Montgomery County Police public information officer Degan Bartels used his brand-new 2026 Honda Civic to film a department PSA warning residents about rising auto thefts. Weeks later, someone stole it from his apartment parking garage.
The car disappeared between the night of July 24 and the morning of July 25 from Bartels' building in the Rockville area. A vehicle was also stolen from McAuliffe Drive in Potomac that same weekend, between July 25 and July 26, according to MCPD's crime summary.
He had owned the hybrid hatchback less than two months.
"Obviously, I didn't follow the tips that were outlined in the video because now my car is gone," Bartels told Bethesda Magazine on Aug. 1. "But it's a very ironic situation because the next time I see my car will be in the auto theft PSA most likely. Unless it's recovered."
His case is one data point in a countywide surge. Auto thefts in Montgomery County are up 20% in 2026 compared to last year, according to MCPD Capt. Cody Fields. Police had arrested more than 90 juveniles and more than 40 adults in connection with vehicle thefts as of Aug. 1.
Key fob cloning suspected in surge
Fields said key fob cloning devices are a suspected driver of the spike. The devices scan radio frequencies to replicate a car's key fob signal, letting criminals unlock and start push-to-start vehicles without a physical key.
How Potomac residents can protect their vehicles
MCPD recommends several steps:
- Use a steering wheel lock. The department has a limited supply of free locks available and is working to obtain more. Call the 1st District station at 240-773-6070 to check availability.
- Purchase a Faraday bag for push-to-start key fobs. Storing the fob inside blocks the signal from cloning devices.
- Install a GPS tracker on the vehicle.
- Park in well-lit areas and never leave the car running unattended.
- Remove valuables and keep doors locked.
The 1st District station is at 100 Edison Park Drive in Gaithersburg, open 6 a.m. to midnight daily.
If your car is stolen
Bartels said the most important step is reporting the theft to police immediately. Officers enter the vehicle and plates into a national database, and license plate readers across the region can flag it. As of Aug. 1, Bartels' Honda had not been recovered.
Residents can report auto thefts or suspicious activity by calling the 1st District station at 240-773-6070.
