Crime & Safety

Crime Stats in Lutherville-Timonium Mirror Countywide Trends

BCPD Capt. Martin Lurz responds to figures out of Precinct 7 as compared to numbers from the first six months of last year.

The number of serious crimes in Baltimore County has decreased compared to the first six of months of last year, according to a report released yesterday.

But how did Precinct 7, which covers Lutherville-Timonium and Cockeysville, stack up to the trend?

The numbers remained consistent, for the most part, with decreases in burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. Theft, the area's most common crime, decreased the most.

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"Overall, as they are countywide, we're rather pleased with the work that we've done, reducing particularly burglaries and motor vehicle thefts," Capt. Martin Lurz said.

In the first six months of 2010, 744 theft incidents were reported, compared to 805 in 2009.

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Precinct 7 showed a 12.9 percent decrease in serious property crime compared to the county's 11 percent decrease. For total serious crime, Precinct 7 and the county found 10.8 percent and 10.3 percent decreases, respectively.

In May there was a spike in thefts reported in the Cranbrook Road, Padonia areas, according to Lurz. In response, the department reallocated resources to effectively quell the rising number of calls related to stolen property.

"Between the patrol units and the investigative services team here they jumped on that lickity-split and put an end to it right away," Lurz said.

On Tuesday, a Lutherville resident said she saw a police helicopter hovering over her house and uniformed officers darting through her backyard on Greenspring Drive. Lurz said officers were in pursuit of a man suspected of stealing about $900 worth of Kohl's Department Store merchandise. The suspect ran from the store to the Light Rail stop in Lutherville, all the while being tracked by the police helicopter.

"I know that attracts the attention from the residents whenever that chopper is up but it's such a good piece of equipment. The helicopter had a visual on the guy from the time he left the Light Rail train to the time he was apprehended," Lurz said. "It was one of the critical factors in keeping him pinned down until the officers could catch up with him. That worked out really well."

Lurz tipped his hat to the community members, who he said have been instrumental in aiding police during investigations.

"This is what comes as a result of cooperation with the community. This is something where it's not game over and you just walk away," Lurz said. "You have to continue building on these types of figures. … That's why the numbers are where they are right now, because the community gets involved as well."

Precinct 7 showed a marginal increase in the other four reported categories—homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

There have been two homicides this year, compared to one last year, and five incidents of rape, compared to two from last year. Also on the rise were robberies and aggravated assaults, both up 35 to 39 and 63 to 67, respectively. 


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