City of College Park contract police presented September crime statistics at the public safety meeting, reporting two carjackings, two assaults, 26 thefts from autos, 17 other thefts and seven stolen vehicles concentrated along the Baltimore Avenue corridor.

The presentation said the first carjacking occurred Sept. 13 at about 4:18 p.m. on the 6800 block of Dartmouth Avenue, when a rideshare driver dropping off passengers was shown a handgun and had his vehicle taken. The second occurred Sept. 19 at about 10:30 p.m. on the 5200 block of Huron Avenue after a reported drug-buy meeting; suspects displayed a handgun and took the vehicle. "That's all we have for the two carjackings, and they're currently under investigation," said James, a contract police representative who led the presentation.

Why it matters: city staff and contract officers said the Baltimore Avenue corridor and nearby neighborhoods have seen repeated vehicle-targeted thefts, and officers described enforcement activity and community outreach intended to reduce thefts and quality-of-life problems.

The officers reported 26 thefts from vehicles in September. The presentation said thieves targeted several Hondas for tires and rims along the 8500 through 9600 blocks of Baltimore Avenue and removed one license plate during the incidents. Officers also said airbags were stolen from three vehicles on the night of Sept. 23 in the areas around Evanston Road, the Yarrow area and College Park Estates. Shoplifting totaled seven incidents, four at the CVS at the 7300 block of Baltimore Avenue and three at the Home Depot at the 4700 block of Cherry Hill Road.

Contract officers' monthly enforcement numbers given in the presentation included 32 field stops, 119 Maryland state traffic citations, 202 warning citations, five field interviews, 45 safety equipment repair orders and one criminal arrest. The slides and presenter also noted an additional enforcement category in which officers "issued 11 citations and issued out 3 safety equipment repair orders," language used in the meeting materials.

Officials described other recent activity: contract officers said they focused on complaints at Burwin Baptist Church on Cherokee Street, warned people in the back parking lot about trespassing, assisted patrol units after a fatal scooter collision near the university and directed attention to downtown noise and quality-of-life calls.

Community members raised separate noise and illegal-racing concerns. Maria said she called police after hearing "racing on ... Kenilworth Avenue" that woke her at about 11 p.m., and she asked for more enforcement. The presenter noted the city has a no-pursuit policy for most incidents and advised residents to call 911 for emergencies. He added that portions of Kenilworth mentioned by speakers are outside the City of College Park, which can limit city enforcement in that specific location.

Sergeant Wyndke said contract officers will "start paying a little more attention on the later hours" on Saint Andrews and nearby areas after residents reported racing and loud backfiring at 12–3 a.m.

A separate enforcement focus described during the meeting targeted commercial vehicles. Officers said they placed three dump trucks out of service on Rhode Island Avenue for brake violations and cited one truck as about 10,000 pounds overweight. "We continue to monitor the overweight because it does damage the roads," the presenter said.

Prevention and outreach: attendees and officers discussed a possible giveaway of steering-wheel clubs or similar theft-deterrent devices to owners of targeted vehicles; officers said such giveaways depend on availability from manufacturers. The presenter urged residents to park in well-lit areas, not leave valuables in cars and "call 911 and get us that information" when there is a safety concern.

The meeting closed with staff thanking community members for attending and announcing the next public safety meeting will be held in November at Dave Davis Hall at the city's Public Works facility.