Theft Leads to Precautionary School Lockdown in Columbia: Howard County Crime Roundup

Compiled from the daily police bulletin and Patch staff reports.

Columbia: Theft causes school lockdown

Cradlerock School was placed on lockdown Tuesday afternoon during a nearby incident that had initially been reported as a robbery but was actually a case of theft.

Police were called at 12:02 p.m. to the 7100 block of Cradlerock Way for reports that a Dollar Tree employee had been robbed outside of the store, according to Elizabeth Schroen, spokeswoman for the Howard County Police Department.

“Police took precautions by locking down a nearby school while they investigated,” Schroen said. “Detectives determined a robbery did not occur and that it was instead a theft.”

No arrests have been made, she said.

School officials notified parents of the lockdown via email later that afternoon.

Columbia: Break-in attempt 

Nothing was reported stolen following an attempted break-in at Garbis Dental Associates on the 10200 block of Tanager Lane. The suspect or suspects tried to get inside by tampering with a window lock. The attempted break-in happened sometime between 2 p.m. on Friday, April 29, and 7 a.m. on Monday, May 2.

Columbia: Vehicle theft

A 2004 Lincoln Town Car with Maryland license plate 7EEM11 was stolen from the 11600 block of Little Patuxent Parkway. It was stolen sometime between 10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, and 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3. 

Columbia: Recovered vehicle

A light blue 2008 Ford Edge that had been stolen on Friday, April 29, from the 5200 block of Paul Revere Ride has since been recovered on Cross Fox Lane, police said.

Laurel: Burglary

A television, DVDs, a video game system and video games were stolen from a residence on the 9100 block of Blues Alley. The suspect or suspects got inside through an unlocked front door. The burglary happened sometime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3.

Laurel: Break-in

Nothing was reported stolen following a break-in at a residence on the 9500 block of Fulton Avenue. The suspect or suspects got inside through a window. The break-in happened sometime between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Monday, April 2.

Hanover: Break-in

Nothing was reported stolen following a break-in at a home under construction on the 6200 block of Summer Haven Lane. The break-in was reported at 9:25 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3.