Heroin Drives Up Petty Theft in Harford County: Report

HARFORD COUNTY, MD - While other crimes have dropped this year in Harford County, the sheriff's office has reported that petty thefts are up, a trend officials have reportedly linked to heroin use.

The 23 percent increase in petty thefts can be attributed to addicts who turn to stealing "to supply their habit," Major William Davis of the Harford County Sheriff's Office told ABC 2 News.

Davis said that the main victims are retailers, hit by addicts stealing big-ticket items. To combat this, the Harford County Sheriff's Office dedicated a task force to tracking commercial crimes called "Area Law Enforcement Retail Together" (ALERT), which meets quarterly to discuss crime trends among local retailers.

Individuals are also easy targets, officials said. Thefts of opportunity have become so prevalent in one part of the county that the sheriff's office put up signage to remind residents to lock their cars.

The signs were installed in Constant Friendship, where the density and highway access were attractive to thieves looking to swipe items and get out quickly, sheriff's office spokeswoman Cristie Kahler told The Aegis.

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Throughout the holidays, the sheriff's office has issued reminders on social media for citizens to remain vigilant, with its personnel suggesting things like locking car doors and putting valuables out of sight.

The increase in petty thefts comes as the number of fatalities from heroin overdoses in Harford has risen; in October, the death toll from heroin in Harford County eclipsed the 2015 total of 27 fatal heroin-related overdoses.

For the first time in county history, Harford this year put money toward combating the heroin problem specifically, setting aside $100,000.

The county launched a public awareness campaign and established programs to support those moving from active addiction into recovery, winning national recognition for innovation. Each week, the sheriff's office has been updating signs outside its offices to reflect the number of fatal and nonfatal overdoses in Harford County.

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