A Maryland teen accused of breaking into and looting 121 cars was released from jail just hours after his arrest—and the crime spree appears to have continued. Laurel Police arrested the 16-year-old male last week after a rash of car break-ins on May 4 across Laurel, Prince George’s, and Howard Counties.
Surveillance footage showed three teens smashing windows and ransacking vehicles for valuables. Police identified the teen at his home, where they found stolen credit cards, 20 car keys, and other items. Laurel Police Chief Russ Hamill confirmed the teen was linked to all 121 break-ins. Despite the staggering number of crimes, the teen had no prior record, was not considered a flight risk, and was released the same day due to the “lower-level” nature of the charges.
Chief Hamill criticized the release, saying, “Five hours after we were at his house, he was released back into the community, back into the environment that allowed him to be out roaming the streets in all of these counties, late at night and in the early morning, doing these crimes to begin with.”
The day after the teen’s release, another 17 car break-ins were reported in the same area. While police stopped short of directly linking the teen to the new incidents, Hamill noted the pattern and the connection to the ongoing crime wave. Two other teens have also been identified as accomplices in the car thefts.
The 16-year-old faces charges of motor vehicle theft and multiple thefts from automobiles. Residents are expressing frustration over the swift release and the ongoing threat to their property.
