News Releases

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Detectives of the Germantown Investigative Section continue to investigate acts of vandalism and theft that occurred in the Plantations II neighborhood in the Damascus region of the county from September 1 to September 2 during the overnight hours. Detectives have obtained home video surveillance of three suspects attempting to open vehicle car doors in the neighborhood. The video that is being released shows two suspects as the third suspect is out of frame for most of the video.

Police are again urging residents to lock their vehicle and garage doors as unlocked doors are easy targets for these suspects. In every incident of reported theft during this time period, vehicle or garage doors were left unlocked/open.

Below is a summary of the reported crimes committed during the night hours from September 1 to September 2 :

9600 block of Rustic Manor Court - Theft of Vehicle and Theft of Bicycle
Unknown location - Theft of Bicycle (see explanation below)
Unknown location - Theft of Bicycle (see explanation below)
23700 block of Rolling Fork Way - Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23700 block of Rolling Fork Way - Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23800 block of Rolling Fork Way – Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23800 block of Rolling Fork Way – Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23800 block of Rolling Fork Way – