Four armed men rolled up on a driver near his car in Belair-Edison on Tuesday evening, demanded his keys, and then took off with the vehicle through an alley behind Erdman Avenue, police say. The take-and-flee unfolded around 7:10 p.m., and officers reported no injuries. Neighbors say it is the latest in a string of vehicle theft and carjacking incidents along the Belair Road corridor this year, adding fresh worries in a part of East Baltimore that already feels on edge.
Authorities say officers were called to the 3400 block of Juneway after the victim reported that four unidentified males approached him, displayed firearms, demanded his car keys, and then climbed into the vehicle before fleeing eastbound in the alley behind Erdman Avenue, according to Fox Baltimore. The station reported the suspects remained at large as of Tuesday night, with investigators canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and any camera footage that might have caught the crew slipping through the alley. Police did not immediately release physical descriptions of the suspects.
Local pattern of vehicle thefts
The stretch of Belair Road and nearby side streets has been the focus of multiple carjacking and auto-theft investigations this year. Earlier this winter, Hoodline reported that three juveniles were apprehended after a daytime carjacking near Belair and Erdman, and CBS Baltimore recently covered an armed carjacking outside Towson Town Center that ended with arrests. Those cases have sparked calls for more visible patrols and for residents to regularly share surveillance footage with detectives when something seems off.
Police response and investigation
The Baltimore Police Department's recent press updates show detectives frequently lean on a mix of patrol work, surveillance, and community tips to track carjacking suspects, according to the Baltimore Police Department. Investigators on the Juneway case say they are canvassing the area for witnesses and reviewing nearby camera footage as the probe continues.
How to pass along tips
Anyone who saw the carjacking or has video is urged to call 911 for emergencies and to submit an anonymous tip to Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP or through the group's tip portal. Metro Crime Stoppers confirms tips are routed to local law enforcement and may qualify for a reward, according to Metro Crime Stoppers.
