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More than 30 thefts of valuable items—including laptops, mobile telephones and global positioning systems—have been tied to four men who Montgomery County Police say were running a theft-from-autos ring to gain the attention of gang members.

Charged are Wilmer Jose Duron-Euceda, 21, of the 11800 block of Collegeview Drive in Silver Spring, and Juan Carlos Dominguez, 29, of the 6700 block of Darby Road in Hyattsville, according to online court records. Both have been charged with theft of less than $1,000 and conspiracy to commit theft of less than $1,000.

Warrants have been issued for Edwin Miguel Villanueva, 19, of Silver Spring, and Oscar Saul Rodriguez-Ramos, 26, of Hyattsville, according to Cpl. Dan Friz, a Montgomery County Police spokesman. An Edwin Miguel Villanueva charged with theft of under $500 in November is listed in online court records as having the same Silver Spring address as Duron-Euceda; an Oscar Saul Rodriguez-Ramos listed in online court records for traffic violations is listed as having the same Hyattsville address as Dominguez.

Duron-Euceda was released on $7,500 bond Feb. 7, and Dominguez will next appear in Montgomery County District Court March 8.

The thefts, which Friz estimated netted more than 70 items valued at more than $5,000 in electronics and other items, occurred in Wheaton, Rockville and Bethesda and spread to Howard and Prince George's counties, he said.

"These guys are pretty widespread," Friz said. "They have been busy."

Police do not believe the suspect are active members of the violent street gang Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, but that the crimes may have been committed by "wannabes" trying to impress more sophisticated members of the gang, Friz said.

The break in the case came during a routine traffic stop on Maple Avenue in Rockville in December when an officer noticed multiple GPS systems and other electronics in the back seat of a car, Friz said. Later, on Feb. 4, police conducted a search of the Silver Spring and Hyattsville homes and found the items. Additional charges could be coming as police investigate how the men obtained all of the items, Friz said.

Theft from cars has become a major crime in the county, and "it's totally preventable," Friz said, "if people would stop leaving valuables in sight in cars and leaving doors unlocked."