The Baltimore neighborhoods of Pikesville, Greenspring, Ranchleigh and Upper Park Heights have recently experienced an upsurge in crime. Multiple homes and cars have been broken into, some in the middle of the day while people were home, and others at night while residents were sleeping. The brazen criminals have even smashed through a large bay window to enter a living room. Cash, jewelry, laptops, silver Judaica and cellphones are some of the commonly stolen items. Even after having their home robbed – to add insult to injury – one family also had their car stolen.
The break-ins and thefts are likely the result of multiple criminals who are communicating their recent successes to their friends, inviting more intrusion.
In response to the increased criminal activity, a group of volunteers has stepped up to help patrol the community, and a number of community groups have hired off-duty policeman to patrol the area during the day and at night. Shomrim and Northwest Citizens Patrol (NWCP) have been supportive in these efforts. When questioned about the recent crimes in the neighborhood, Ronnie Rosenbluth,Vice President of Shomrim, stated that it’s “not just in one neighborhood, it’s happening all over. We all need to be aware and alert, and call 911 and Shomrim if we see any crimes happening.” With community participation, these criminals will be caught.
One Ranchleigh patrol volunteer described his experience spotting two suspicious men wearing hoodies walking up and down in the Amleigh and Baythorne area. The volunteer said, “I also spotted a female driver waiting for the guys in a car by the corner—we let Shomrim know, and when I saw the guys cut through someone’s property to Amleigh, that’s when I called the police.” The men hopped into a getaway car and drove off towards Park Heights.
Police followed the car and pulled it over in the city. They arrested one passenger who had an outstanding warrant; the others were released.
On Wednesday, a county resident shared that, at 11 AM, a house next door to his was broken into through the back window. The homeowner’s silent alarm went off and the police arrived five minutes later with a K-9 unit, but by then the intruder was gone. They have not identified the criminal, and they assume he escaped by car.
Police urge the community to remain vigilant. According to Baltimore Police Major Marc Parte, “We have a new deployment in place to address the increase in crime. This includes extra officers and a different type of patrol system—we are taking it very seriously.”
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10 Responses
Until we start calling police first this will continue The shomrim well meaning have no
Power to arrest stop
and gal questions.
Ever since Shomrim members were arrested, the organization has become ineffective.
New York is welcoming of the entire Baltimore community in moving to this tremendous Makom Torah U’Chesed. NYC is the greatest and largest community of Frum Jews in the entirety of Chutz L’aaretz. A city with a tremendous number of Gedolei Yisroel, Rabbonim, Talmidei Chachomim, Yeshivos, Beis Yaakov, Chesed organization and many many great poshute yidden.
Y’all are welcome! Many from your town already made the move and live here. Come join your former neighbors here.
I saw a crime map of the area, and the frum neighborhoods are a low priorrity due to the low crime rate. I’ve notice many toys and lawn equipment left on porches, and have observed women walking or jogging alone even at odd hours (which doesn’t happen in a crime ridden area). One might suspect that the citizen watch groups are getting a bit overexicited.
Shoot first, ax questions later. Worked for george zimmerman.
#3: Seriously? There is absolutely no crime in NYC, right? No discrimination against frum Jews, cos-of-living and taxes are low, the city is nice and peaceful especially at night, the police are efficient and responsive, and the schools cater to each student as an individual and teach them how to behave as mentchen, and tuition is low. NOT! Give me a break! It might be the largest community of Frum Jews in Chutz La’aretz, but quantity doesn’t imply quality of community nor environment.
I left NYC for a nice, quiet “out of town” (to a New Yorker that means any place outside of NY) community 35 years ago and never looked back.
Our children are talmidei chachamin, and true bnos Yisroel, and – most important of all – have sterling middos. And, they married “out of town” spouses, live “out of town”, and are raising our grandchildren as true Bnei and Bnos Torah (especially WRT to middos).
Shazam: Where did you move to? I want to join?
This article is somewhat misleading. Crime rates in these Baltimore neighborhoods may have increased relative to prior levels but by any measure are well below the crimes rates in Willy, BP etc. Anyone who moves from Park Heights to 13th Avenue deserves what they get…a noisy, crowded, dirty and congested neighborhood with absurdly high rents. Yes, there is a shtieblach, mikvah and chulent take-out at every corner but look what you are giving up.
#5, love it.
“They arrested one passenger who had an outstanding warrant; the others were released.”-makes so much sense to release them, so they can go ahead and commit more crime and terror!
Get these people off the streets!!
The whole system is backwards-they release the true criminals who should be locked up forever, while Jonathan Pollard has been sitting in jail with a punishment that does NOT fit his crime; he has more than paid for it already.
Willy and BP have an almost non-existent crime rate.