Crime & Safety

Police Looking for Airbag Thief

A few drops of blood in the Olde Towne garage could be a link to the thief, police say.

Have you seen David Alexander Portillo-Henriquez?

If you have, County 6th District Police want to know. They have issued a warrant for 25-year-old Portillo-Henriquez (aka Augustin Portillo Gonzales) for theft between $1,000 and $10,000 in connection with 15 or possibly 30 airbag thefts last year.

On Nov. 9 someone broke the window of a 2008 white Nissan Altima parked on the third level of the garage sometime between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. When the 27-year-old woman who owns the car returned, she found the airbag and a roll of quarters had been stolen, police said.

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A few drops of blood were found in the car as well.

Last month police were able to match the blood to Portillo-Henriquez, of no known address, through a national DNA database.

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He is know to frequent Ft. Washington and Talbot County in Maryland and Fairfax, VA.

Throughout the fall of last year, there were 30 thefts of airbags in Gaithersburg, and 15 of them the windows of unattended Nissans were broken.

Police can't say for sure if Portillo-Henriquez can be connected to any of the other thefts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the 6th District station at 240-773-5700.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or 240-773-TIPS (8477).


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