Residents of Federal Hill expressed frustration and concern following a weekend incident in which dozens of cars were vandalized, with some becoming undrivable due to the damage.
“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,” said Jen Covino, public safety chair for the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association.
Covino noted that property crimes have been escalating in the area. “Unfortunately, property damage is something that has become frequent,” she said.
Covino has personal experience with such crimes. In 2023, a brick through the front window of her home, 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.
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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