Man gets stolen car back, then faces $2,398 fine and other expenses

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) — A Mount Vernon man says his car was stolen in October and returned with damage. He also says he is dealing with fines and tickets that came in while the car was missing. Trace Thompson wants police to do more to track down stolen vehicles.

Car reported missing Oct. 17

Thompson said he was trying to go to work around 6 a.m. on Oct. 17 when he realized his car had been stolen from his Mount Vernon neighborhood.

“I was in a bit of panic. I was trying to get to work at the time. It was about 6 in the morning,” Thompson said.

He called 311 for help. Thompson said the operator told him his car may have been moved for the marathon. He then asked for police to come out. When officers arrived two days later, they determined the car was stolen.

Car found at Wawa in Lansdowne

Baltimore police said the car was tracked on license plate reader cameras in the city. Thompson said he worked with the car manufacturer to track the location to a motel.

Baltimore County police found the car in the middle of the night last Friday at a Wawa in Lansdowne.

“I was actually able to pass my location information to the police department, and two days later, at three o’clock in the morning, I received a call that my car had been found next to a Wawa,” Thompson said.

Police arrested the driver, identified as Bobby Hamlett. He is charged with unlawful taking of a vehicle. Charging documents say Hamlett claimed he knew Thompson and was borrowing the car.

“I don’t think I would ever let somebody borrow my car and take it to a highway motel,” Thompson said.

Damage, tolls and insurance fine

Thompson said he is now dealing with the damage left behind. He described how the car was entered.

“The individual actually, through the left side port window, was able to pop the rubber out and then pried out the window from there,” Thompson said.

Thompson said he received tickets in the mail for unpaid tolls incurred while the car was stolen. He also received a fine from the MVA for lapsed insurance.

“So I got two within an hour of each other between Baltimore Tunnel South and Fort McHenry. I received a fine for $2,398 in the mail for insurance,” Thompson said.

The MVA said the vehicle being reported as stolen triggered the fine notice to be mailed. The agency said it is reaching out to Thompson, who said he had insurance the entire time. Thompson said he is not sure if more tickets are coming.

Thompson said the inside of the car was also damaged.

“In the back there were trash bags full of stuff,” Thompson said.

He said the bags contained trash, drugs and bodily fluids.

“I think the car was more of a crime scene than a vehicle recovery,” Thompson said.

Thompson asks city for action

Thompson is asking the city to do more to protect neighbors from crimes like this.

“If stuff like this keeps happening to your young professionals, we’re going to leave,” Thompson said.

Thompson said he now parks his car in a garage nearly a mile away.

Hamlett is due back in court in December.