Baltimore County Police Urge Parents to Monitor Children's Whereabouts

Incidents at local malls prompt calls for increased supervision of teenagers

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:11am

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Baltimore County police are urging parents to closely monitor their children's whereabouts, especially on weekends, after a series of incidents involving large gatherings of teenagers at local malls. The police have highlighted the White Marsh Mall, The Avenue at White Marsh, and Towson Town Center as areas of concern, noting that the malls have youth escort policies in place to address the issue.

Why it matters

The police are concerned that these 'meet-ups,' 'link-ups,' or 'pop-outs' among teenagers can quickly escalate into unsafe situations, with the potential for arrests and other problems. The malls have implemented youth escort policies to try to maintain control and ensure the safety of all visitors, but the police are urging parents to take an active role in monitoring their children's activities.

The details

Nearly two weeks ago, a 'meet-up' involving a large crowd of teenagers at the White Marsh Mall ended with the arrests of three minors. The Baltimore County Police Department has now posted a message to the public regarding these large gatherings of teenagers, encouraging parents and guardians to monitor their children's whereabouts, especially this weekend. The police have mentioned the White Marsh Mall, The Avenue at White Marsh, and the Towson Town Center as areas of concern, noting that all three places have youth escort policies in place.

  • Nearly two weeks ago, a 'meet-up' involving a large crowd of teenagers ended with the arrests of three minors.

The players

Baltimore County Police Department

The law enforcement agency responsible for the jurisdiction of Baltimore County, Maryland.

White Marsh Mall

A shopping mall located in White Marsh, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore.

The Avenue at White Marsh

An outdoor shopping center located in White Marsh, Maryland, near the White Marsh Mall.

Towson Town Center

A shopping mall located in Towson, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore.

John Ideli

A frequent visitor to the White Marsh Mall who expressed concerns about the large crowds of teenagers and the impact on retailers.

J.R. Fong

A frequent visitor to the White Marsh Mall who believes the kids need somewhere to go and should be given some leeway.

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What they’re saying

“When meet-ups occur, young people may quickly find themselves in large crowds, navigating potentially unsafe situations. Please stay in touch and have a plan to get home safely, keeping in mind that rideshares may be unavailable.”

— Baltimore County Police Department

“They need to have some type of control, there's a lot of people coming to the mall right now and they're fighting, they're stealing. They are making it hard for retailers to make profit in their shops, so that needs to be stopped. (The kids) need to have some type of guidance, (the mall) needs to stop them. It has been out of hand.”

— John Ideli, Frequent mall visitor

“These are kids, they need somewhere to go, too, so you've got to give them a little leeway.”

— J.R. Fong, Frequent mall visitor

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing the needs of teenagers for social spaces with the concerns of mall operators and the broader community about maintaining a safe and orderly environment. It underscores the importance of parental involvement and cooperation between law enforcement, malls, and the public to find constructive solutions that address the root causes of these issues.