Two Business Break-Ins: Columbia Crime

The Howard County Police Department provided the following information about recent crimes in the area.

There was a break-in at George of New York in the 8800 block of Centre Park Drive, reported at 4:47 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10. The front door glass was shattered, and cash had been stolen from the hair salon.

A hole was cut in the side door at the Staples in the 9000 block of Snowden River Parkway sometime between 11:15 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10, and 12:15 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 11. Nothing was reported stolen from the store.

Police are investigating whether an assault and robbery by an acquaintance may be drug-related. At 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9, a person who had picked up an acquaintance and taken him to a nearby gas station was assaulted in the 5400 block of Harpers Farm Road. The acquaintance took cash from the vehicle, assaulted the victim and fled. There were no serious injuries as a result of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.

A person went into a residence in the 8900 block of Skyrock Court when nobody was home at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11. Cash was missing. The suspect was somebody the resident knew; the investigation continues.

A screen was cut to access a garage in the 5600 block of Millwheel Place sometime between 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, and 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9. Nothing was reported stolen.