GPS Tracker on Car Led Armed Robbers to Victims: Police

GERMANTOWN, MD — Victims of a Germantown home invasion robbery were tracked by armed suspects who had placed a GPS tracker on their vehicle, following it to their house, police said.

One of the suspected armed robbers – who tied up two victims with zip ties – has been arrested, say Montgomery County Police. A second suspect remains at large.

Authorities arrested Kevin Darnell Carroll, 44, of the 800 block of North Eutaw Street in Baltimore, and have charged him with committing the home invasion robbery on Nov. 17.

Police were called to a home in the 14900 block of Kelley Farm Drive in Germantown for the report of a break-in. A 21-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl were entering the home through the garage when they were confronted by two suspects wearing ski masks and armed with handguns.

The suspects bound both victims in the garage with zip ties and placed duct tape over the girl’s mouth. One suspect led the man through the home, asking where money was kept. The suspects took cash and property from the home, then fled.

Detectives say the suspects had placed a GPS tracking device on a vehicle owned by the residents of the home on Kelley Farm Drive. Data from the tracking device allowed the robbers to determine the residents’ address.

Investigators recovered DNA evidence from the duct tape, zip ties, and the GPS tracking device, which was entered into a national DNA database. The analysis showed the DNA belonged to Kevin Darnell Carroll.

On Feb. 29, detectives obtained a warrant for Carroll’s arrest, charging him with one count of home invasion, one count of armed robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and one count of theft: $1,000 to under $10,000.

Carroll was arrested March 1 at his home and taken to the Central Processing Unit. He was released March 2 after posting a $125,000 bond.

On March 2, detectives executed a search warrant at Carroll’s home in Baltimore, where they found a ski mask and handgun investigators believe were in the Germantown robbery.

Detectives continue to investigate the robbery and ask that anyone with information about the identity of the second suspect, described only as a black male, contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to the arrest and/or indictment of this suspect. Tipsters will remain anonymous.