Howard County police arrest 11 juveniles, two 18-year-olds tied to summer car thefts

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — Howard County police announced the arrest of 11 juveniles and two 18-year-olds in connection with various vehicle thefts over the summer.

From May 1 to July 31, Howard County police reported 130 thefts involving Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Acura, Chevrolet, and Dodge vehicles.

From August 1 to October 31, police reported 77 thefts of the same makes and models.

The following individuals were arrested for various vehicle theft charges:

• David Hernandez-Hernandez, 18, of Baltimore
• Nicholas Hernandez, 18, of Elkridge
• Juvenile male, 17, of Columbia
• Juvenile male, 17, of Columbia
• Juvenile male, 17, of Elkridge
• Juvenile male, 17, of Elkridge
• Juvenile male, 16, of Columbia
• Juvenile male, 16, of Elkridge
• Juvenile male, 16, of Laurel
• Juvenile male, 16, of Odenton
• Juvenile male, 16, of Odenton
• Juvenile male, 15, of Brooklyn
• Juvenile male, 15, of Laurel

Detectives believe the suspects were responsible for at least 35 vehicle thefts between the spring and July, when most of them were arrested.

The suspects often operated in small groups. One group primarily targeted Hondas and Acuras along Washington Boulevard (Route 1), while another focused on higher-end Chevrolets and Dodges.

During the investigation, detectives found seven key reprogramming devices used to generate keys and clone transponders, allowing the suspects to steal vehicles in minutes.

Officials said they also recovered three handguns.

The suspects used these stolen vehicles for various purposes, including committing additional crimes, selling parts, stripping vehicles for parts, or joyriding.

Officials noted that these arrests resulted in a 41 percent decrease in thefts of the most frequently stolen vehicle models.

Detectives are continuing to review evidence to link them to additional cases in Howard County and suspect they may be involved in various crimes in neighboring jurisdictions as well.

In response to these vehicle thefts, Howard County Police are offering a free vehicle identification number (VIN) etching auto theft prevention event on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at its Southern District Station, located at 11226 Scaggsville Road in Laurel.

For more information about the VIN etching or this event, contact HCPD’s auto theft unit at 410-313-1035.