A 16-year-old boy tied to more than 100 car break-ins across Maryland was released just hours after his arrest — only to allegedly reoffend again, according to the Laurel Police Department.

On Wednesday, Laurel police officials held a news conference providing an update after a large-scale car break-in spree was reported in the early morning hours of May 4.

According to police, 47 break-ins were reported in Laurel, 38 in Prince George’s County and 17 in Howard County.

Laurel Police Chief Russ Hamill said a search warrant at the teen’s home led to the recovery of numerous stolen items, including nearly 20 sets of car keys and several credit cards. The chief said police “managed to link him to all 121 events throughout the region.”

However, five hours after being taken into custody, Hamill said the teen was released back into the community.

“The young man was arrested and brought to the station, and I would like to tell you that’s the end of the story there. But that’s not the end of the story,” Hamill said.

Hamill said Laurel detectives asked the State’s Attorney’s Office to request that the Department of Juvenile Services hold the teen in custody due to the nature of his crimes.

“We don’t do this lightly,” said Hamill. “We don’t ask for young people to be held on a whim. We do so to help protect the community.”

Hamill said the teen was released due to his lack of a prior record and that he was not a flight risk.

“Although I would offer well over 100 cases in one night, gives you a pretty good record,” Hamill said. “These were not violent crimes, as if that lessens the impact on those 121 victims.

“So yes, five hours after we were at his house, he was released back into the community, back into the environment that allowed him to be out roaming the streets in all of these counties, late at night and in the early morning, doing these crimes to begin with,” Hamill said.

Police said that two more suspects in the break-in spree have been identified and are expected to be taken into custody later Wednesday.

Police have footage of a group of people roaming around parking lots, some of them wearing headlamps, and smashing windows to break into the cars.

“We know you are very, very upset about these crimes. We know the adverse effects it has on you and your families and the police department you see up here today, we care,” Hamill said. “We take action that we need to take to help protect you and try to help make you whole. The system’s broken, but it’s not broken here.”

Police said the 16-year-old will face charges of motor vehicle theft and multiple thefts from automobiles.

Officials are also working to identify the owners of the stolen vehicles and “reunite them with their belongings.”

Anyone with information about any of the break-ins can contact police at 301-498-0092.