Arrests of 19-Year-old, Teen Made In Connection To 8 Vehicle Thefts: HoCo Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Detectives with the Howard County Police Department have wrapped up eight vehicle theft cases they attribute to a nationwide trend to steal Hyundai and Kia cars.

Xavier Noel Mitchell, 19, of Laurel, has been charged in seven vehicle thefts/attempts carried out between August and October in Columbia, Laurel and a neighboring jurisdiction. A 15-year-old boy from Columbia has been charged in a separate case from March 16 that happened in Columbia.

It's recommended that residents take the following steps to make their vehicle less likely to be targeted, per the Howard County Police Department:

• Contact Hyundai (toll-free at 800-633-5151) or Kia (toll-free at 800-333-4542) for information on their anti-theft software update.
• Use a steering wheel lock. Even if the vehicle is started, it cannot be operated if the wheel lock is in place properly.
• Practice standard vehicle theft safety measures such as parking in a secured access lot or personal garage if possible.
• Always lock your doors and consider activating tracking software or adding a tracking device such as an AirTag to make it easier to locate if stolen.