Local reporting on crime, public safety, neighborhood disputes, and the cases shaping communities across Maryland.
From squatter controversies and property-rights battles to breaking police incidents, theft trends, arson investigations, and community safety concerns, Property & Crime delivers fast, accurate, independent coverage of the issues affecting Maryland neighborhoods every day.
This desk focuses on the real-world stories that hit closest to home:
- Property disputes and squatter cases
- Burglaries, robberies, and major thefts
- Violent crime and high-risk incidents
- Police reports and public safety updates
- Fire, arson, and emergency response
- Neighborhood conflicts and nuisance cases
- Housing-related crime trends
- Court proceedings linked to property or criminal cases
We report the facts clearly — without sensationalism — providing communities with timely, reliable information and context that other outlets overlook or underreport.
Whether it’s a case shaking a small Maryland town or a major criminal investigation drawing statewide attention, Property & Crime keeps residents informed, aware, and empowered.
Your community. Your safety. Your right to know.
Rutledge Uses Sparrows Point Crash to Press Brown on Juvenile Crime, as a New Youth Charging Law Nears Its Oct. 1 Start
Jim Rutledge is using a Sparrows Point stolen-car crash and a summer of high-profile juvenile cases to challenge Anthony Brown’s record as Maryland prepares for a major change in youth charging law Oct. 1.
Millions in Fraud, Dozens of Defendants: Maryland’s Reckoning Under the Federal Crackdown
Federal prosecutors reported that a Towson pharmacy will pay over $5.3 million to settle claims of improper Medicare and Medicaid billing. This case is part of broader investigations into fraud in Maryland, including pandemic-related schemes and public corruption. The Justice Department’s increased focus aims to address these financial crimes effectively.
Baltimore’s New Public Safety Agency Arrives Amid Fraud Fallout, a Records Fight and a Council Shake-Up
Baltimore officials announced the creation of a new Department of Neighborhood Safety, merging the troubled Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE). The change aims to improve civilian responses to non-violent 911 calls, amidst ongoing scrutiny over MONSE’s financial issues and a fraud finding. Funding and accountability concerns remain unaddressed.
ICE Detainer and a Delegate Feud Add a New Chapter to the I-270 Crash Story
ICE has lodged a detainer for the driver charged in the fatal I-270 wrong-way crash, adding a new immigration-policy dispute as Maryland delegates Mark Fisher and Joe Vogel clash over the state’s restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Montgomery County Disbanded Its DUI Unit. Hours Later, Two People Died in a Wrong-Way Crash.
Montgomery County eliminated its dedicated impaired-driving unit amid a police staffing shortage. The next evening, an allegedly impaired wrong-way driver killed a mother and daughter on I-270 — sharpening an already heated debate over county public-safety priorities.
Six MPD Employees Charged in $441,000 Overtime Fraud Scheme — More Than a Year After the Warning Signs Surfaced
Six current and former members of the Metropolitan Police Department face arrest over fraudulent claims of over $935,000 in overtime pay, as supported by warrants signed by a D.C. Superior Court judge. The group, assigned to the administrative office, allegedly manipulated time records and forged signatures to collect unearned income.
OPINION: A Grieving County Deserves More Than Condolences From a Candidate Who Wants to Run It
After a 58-year-old NIST employee was killed in a Germantown crash involving a 13-year-old driving a stolen Kia, Will Jawando offered condolences. Montgomery County voters deserve to hear his juvenile public-safety plan too.
Maryland’s Hidden Bill: A Supreme Court Ruling Just Told Annapolis to Find the Money It Never Set Aside
A June 23 ruling from Maryland’s Supreme Court dismissed a childhood abuse claim but emphasized the state’s failure to establish a funding mechanism for such claims. Over 12,000 actions have been filed since the Child Victims Act was passed in 2023, potentially costing billions, yet legislative action remains elusive.
