Police Warn Towson Residents Of 'Crimes Of Opportunity'

TOWSON, MD — Police in Towson will increase patrols around a certain neighborhood where a number of thefts have occurred in the last week. The thieves struck unlocked vehicles during the overnight hours, according to the Baltimore County Police Department.

The thefts in the South Land neighborhood started on Friday, March 15, police said. For the most part, they occurred around Carolina Road and Florida Avenue, according to authorities.

An officer working the midnight shift detained someone who was described as a suspicious individual near the scene of the crimes, police said.

To help investigators determine whether the individual is the suspect in the crimes, police have asked area residents to check any exterior surveillance video they may have to see if the suspect is visible.

All the crimes were preventable, according to police.

"These were crimes of opportunity — every targeted vehicle had been left unlocked overnight," the Baltimore County Police Department said in a statement.

Locking the doors would have prevented the crimes.

"...most theft from auto crimes are committed by a person just walking through a quiet neighborhood overnight checking door handles to see if they are unlocked," police said. "Criminals do not know boundaries, and will not hesitate to enter onto your property to check the door handles of vehicles parked in your driveway. Keep a criminal's temptation to break into your vehicle at bay by removing anything of value from your vehicle overnight."

Anyone with information about suspicious persons or activities may contact the Towson Precinct Community Outreach Team at 410-887-5933.