.
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