He breaks into car dealerships up and down Rockville Pike night after night after night.

He’s looking for keys to the cars in the lot, but as security camera images show, he’ll also stop and look for a snack in a fridge, taking ice cream or even candy.

He also keeps getting caught.

“We’ve had three encounters with this individual all for felonies,” said Rockville City Police Chief Victor Brito.

But the chief said he and his officers are powerless to stop this individual because the perpetrator is 12 years old and Maryland’s recently reformed juvenile justice laws don’t allow criminal charges against those under 13 except for the most serious violent crimes.

Between Rockville City Police and Montgomery County Police, the child has been caught breaking and entering, and in stolen cars, 10 times, including on Tuesday night.

“We have to release them immediately,” Brito said. “We can’t charge them, so they’re released back to their parents.”

Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy added, “And the next night it happens again. And the next night it happens again.”

McCarthy and Chief Brito are among those now reacting to the 7News On Your Side coverage of this story, saying it is time for Maryland’s legislature to revisit Maryland’s juvenile justice laws.

“Go back to some of the things they’ve done that continue to cause problems that don’t work in the real world,” McCarthy said.

Brito said, “I think they’re doing not only him but the entire state a disservice we’re not looking to incarcerate the child. We’re looking to change the behavior.”

Last Spring the legislature adopted, and the governor signed, a slight tightening of the law that calls for a mandatory supervision program for kids under 13 who steal cars.

That goes into effect on November 1. Critics say the programs don’t exist, and in this case, the child is a D.C. resident and likely couldn’t be compelled to cooperate, anyway.

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