Gator Stolen Near Howard Community College: Columbia Crime

COLUMBIA, MD - The Howard County Police Department provided the following information about recent incidents in Columbia. They range from crimes of opportunity, with unlocked vehicles attracting suspects, to the unpredictable.

In one case, police said robbers got out of a vehicle and ambushed the driver behind them on Tamar Drive; in another, authorities said burglars tried to haul an ATM from a gas station on Little Patuxent Parkway.

Multiple vehicles were ransacked in Columbia in recent days, according to police. Six unlocked vehicles were accessed in the area of Tamar Drive and Footed Ridge during the overnight hours between July 15 and 17.

In a separate incident, thefts from multiple vehicles were reported in the 5400 block of Vantage Point Road at 1:10 p.m. on July 15.

A Gator was stolen from the 6000 block of Scholarship Drive. The location is on the campus of Howard Community College. The utility vehicle was reported stolen at 11:42 p.m. on July 17.

A laptop was taken from the 11400 block of Little Patuxent Parkway in a residential burglary reported at 9:58 p.m. on July 17.

Tires were taken off a vehicle in the 5000 block of Columbia Road. The theft was reported at 5:59 a.m. on July 17.

A man was robbed while he was driving on Tamar Drive at Stonecutter Road.

After a vehicle stopped ahead of him at the intersection, three suspects emerged and pulled him from his car, assaulted him and stole his cash.

Nobody was seriously injured, and the investigation is ongoing into the robbery, which was reported at 12:34 a.m. on July 15.

People who tried to steal an ATM settled for cigarettes instead at a gas station in Columbia.

At 4 a.m. on July 14, the suspects broke the glass door and frame to the Exxon in the 10100 block of Little Patuxent Parkway.

After unsuccessfully attempting to haul off the ATM, police said the suspects left with tobacco products.

A 2007 black Honda CRV was stolen from the 6000 block of Barley Corn Row, reported at 7:53 a.m. on July 17. The vehicle had Maryland tags that said: "3CA7209."

A 2000 black Honda Accord was stolen from the 7600 block of Woodpark Lane, reported at 10:27 a.m. on July 14. It had Maryland tags that say: "1CX7796."

There was an attempt to steal a Honda Civic from the 6200 block of Stevens Forest Road, reported at 7:17 a.m. on July 16.

Two bicycles were stolen from a residential garage in the 9000 block of Philip Dorsey Way. The burglary occurred between June 24 and July 11, and the garage may have been left unlocked.

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