Woman Finds Stranger In Home: Columbia Crime

COLUMBIA, MD - The Howard County Police Department provided the following information about recent incidents. Arrests do not indicate convictions.

Two vehicles were broken into in the 10000 block of Town Center Avenue on Aug. 28. A laptop, tablet and clothing were stolen in the incidents, reported at 11:19 a.m., after the windows were shattered.

Cash, laptops, personal documents and clothing were stolen from a residence in the 5400 block of Harpers Farm Road between 10:30 a.m. and 8:20 p.m. on Aug. 27. The burglar(s) got in by prying the front door open.

A woman found a man she did not know inside a home in the 6400 block of Sewells Orchard Drive. When she yelled, the man left and nothing was taken. The man was described as tall with an average build and of unknown race. He was wearing a dark-colored hoodie at the time of the burglary at 3:20 a.m. on Aug. 26.

Three teens were charged in connection with a vehicle theft in the 11200 block of Pear Tree Way. The 2007 black Lincoln Town Car was recovered at approximately 3:45 p.m on Aug. 25. An 18-year-old from Baltimore, a 17-year-old from Columbia and a 16-year-old from Windsor Mill were charged.

Nearby:

A skimming device was found at the Exxon in the 7300 block of Washington Boulevard in Elkridge. A resident reported the security tape was damaged or missing on the pumps at 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 28. Officers found one pump had a skimming device installed inside. Police previously said there have been about 30 skimmers found in Howard County since the beginning of the year.

Three men wearing ski masks, hoodies and gloves forced their way into a man's vehicle in the 4400 block of Cross Country Drive in Ellicott City but did not take anything. When officers responded to the area, they found four other vehicles had been entered, and an E-Z Pass and multi-tool were stolen. The vehicle break-ins occurred on Cross Country Drive, South Meadow Court and Maxine Street between 2:30 and 2:50 a.m. on Aug. 28.

A woman walking her dog in Jessup was the victim of an indecent exposure. The man asked her for directions on Sheffield Court at Castleford Drive at 8:37 a.m., then exposed himself. She ran home and called police, who located the suspect. A 21-year-old from the 8200 block of Washington Boulevard in Jessup was charged with indecent exposure.

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