CRIME LOG: Burglars Allowed into Home Posing as Handymen

Phoenix

North Blenheim Road, 13900 block, April 9 at 8:42 p.m. Police arrested two men after a homeowner witnessed the pair stealing an axe and firewood from his front yard.

Lutherville-Timonium 

Fox Chapel Drive, 400 block, April 7 between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Six power tools were stolen from an already open garage door in Timonium.

East Ridgely Road, 200 block, between April 2 and April 4. Burglars, posing as employees of a “home improvement business,” were allowed into a man’s home by a roommate. When the victim returned home he noticed a television, a Blu-ray player and JVC VCR were missing. (Police say this incident is not related to the recent string of crimes involving burglars posing as solicitors.)

Sparks

Cedar Grove Road, 16300 block, between March 6 and April 6.  A wooden chair, marble chess set, glass candleholder, power tools, welding tanks and a marble statue were stolen from a Sparks home. The homeowner was out of town. Burglars forced open the side door to get into the house. 

A reminder from Capt. Martin Lurz, commander Baltimore County Police Precinct 7:

Folks,

No, this is not deja vu...but it IS a reminder, edited from an email alert sent a few weeks ago,  to remain vigilant for suspicious activity in your neighborhoods.

Previously, I have described how some burglars use "door-to-door" sales pitches as a ruse for casing a home to see if it is occupied. There are many legitimate folks that go door-to-door as well, but they are more likely to have some type of credentials, a huckster's permit, etc.

Here's what I need the residents to be particularly alert for in their neighborhoods if a solicitor comes to your door with a sales pitch of "just starting a new landscaping company" or selling some sort of "window cleaning spray" or fill-in-the-blank for whatever reason. The keys to raising your awareness to suspicions of legitimacy should be:

• If you ask to see one, the solicitor may make an excuse for not having a business card, credentials, etc. He may say he needs to get one "out of his car." If he walks away and doesn't return with "a card"...that's a big clue!
• He may leave abruptly after being asked for credentials.
• He may be wearing a Bluetooth in his ear or carrying a cell phone in his hand.
• He may leave your property and walk toward a vehicle parked somewhere close by, especially if you live on a cul-de-sac or dead-end street. That vehicle may be driven by a second person waiting inside.

IF YOU SEE  EXPERIENCE ANY SIMILAR ACTIVITY AND CAN SAFELY DO SO, TRY TO GET A TAG NUMBER, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CALL 911. GIVE THE TAG NUMBER TO THE 911 OPERATOR AND TELL THE OFFICER WHEN HE OR SHE ARRIVES. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, THAT'S OK...BUT GIVE THE 911 OPERATOR AS THOROUGH A DESCRIPTION OF BOTH THE "SOLICITOR" AND THE VEHICLE AS YOU CAN!

Similarly, if you should happen to be outside and see such activity occurring in your neighborhood, or see a car cruising slowly as if following the solicitor or even parked close by, do your best to safely get a tag number and call 911 to have an officer respond.

Remember, for incidents that are happening NOW, call 911. If you have any past information that may assist us, please e-mail me or call the Precinct 7 Investigative Services Team at 410-887-1823.