Employee Assaulted Trying To Stop Shoplifter + Church Break-In: Howard County Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A Walmart employee who tried to stop a suspect stealing merchandise was assaulted April 12 while three teens pulled a gun on a store employee April 13 as they were breaking into the business, Howard County Police say.

On April 12 around 8:30 p.m., Howard County Police were called to the Walmart on North Ridge Road in Ellicott City. Store employees reported a woman attempting to steal merchandise. When she was confronted, she assaulted an employee and pulled out a knife before taking off, police said.

On April 13 around 8:40 p.m., an employee at the Tobacco and Vape Outlet on Baltimore National Pike reported four suspects with their faces partially covered walked into the business, pulled out guns then stole cash and merchandise before taking off. Police later found the suspects in a stolen vehicle and arrested two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, all from Columbia, and charged them with armed robbery, robbery, theft and motor vehicle theft, police said.

On April 14 around 9:30 p.m., a man reported being approached by an acquaintance in the 10400 block of Cross Fox Lane who then assaulted him, pulled out a knife and stole his cell phone. No serious injuries were reported, police said.

In the overnight April 11-12, the Savage United Methodist Church on Baltimore Street was broken in to. The suspect entered the church by shattering a window, police said. Nothing was reported stolen.