Columbia Police Blotter: Home Break-Ins, Bathroom Robbery

The Howard County Police Department provided the following information about recent crime reports in Columbia. Arrests do not indicate convictions.

Three Break-Ins Reported in Columbia

A vacant home was burglarized in the 9600 block of Whiteacre Road after the suspect(s) broke a side window. The incident was reported at 8:39 p.m. on Aug. 26.

There was an attempted break-in to a residence in Oakland Mills, reported at 4 p.m. on Aug. 26. Someone tried to push the back window to get into a residence in the 5800 block of Thunder Hill Road, but was unsuccessful.

Some items went missing while something else was left behind after a burglary in north Columbia. Residents found a backpack in their hallway that didn’t belong to anyone living there, reported at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 25. Jewelry, a TV and food were missing from the residence, located in the 5100 block of Brook Way.

UPDATE: A 20-year-old Hanover man from the 6300 block of Hanover Crossing Way was charged in connection with an Aug. 17 attempted burglary in Columbia. In that incident, a resident saw the suspect try to climb through a rear slider door in the 5300 block of Tarkington Place and confronted the man, who ran away. He was charged with four counts of burglary and one count of malicious destruction of property, and was being held at the Howard County Detention Center on Aug. 25.

Attempted Street Robbery; Bathroom Robbery

A stranger knocked a pedestrian to the ground and went through his pockets on Aug. 24. The victim was walking in the 9500 block of Farewell Road at approximately 12:30 p.m. when someone he didn’t know came up to him, hit him in the mouth and knocked him to the ground, then went through his pockets. Nothing was taken.

A woman was in the restroom in the 10700 block of Charter Drive when a woman she didn’t know stole her cell phone. The theft was reported at 4:42 p.m. on Aug. 22.

Theft from HoCo High Schools

Local high schools have been targeted in a series of copper wire thefts. Wiring was stolen from three stadium lights at Mount Hebron on Aug. 25, and in the same night, there was an attempt to steal copper wire from stadium lights at Long Reach High School. Police said there have been five thefts or attempted thefts of copper wire from stadium lights at local high schools, and authorities are investigating the cases.

Neighborhood on Alert

Roads were closed in a Columbia neighborhood for approximately three hours on Aug. 26 as police investigated a call for service, according to a report from the Howard County Police Department.

At 6:17 p.m. on Aug. 26, officers responded to the 7100 block of Peace Chimes Court after a neighbor reported a possible suicide in progress, according to police spokeswoman Mary Phelan. Police evacuated homes of those living immediately adjacent to the woman’s residence, while residents on Stag Horn Path and Bright Soul were encouraged to remain inside, Phelan said.

Tactical teams were reportedly dispatched to the area and roads were barricaded. When officers entered the home, they found a woman who was deceased, according to police.

Stag Horn Path, Bright Soul and Peace Chimes Court reopened at approximately 9:30 p.m., according to Phelan.

Anyone who may be suicidal is encouraged to contact Howard County’s Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center at 410-531-6677. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also has a 24/7 hotline available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).