Burglary Suspects Linked To 20 Cases: Baltimore County Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Three men who do not live in the state of Maryland have been arrested in connection with a rash of home burglaries, officials said. The cases have had Baltimore County residents on edge after police said that large, newer homes in secluded areas were targeted.

The suspects have not yet been charged but Corporal Shawn Vinson says three men from out of state have been linked to 20 of 21 burglary cases, three of which took place Friday night.

"We’re pretty certain that these were the ones who were responsible for the majority of the burglaries...that this is the end to the spree," Vinson told Patch on Saturday.

He said the trio was arrested after someone called police at 6:30 p.m. to report a burglary in the 14100 block of North Blenheim Road.

Responding officers saw a green Ford Explorer with a North Carolina plate, and when police followed the SUV, the driver — who was the only person in the vehicle — tried to get away by pulling into driveways in the neighborhood, then drove down one, jumped out and ran until he was taken into custody, Vinson said.

Officers checked the area for additional suspects and upon creating a perimeter around an unoccupied house, Vinson said they arrested two men in a wooded area.

The suspects were not all from North Carolina and will be identified once charges are filed, according to Vinson.

>> UPDATE: Police Identify Serial Burglary Suspects <<

Officers determined the suspects had been staying at hotels in the area and after executing search warrants on the hotel rooms and a vehicle, Vinson said they recovered evidence connecting the men with three burglaries that occurred Friday night and 17 others in Baltimore County.

The burglaries Friday were on Jerome Jay Drive, North Blenheim Road and Blenmont Court, police said.

The arrests came days after the department announced at a community meeting in Timonium Tuesday that it had adjusted resources upon determining 18 home burglaries since October were possibly connected. Vinson said that Major David Folderauer may hold a follow-up meeting at a date to be determined.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz released a statement Saturday commending the police work.

"Once again the men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department sent a very strong message to criminals: if you break the law in our county, you will be arrested and you will be prosecuted," Kamenetz said in a statement. "I am very proud of Chief Sheridan and the men and women of the Baltimore County Police Department. They are simply the best."

RELATED: Burglars Targeting Newer, Large Homes In Baltimore County

Patch file photo by Renee Shiavone.