Police Arrest Teen In Connection To Theft Of More Than 100 Vehicles

LAUREL, MD — A 16-year-old from Beltsville has been arrested in connection to the burglaries of more than 100 vehicles in Laurel and surrounding areas May 4.

Some of the break-ins spilled over into neighboring Howard and Anne Arundel counties.

The teen was arrested during an early morning search warrant at his Beltsville home. He will face charges of motor vehicle theft and multiple thefts from automobiles. The teen was found with the keys to the stolen vehicle used in these crimes, as well as keys to 25 other vehicles and several stolen items.

Investigators will work to identify the owners of the stolen property and reunite them with their belongings, stated the Laurel Police Department.

However, Laurel Police Chief Russ Hamill told WTOP that after the teen was arrested, Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services ordered the boy to be released. He was back at his home hours later.

“They noted that he did not have a prior record, although I would offer well over 100 cases in one night gives you a pretty good record to go on, that he was not a flight risk … and that these were not violent crimes, as if that lessens the impact on those 121 victims,” Hamill said.

Hamill said he invited the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to a community meeting next week to discuss the situation.

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