In yet another sign of the growing crime wave sweeping our nation under the Biden administration, a man in Washington, D.C., is raising the alarm after his car was stolen right from under his nose, despite the fact that he still had the vehicle’s key fob in his possession. This incident is a stark reminder of the deteriorating public safety situation in cities across America, where criminals are becoming more brazen by the day.
Benjamin Bragg-Reynolds, the victim of this alarming car theft, recounted his experience on “Good Morning America,” sharing his disbelief and frustration. It was a cold evening last winter when Bragg-Reynolds ran out to start his car, intending to let it warm up while he quickly went back inside to fetch his dog. What happened next was a scenario that no law-abiding citizen should ever have to face.
“I went into the house to get the dog. When I turned around to come back out, the car was gone,” Bragg-Reynolds said, still clearly shocked by the ease with which his vehicle was stolen. Like many Americans, he was under the impression that modern cars equipped with key fobs couldn’t be driven away unless the fob was inside the vehicle. “I was under the impression that you can start it and walk away from it, but it won’t move unless the key is in the vehicle,” he added. “I never would have started it and left it had I known it could move.”
But this incident is more than just an unfortunate mishap; it’s a symptom of a larger problem. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has acknowledged that the theft of unlocked, running cars has become a persistent issue in the nation’s capital. “You’ll see cars running in front of restaurants, at gas stations. It’s unfortunately a common thing that people are doing—leaving their cars running unattended,” said MPD Lt. Scott Dowling.
This surge in car thefts isn’t just confined to Washington, D.C. It’s part of a disturbing national trend. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of car thefts across the country has been steadily increasing since 2019. By 2023, more than 1 million cars were stolen nationwide, a staggering figure that reflects the growing lawlessness in American cities. Under the current administration, criminals are emboldened, knowing that the consequences for their actions are often minimal or nonexistent.
For Bragg-Reynolds, the ordeal didn’t end with the theft. His car was eventually recovered in Baltimore, but by then, the damage had been done—literally. “They took it for a joyride, apparently. It was several days before I actually got the car. There was quite a bit of damage, $5,000 worth of damage to the car,” he said. This is the kind of costly lesson that no hardworking American should have to learn the hard way.
Automakers have been quick to point out that there are ways to prevent these kinds of thefts, advising drivers to consult their car’s owner’s manual for features like remote start systems that prevent the car from moving without the key fob present. But let’s be clear: the real issue here isn’t a lack of technology—it’s the lack of law and order. Drivers shouldn’t have to resort to using tracking devices like Apple AirTags or Tiles to protect their vehicles from theft. The fact that some police departments, including the MPD, are now offering free tracking devices to the public speaks volumes about the current state of affairs.
This is what happens when leadership in Washington turns a blind eye to the crime crisis plaguing our cities. Instead of focusing on real solutions to keep our streets safe, this administration is more concerned with pushing its progressive agenda and defunding the police. The result? Law-abiding citizens like Benjamin Bragg-Reynolds are left to fend for themselves as criminals run rampant.
It’s time for a change. It’s time to restore law and order in America. And that starts with leadership that puts the safety of its citizens first. Until then, incidents like this will continue to serve as a grim reminder of what happens when crime is allowed to flourish unchecked.
