Maryland Governor orders intervention for youth car thefts

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has issued a new directive to address a surge in motor vehicle thefts involving juveniles in Montgomery County and Baltimore City. The initiative follows several fatal crashes involving stolen vehicles driven by minors as young as 12 and 13.

The directive instructs the Department of Juvenile Services to implement a three-part framework immediately. This includes a pilot program for coordinated responses between law enforcement and social services, as well as early intervention pathways for young offenders who cannot be formally charged under current state laws. The state is also looking into models that pair law enforcement with community navigators to address the issue.