Crime Roundup: Police Investigating Increase in Theft of Ladders, Metal

Officers in Precinct One of the Baltimore County Police Department have noticed an increase in people stealing metal recently. This past weekend, several businesses and homes were robbed of ladders.

"With the price of metal up, we may find more of it," said Lt. John Rossbach, an investigations commander in Precinct One. "It's a relatively easy way to make money."

While police have seen catalytic converter and copper thefts in the past two months, the ladders stolen over the weekend were a new part of the trend. The ladders are likely being cut apart before they are re-sold, Rossbach said.

Police have been contacting local business owners about the increase in thefts, Rossbach said.

The incidents that occurred over the weekend were the following:

• A fourth-degree burglary reported on Saturday afternoon on the 1700 block of Willis Drive in Relay, where two ladders were taken from under a deck.
• A fourth-degree burglary reported on Saturday on the 900 block of Stormount Circle in Halethorpe, where someone stole a 36-foot aluminum ladder from a backyard.
• A fourth-degree burglary was reported on Sunday on the 5600 block of Oregon Avenue in Arbutus, where someone stole an eight-foot step ladder. 

In addition, the following incidents occurred over the weekend in Precinct One:

• First-degree burglary: Someone broke into a home on the 5200 block of Shelbourne Road on Saturday afternoon. According to police, the suspects entered through the unlocked front door and stole two laptops, four Playstations and three video games.
• First-degree burglary: Two men kicked in the rear door of a home on the 2900 block of Bero Road in Halethorpe shortly after 3 a.m. on Sunday. When the suspects were confronted by the resident, they ran away.
• Fourth-degree burglary: Someone entered the fenced-in backyard of a home on the 4800 block of Wilkens Avenue in Catonsville sometime Saturday evening and stole a blue 10-speed bicycle.
• Robbery: On Sunday at 3:50 p.m. on the first block of Arbutus Avenue in Catonsville, two people approached a man who was standing in his driveway and threw him to the ground. According to police, the suspects took the victim's wallet and ran away.
• First-degree assault: On Sunday at 1:50 a.m., a man was stabbed with a knife after leaving a party on the 200 block of Hazel Avenue in Relay. According to police, the victim was leaving when two men confronted him and started a fight. Both suspects stabbed the victim and then ran away. Police said the victim was treated and released at Maryland Shock Trauma.