More than 20 airbags stolen from multiple Laurel, Maryland neighborhoods
More than 20 airbags were stolen from vehicles in multiple Laurel, Maryland, neighborhoods overnight Tuesday, according to local police.
Marcia, a Laurel resident, said police patrolled along her street on Wednesday morning.
"Around like seven or eight, I noticed my neighbor across the street was speaking with the police, and then my neighbors next door, they were outside inspecting their vehicle," Marcia said. "In a city I expected, but not in front of my apartment, where I live in Laurel. But that just shows you that crime is everywhere."
According to police, the airbag thefts were reported mostly in the Old Town community. Thefts were reported in the following locations:
- 15000 Block Haynes Road
- 200 Block Eleventh Street
- 1100 Block Snowden Place
- 600 Block Prince George Street
- 700 Block Park Avenue
- 900 Block Nichols Drive
- 500 Block Ninth Street
- 700 and 300 Block Laurel Avenue
- 900 and 1000 Block Phillip Powers Drive
- 14200 Block West Side Boulevard
Data from the police department shows there were 67 arrests for theft and larceny in the city in March, including 21 arrests for theft from auto vehicles.
Neighbors in Laurel told CBS News Baltimore that this is not the first time they've seen an uptick in car thefts.
"Last year, around like November-ish, my car was broken into, and other, I would say, another 11 vehicles were broken into as well," Marcia told WJZ. "I have a Hyundai Accent, it was Hyundais, Kias, and now it's Hondas."
"My sister's car got broken into, like, a year or two [ago], and at that point, I should have invested in a wheel lock. But you know that mentality of 'oh, it can't happen to me', but it can happen to anyone, if it can happen to anyone."
Theft offenses have increased by nearly 81% in the past four years, according to police data, with 63 cases reported in 2020 and 1,091 reported in 2024.
"A tip that the police officer gave me was, don't leave anything in your car, lotion, hand sanitizer, vacuums, anything," Marcia said.
Neighbors are being asked to share surveillance video or photos of the community taken during the evening or overnight hours on Tuesday or early morning Wednesday to aid in the airbag theft investigation.
"Hopefully, this problem is honestly resolved. It's honestly frustrating, and it makes us not feel safe in the neighborhood, especially having your vehicle vandalized in front of your apartment," Marcia said.
Similar thefts in Baltimore area
A similar crime trend occurred in the Baltimore area in 2023. At the time, a Baltimore auto shop owner raised concerns after 12 customers called in with stolen airbags on the driver's side within three months.
"Every other shop in this area probably has a few of them or have done a few of them in the last few months," said Loui Georgalas, the owner of Eastwood Body Shop. "It's a very common occurrence, and it's something we expect when we hear that they have a Honda that was broken into. We expect the airbag to be stolen."
In 2024, a teen and a man from Baltimore were found with dozens of stolen airbags in Howard County after police received several calls for thefts near Little Patuxent Parkway and Cedar Lane. Police said nine of the 31 airbags were stolen in Howard County, though it was unclear where the others came from.
