Howard County police have arrested 13 people, including 11 teenagers, in connection with 35 vehicle thefts over the summer, with most of the arrests taking place in July. Investigators recovered three handguns and seven key-reprogramming devices during the investigation, and they say the group used stolen cars to commit other crimes, sell them, strip them for parts, and joyride.
According to WBAL News Radio, detectives believe the suspects are also linked to various crimes in neighboring jurisdictions, though the extent of those connections has not been detailed. A separate account from Fox Baltimore described detectives as believing the group was responsible for at least 35 vehicle thefts between the spring and July, when most of them were arrested — a slightly different framing of the same case than the exact total WBAL reported.
Two of those arrested were identified as adults: 18-year-old David Hernandez-Hernandez of Baltimore and 18-year-old Nicholas Hernandez of Elkridge. The rest were teenagers — two 17-year-old boys from Columbia, two 17-year-old boys from Elkridge, three 16-year-old boys from Columbia, Elkridge and Laurel, two 16-year-old boys from Odenton, a 15-year-old boy from Brooklyn, and a 15-year-old boy from Laurel, the station's report states.
Small Crews, Specific Targets
Investigators believe the suspects often operated in small groups, each with its own preferred targets. One crew mostly targeted Hondas and Acuras along Washington Boulevard, while another focused on higher-end Chevrolet and Dodge models, per the same account. The pattern echoes a spike reported earlier in the year, when 17 vehicles were stolen across Howard County in a single six-day stretch between July 18 and July 23, according to Patch — six of them Hondas.
The numbers tell a broader story about which cars are being targeted countywide. Police received 130 reports of thefts involving Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Acura, Chevrolet and Dodge vehicles from May 1 through July 31, 2026, the article notes. From Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, there were 77 reported thefts of those same vehicle types — though Fox Baltimore's version of the same window describes 77 thefts rather than reports, a distinction neither outlet resolved. Fox Baltimore also reported that the arrests coincided with a 41 percent decrease in thefts of the most frequently stolen models, though the comparison period behind that figure wasn't detailed.
Guns And Cloned Keys Recovered
Beyond the vehicles themselves, the case turned up weapons and tools investigators say enabled the thefts. The key-reprogramming devices recovered during the investigation are used to generate keys and clone transponders, allowing thieves to start and drive off with vehicles that weren't theirs. Combined with the three handguns found during the probe, the haul points to a group prepared for more than simple joyriding.
Free Theft-Prevention Clinic Saturday In Laurel
Howard County police are following the arrests with a free vehicle identification number etching event aimed at preventing future thefts. The clinic runs Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southern District Station, 11226 Scaggsville Road in Laurel, and is open to everyone with no appointment necessary; the service itself takes only minutes. VIN etching involves engraving a vehicle's unique identification number onto all major pieces of glass, serving as both a theft deterrent and a way for police to return a stolen vehicle to its rightful owner.
Police will also hand out free steering wheel locks to Hyundai and Kia owners while supplies last, a response to those brands' vehicles being among the most frequently targeted in the thefts. Residents with questions about the VIN-etching event can reach the department's Auto Theft Unit at 410-313-1035.
