Dundalk Man Charged in Historic Gate Theft: Police

A Dundalk man has been charged in connection with the disappearance of two historic gates from Battle Acre Park, police said Friday.

Related: Historic Gates Disappear from Battle Acre Park in Dundalk

Surveillance footage and other investigative tools pointed to George Elias Sotirakis, 34, of the 2500 block of West Woodwell Road, as the suspect after the gates went missing in June, according to a report form the Baltimore County Police Department.

A contractor who had been working on the park’s renovation reported the gates missing June 30, police said.

Since then, detectives have gotten information from local scrapyards and now believe that the 100-year-old gates have already been scrapped, police said.

They were worth approximately $10,000 because of their history and will cost $4,000 to be replaced, according to the report.

Sotirakis was charged with theft from $10,000 to under $100,000.

Police said Sotirakis has been released on $50,000 bail.

The Baltimore County Police Department’s Pawn, Precious Metals and Scrap Metal Team continues to investigate.

Photo Credit: Baltimore County Police Department. Pictured, George Elias Sotirakis at the time he was booked.