Burglars Targeting Newer, Large Homes In Baltimore County: Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — There have been more than a dozen home burglaries in Baltimore County that officials are investigating as related. Money, safes, jewelry, handbags and personal identity documents were taken, police said. At a meeting at the Fasig Tipton building at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium Tuesday night, police asked residents who notice suspicious activities in their communities to call 911 immediately.

Single-family homes were struck in the Cockeysville, Sparks Glencoe, Mays Chapel, Owings Mills and Pikesville communities.

Most of the crimes occurred between 5:30 and 8:15 p.m., according to officials.

The video above shows a burglary attempt in Towson at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, according to Fox 45, which reported at Tuesday's 90-meeting that police said the department has "adjusted resources" to respond to the 18 home burglaries.

Approximately six burglaries occurred between Jan. 10 to Jan. 17, according to the Baltimore County Police Department's crime trends reporting.

The pace appears to have accelerated, as police said prior to that, eight burglaries were reported in the three-month period between Oct. 10 and Jan. 10.

The burglars are targeting "larger homes, more expensive homes in secluded areas," Corporal Shawn Vinson of the Baltimore County Police Department told WJZ.

The suspects are using force to get into newer homes, where in three cases the residents were there during the burglary, according to WBAL. Alarms were reportedly not a deterrent in the burglaries, which were completed in about 10 minutes, police said.

"A good neighbor can be one of the best crime prevention tools," the Baltimore County Police Department said in a statement about crime prevention.

Here are some burglary prevention tips from Baltimore County Police Department:

• Ensure areas around the home are well lit; lighting deters burglars.
• Install special locks such as hidden shackle locks and disc brake locks, which burglars do not like.
• Lock doors and windows.
• Install a "charlie bar" between patio sliding doors and the doorjamb.

Image via Shutterstock.