Crime & Safety

Police Capture Masked Man as He Leaves Burglarized House

Columbia man arrested in string of burglaries.

A masked man captured as he allegedly attempted to make a getaway from a burlgarized home now faces burglary, auto theft and other charges in multiple home break-in cases.

According to Howard County police, on on the 11000 block of Ridermark Row, in Columbia, when they say Robert W. Stone, 43, of Columbia, was walking near a house wearing a mask, dark clothes and gloves.

Police say when they approached Stone, he ran to the vehicle they had been investigating. He tried to drive away, police said, but officers were able to detain him. 

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The back door of the house Stone was walking by had been smashed with a rock and the home had been burglarized, police determined. Stone was arrested at the scene.

Police subsequently searched Stone’s residence and said they found evidence that linked him to other burglaries, including a July 14 burglary on the 6800 block of Creekside Road in Clarksville. 

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In that theft, police said the burglar entered the house through an unlocked window and stole a safe with a green coin purse of foreign currency, jewelry, the deed to a house and additional documents. 

According to police, during the search of Stone's house they found a green coin purse which the Clarksville resident identified as hers. 

Police also charged Stone in an Aug. 31 burglary on the 5900 block of Bright Flows Mews in Columbia. The victim told police that he woke up at about 3:40 a.m. to a man in his bedroom, looking over the dresser. 

The victim told police he yelled at the man to leave, which he did. Police say that an investigation revealed that a sheer, gold bag with gift cards had been stolen from the home. 

Police said that during the Nov. 22 search of Stone's house, they had found a sheer, gold bag with gift cards.

Stone had been released on bail after his Nov. 22 arrest, but Howard County police issued a new warrant and he was arrested by Baltimore City Police.

He is currently being held in Baltimore City and faces first-, third- and fourth-degree burglary, as well as charges of destruction of property, auto theft and resisting arrest.

According to court records, Stone also is facing drug charges in Baltimore City.

Related:

- Three Teens Robbed

- Police Make 3 Arrests for 4 Home Burglaries

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