PG County Cracking Down On Stolen Disability Parking Placards

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD -- Police are conducting a crackdown on stolen disabled parking placards after recovering nearly a dozen of them during a recent traffic stop, police say.

Police arrested 23-year-old Darius Tyson during the traffic stop, and an investigation determined that he had targeted parked vehicles in Temple Hills, including a parking lot at a senior living facility, according to a statement from the Prince George's County Police Department.

Police say 192 placards were stolen out of parked vehicles since last July, and in 70 percent of cases, car windows were smashed.

“The stealing of disability parking placards is most egregious because of who the thieves are targeting," Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said in the statement. "All property crimes can affect the victims deeply. It costs money to repair any damages and there’s time away from work while dealing with insurance claims and getting lives back in order. That’s why I am launching a department-wide effort to crackdown on these placard thefts and all property crimes."

Officers assigned to each district station will begin "targeted enforcement" by checking placards to make sure they are not reported stolen.

Police urged residents with placards to keep them out of sight when they are not being used to park in a handicapped spot. Also, police advised residents to record the registration number in a separate place so if the placard is stolen, the number can be provided to police.

Image via PGPD