Crime spree in Canton, Patterson Park leaves residents unsettled

Several break-ins, burglaries reported in past month

BALTIMORE —People in the Canton and Patterson Park neighborhoods of southeast Baltimore are reporting a recent spike in crime, including a number of break-ins, and they're not happy about it.

Over the past few days, 11 News viewers have reported a rash of incidents in the area. 11 News talked to three victims who didn't want to be identified about their experiences and what police should be doing.

"Our house was burglarized while we were home in the middle of the night," one resident said.

"It appears they were trying to get in either through the screen or somehow kick the door open," a female Canton resident said.

Victim after victim had story after story to describe what they said is a recent rise in crime in Baltimore City's southeast district.

"I heard someone try to force the door open. When I walked into the kitchen, I saw somebody's face staring right back at me through the window," a third victim said.

"Neighbors, friends -- it's the whole Canton area that seems like it's being broken into and targeted," the first man said.

From car and home break-ins and burglaries to one report of an assault with a pipe, a neighborhood crime watch group is compiling a spreadsheet of the incidents, many of which were reported this month.

"We feel violated, that someone's in your house when you're also there, and you don't know about it," the first victim told 11 News.

Police data shows thefts from cars from year-to-year is down in the Southeast District, but burglaries are trending up 11 percent.

"The amount of times it's happened in these couple of blocks alone is pretty unsettling," the third victim said.

There are mixed reviews on the performance of police.

"It would be nice if the police could follow up more with incidents if something has happened to be able to call and get an answer if they caught anybody," the female victim said.

"I think the police are doing everything they can in their power, but unfortunately, there just aren't enough of them," the third man said.

Some victims are taking extra precautions by installing alarm systems, while others are taking matters into their own hands.

"I tried to go after him on foot but was unable to catch him," the third man said. He told 11 News that police said the suspect was eventually caught. That suspect hasn't been identified.

The victims who saw the culprits told 11 News they appeared to be teenagers, but it's not clear what they are after or if any of the cases are related.