Maryland Youth Auto Theft: Governor Orders Pilot Programs After Deadly Crashes
Maryland youth auto theft has become the focus of a new state directive, as Gov. Wes Moore has ordered the state’s Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) to coordinate a multiagency response in Baltimore City and Montgomery County. The directive, released on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, is aimed at children involved in vehicle thefts, including children too young to be prosecuted. It follows two fatal crashes this year in which stolen cars were allegedly driven by young children.
The order is addressed to DJS director Betsy Fox Tolentino and asks her to create a pilot program that can respond quickly when young people are linked to car thefts. Moore said Baltimore and Montgomery County are the two jurisdictions with the biggest increases in stolen cars this year. The governor framed the mov...