Vehicle Thefts, Break-Ins Alarm Howard County Residents

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Vehicle break-ins and vehicle thefts are reported on a regular basis across Howard County. This type of crime is on the rise nationally and just recently, the Howard County Police reported seven vehicles broken into July 11-14 and 13 vehicles stolen July 12-15.

Howard County Police notes that these types of crimes can increase when the weather is warm, during a holiday season or whenever an individual or group targets neighborhoods in Howard County. These crimes occur in a variety of neighborhoods, but thieves typically target high-density residential areas, typically during the overnight to early morning hours.

Residents commented on a recent Facebook post from the HCPD about the vehicle thefts and break-ins. One woman said, "This is getting out of control," while another pondered if there was a "car theft organization" stealing vehicles in the county daily. One man commented, "Holy moly that's a lot of cars." Another Facebook user said, "Howard County crime is out of control and nothing is being done."

Below is a list of the crimes committed recently according to the Howard County Police:

Theft from vehicle/vehicle break-in

• Columbia, 21044: 5100 block of Brook Way, July 11-12 overnight, wallet
• Columbia, 21044: 5600 block of Columbia Road, July 11-12 overnight, bag
• Columbia, 21044: 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road, July 13-14, tags
• Jessup, 20794: 7900 block of Washington Boulevard, July 12-13 overnight, tools
• Elkridge, 21075: 5700 block of Washington Boulevard, July 13 5:40-6:40 p.m., four vehicles: various items
• Elkridge, 21075: 5800 block of Judge Dobbin Court, July 13-14 overnight, two vehicles: various items
• Elkridge, 21075: 6100 block of Rockburn Branch Park Road, July 14 10 a.m.-2 p.m., two vehicles: purse, wallet

Vehicle theft

• Columbia, 21045: 6400 block of Dobbin Road, July 12 7-8:30 p.m., 2003 red Toyota Highlander, tags MD/7DK6216
• Ellicott City, 21042: 3300 block of North Chatham Road, July 12 11:50 p.m., 2017 black Nissan Altima, tags MD/2FL0864
• Jessup, 20794: 8100 block of Washington Boulevard, July 12-13 overnight, 2010 gold Infiniti G37, tags VA/TGX7675
• Elkridge, 21075: 5500 block of Pintail Road, July 12-13 overnight, 2015 gray Nissan Rogue, tags MD/5FG5347
• Columbia, 21045: 9000 block of Watchlight Court, July 12-13 overnight, 2016 gray Subaru WRX STI, tags MD/9FF8400
• Columbia, 21044: 5000 block of Green Mountain Circle, July 12-13 overnight, 2018 white Infiniti Q50, tags MD/6EN1719
• Columbia, 21044: 10300 block of Little Patuxent Parkway, July 13 5:50-7:30 p.m., 2012 gray Toyota Camry, tags MD/2AX4233
• Elkridge, 21075: 6400 block of Green Field Road, July 13-14 overnight, 2021 white Infiniti Q50, tags MD/7GC6134
• Hanover, 21076: 7200 block of Islip Way, July 13-14 overnight, 2020 black Infiniti Q50, tags MD/7FA2177
• Elkridge, 21075: 5900 block of Cypress Springs Road, July 13-14 overnight, 2021 gray Hyundai Palisade, tags MD/7FF6692
• Columbia, 21045: 8300 block of Tamar Drive, July 13-15, 2022 white Honda CR-V, tags MD/1FF7776
• Columbia, 21046: 8900 block of Early April Way, July 14 4 p.m., 2015 white Kia Optima, tags MD/9FP9144
• Columbia, 21044: 10300 block of Little Patuxent Parkway, July 14 7:30 p.m., Toyota RAV-4 (recovered)

According to the HCPD, here are ways a resident can make themselves less likely to be victimized:

• Do not leave keys or key fobs inside your vehicle or leave your vehicle running unattended. We have seen “jump-in” vehicle thefts in which a thief steals a vehicle left running at a gas station or in a driveway. But a majority of other vehicle thefts occur because keys or key fobs are left in a vehicle.
• Do not leave valuables in plain sight, or in your car at all – even for a brief time. We have seen thieves steal from vehicles at gas stations while the victim is inside the business. Wallets, purses, and electronics such as laptops and tablets are the most common valuables stolen. Thieves will use a stolen credit card as soon as they can, often to purchase gift cards.
• Park in a well-lit area or inside your garage if you have one and close your garage doors. Thieves have entered open garages and stolen vehicles and items out of vehicles.
• Additional security measures, such as vehicle tracking system/ GPS, vehicle security systems, and a steering wheel/column lock also can be effective deterrents.

Additional protections include:

• Get your VIN etched. Have HCPD engrave your car's VIN on all major pieces of glass. This is a free event offered by HCPD. Check the calendar for dates/times.
• Register for "Watch Your Car." This free, voluntary vehicle registration program, administered by the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, is designed to deter auto theft and assist in the apprehension of thieves.
• Report a lost fob. If you lose a key fob, immediately contact the dealership to get a reprogrammed one, otherwise the lost fob will still allow a thief access to your vehicle.
• Use Transaction Safe Place. Need a safe place to handle a transaction you arranged online, such as the sale of a car or motorcycle? Designated parking spaces, marked with yellow signs, are available at both HCPD district stations and the community outreach building. These areas are video recorded 24/7/365.