Baltimore County Police Crack Down on 'Teen Takeovers'

Large crowds of young people disrupt malls and shopping centers through social media-promoted events

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:40am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a damaged car mirror or sensor, capturing the gritty, stark details of the vandalized object under harsh flash lighting against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the disruption caused by 'teen takeover' events in Baltimore County.As 'teen takeover' events disrupt Baltimore County malls, police work to curb the growing threat of social media-fueled public disturbances.Baltimore Today

Baltimore County police are working to address the growing issue of 'teen takeovers' at local malls and shopping centers, where large groups of young people gather and cause disruptions after being promoted through social media. The most recent incident occurred in early March at the White Marsh Mall, resulting in several arrests. While the economic impact is unclear, business leaders and shoppers say the gatherings are a major disruption. Police are actively monitoring social media for any upcoming 'teen linkup' events and have resources in place to respond quickly.

Why it matters

These 'teen takeovers' are a growing concern for Baltimore County, as they can lead to property damage, public safety issues, and economic disruption for local businesses. The police are taking a proactive approach to curb these events before they escalate further.

The details

In the most recent incident on March 7, a large group of young people caused chaos at the White Marsh Mall, leading to several arrests on charges including second-degree assault and disorderly conduct. Witnesses described the group 'doing whatever they wanted to do,' including disrespecting people, jumping on cars, and holding up traffic. While teen takeovers are not a localized issue, they are believed to be a spin-off of illegal street racing demonstrations, which have decreased due to a crackdown by Maryland State Police.

  • The last 'teen takeover' incident happened in early March at the White Marsh Mall.
  • Police have obtained an advisory of a 'teen linkup' event planned for April 25 at Towson Town Center.

The players

Tony Yarborough

A witness who was caught in the middle of the March 7 incident at White Marsh Mall.

Nancy Hafford

The executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce, who said no one showed up for the last three 'linkup' promotions.

Harmeet Taneja

A business owner in the area who said he has not been personally impacted by the gatherings.

Todd McGee

A store manager who said the disruptions are more of a disruption than an impact on his business.

Ryan Day

A shopper who said he would look for other options if he knew a 'teen takeover' was coming.

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What they’re saying

“I just saw them doing whatever they wanted to do out here. I mean, disrespecting people, jumping on cars, holding up traffic.”

— Tony Yarborough, Witness

“The police are also seeing the post. So, they're very aware this is going to happen. So, how foolish of anyone to go to the mall or any other place when that type of event is promoted.”

— Nancy Hafford, Executive Director, Towson Chamber of Commerce

“Kind of look at what other options there are. I guess I'd go back to the drawing board. Should I just order it online?”

— Ryan Day, Shopper

What’s next

Baltimore County police are actively monitoring social media for any upcoming 'teen linkup' events and have resources in place to respond immediately to curb the disruptions.

The takeaway

These 'teen takeovers' highlight the growing challenge of managing large, disruptive gatherings organized through social media. While the economic impact may be unclear, the public safety concerns and potential for property damage make this an issue that requires a proactive response from local law enforcement.