Over 20 vehicles burglarized in Old Town Laurel overnight, police investigate

Thieves tore through Old Town Laurel and nearby Laurel neighborhoods overnight, hitting more than 20 vehicles and stealing airbags in a burst that left residents facing repairs, insurance claims and another round of uncertainty about whether their block is being watched.

Laurel police said the thefts happened on April 22, 2026, and asked residents to send in doorbell and security-camera footage as investigators worked to identify the suspects. The department said the crimes stretched across multiple Laurel neighborhoods, adding to the sense that this was not a one-off nuisance but a coordinated strike aimed at parked cars.

The overnight break-ins have also revived a broader worry in the City of Laurel, where police have dealt with earlier waves of vehicle crime that reached far beyond a single street. In one prior spree, police said thieves broke into almost 50 cars within city limits in one night and also hit areas in Howard County and Prince George's County. In another case, more than 100 vehicles were broken into across Laurel and nearby parts of the two counties.

Police have already linked one major Laurel-area case to a teenager. In May 2025, Laurel police said a 16-year-old was arrested in connection with more than 100 thefts from cars across multiple Maryland counties. FOX 5 DC later reported that the teen was tied to 47 break-ins in Laurel, 38 in Prince George's County and 17 in Howard County after a search warrant. That history is why the latest airbag thefts are being viewed by many residents as part of an ongoing pattern rather than random vandalism.

For people parking overnight in Old Town Laurel, the cost is immediate. Airbag thefts can leave cars undriveable, send owners to repair shops, and trigger insurance paperwork that often takes longer than the theft itself. As police look for suspects and review video, the latest spree adds another layer of pressure on a neighborhood that has already seen how quickly a quiet night can turn into a costly one.