BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) — A Baltimore-area auto group indicates it’s seeing the impact of the alarming rate of car thefts around the region.

“We’ve seen an uptick in customers that have come in and have had their cars stolen,” said Craig Farmer, a Corporate Executive at Len Stoler Automotive in Owings Mills.

Farmer tells FOX45 News the customer trend has been more prevalent for the auto group over the last eight months.

“We’ve probably seen at least a – I’d say anywhere from a 5-8 percent increase in customers that have come in that have had a car stolen and obviously they need to have their car replaced,” said Farmer.

While car thieves are targeting vehicles across the region – the data is closely tracked and reported weekly in Baltimore City.

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According to data from the Baltimore Police Department, 8,812 auto thefts were reported between January 1, 2023 – October 14, 2023.

During the same period in 2022, BPD data reported 2,682 auto thefts.

In neighboring Baltimore County, law enforcement recently warned of a 175 percent increase in auto thefts year-over-year.

Some attribute the rise in car thefts nationwide to a TikTok challenge, which law enforcement says often prompts juveniles to hotwire vulnerable models of Hyundais and Kias.

“A great deal of harm comes to the brand itself — anytime something like this gains traction,” said Farmer.

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In some cases, Farmer said customers who fall victim to car thieves look to replace their vehicles with a different make and model altogether.

“We’ve had some customers come in that have had this happen and they’ve asked about other brands that we carry versus the one that they just lost,” he said.

Farmer told FOX45 News he encourages any drivers with a vulnerable make and model to contact a local dealership to schedule a free security software update.

“The manufacturers — they’re doing everything they can to get in front of this,” he said.