Baltimore County Police charge two teens after rash of car thefts

Baltimore County police have made two arrests after a string of vehicle thefts in Arbutus and Lansdowne that began in mid-August.

Police arrested one Arbutus teenager Oct. 6 and another Oct. 10 and charged each with five counts of grand theft auto, Baltimore County Police Det. Cathy Batton said.

Batton said the 16- and 17-year-old will be charged for their roles in five of the 19 vehicle thefts and attempted thefts that took place over a two-month period starting Aug. 18.

Police had arrested two other teens Oct. 5, but they were released without charges filed, Batton said.

"Since those arrests, it has stopped," Wilkens Police Station commander Capt. John Spiroff said of the car thefts.

Additional charges may be brought against the teens as the investigation continues, Batton said.

The 19 incidents involved 10 Dodge, three Chrysler, two Plymouth and two Jeep vehicles as well as one Toyota and one Chevrolet.

Vehicle models between 1994 and 2006 have been the primary targets for the thefts, which took place between 1 and 4 a.m.

Each of the vehicles the teens are charged with stealing was part of the Chrysler family of cars.

More specific information about how the teens stole the vehicles was unavailable as of Thursday morning, Batton said.