DOJ Sues Maryland Over Community Trust Act — Second Federal Challenge in Six Weeks
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Maryland and Attorney General Anthony Brown, aiming to block the state’s Community Trust Act, which it claims violates federal immigration law. This suit follows similar actions against other states, highlighting a broader conflict over immigration enforcement policies and state autonomy.
Bates Says Maryland’s Juvenile System Is “Broken.” The Cases He’s Pointing To Show Why He’s Not Alone.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates says Maryland’s juvenile justice system is “broken,” pointing to a series of violent cases as lawmakers prepare to implement sweeping changes to how young offenders are prosecuted this fall.
Moore Signs Glock Ban — And Maryland Taxpayers May Fund the Lawsuit That Kills It
Maryland’s SB 334, signed by Governor Wes Moore, bans the sale and transfer of Glock-style pistols, citing concerns over “Glock switches.” Gun rights organizations promptly filed a federal lawsuit, arguing the law is unconstitutional and punishes legal owners for criminal misuse. The outcome of this legal battle remains uncertain.
Baltimore’s $75,000 Spin Doctor Went to War With a Restaurant Website
Baltimore’s rapid response press secretary, Jonas Poggi, publicly criticized a misleading social media post about the city’s crime ranking while ignoring the alarming FBI data showing Baltimore’s violent crime rate is 2,175% above the national average. The mayor’s communications strategy focuses on selective metrics, compromising transparency and accountability.
Maryland’s Juvenile Crime Wave: What the Numbers Actually Show — and Who’s Responsible
Violent offenses involving minors have surged across Maryland since 2019. From Montgomery County to Washington’s suburbs, a mix of COVID disruption, weakened accountability systems, and social media coordination is fueling a new juvenile crime crisis.
Swastika on Campaign Sign Triggers Homeland Security Review as Maryland Antisemitism Incidents Mount
A campaign sign for Prince George’s County Executive candidate Greg Holmes was vandalized with hate symbols, prompting an investigation by Homeland Security. This incident highlights a rising trend of antisemitic acts in Maryland. Holmes condemned the vandalism as a serious crime and emphasized community support against such hatred amidst ongoing local tensions.
Maryland’s Protective Order System Has Failed Before. It Will Again.
Three deaths across Maryland reveal a dangerous pattern: courts identify credible threats, respond with protective orders, and fail to stop the violence that follows.
Baltimore Got Safer. Maryland Didn’t.
Governor Wes Moore’s reelection campaign touts a “44% drop” in statewide homicides, largely attributed to Baltimore City improvements. However, crime data reveals stagnant or rising rates elsewhere in Maryland, with increases in property crime and auto theft. Critics argue that Moore’s claims obscure a more complex and troubling crime landscape across the state.
Congress Demands D.C. Crime Data Records — And Maryland Should Be Asking the Same Questions
The House Oversight Committee has confirmed allegations that the Metropolitan Police Department manipulated crime statistics to present a falsely safe D.C. Baltimore faces similar scrutiny, with a long history of inaccurate crime data affecting public perception and safety. Both cities need accountability to ensure reliable crime reporting practices.
They Knew — And Didn’t: The Warning That Came Too Late, and the Sister Who Was Already in Maryland
A manifesto sent too late. A sister who saw the signs. A system that never connected the dots. New reporting reveals the warning failures behind Saturday night’s assassination attempt in Washington.
The Dinner Was Over When the Perimeter Broke: A Security Autopsy of the WHCD Shooting
A gunman didn’t just fire shots at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner — he exposed a deeper failure. This security autopsy breaks down how the perimeter collapsed, why it mattered, and what it says about protecting the highest levels of government.
Maryland Just Made It Harder to Charge Violent Teens as Adults. Prosecutors Across the State Opposed It.
The Youth Charging Reform Act passed the Maryland House of Delegates and is set for Governor Moore’s signature. This law raises the age for automatic adult charges from 14 to 16 for most offenses and aims to improve racial justice. However, prosecutors warn the juvenile system may not cope with increased cases. The law becomes…
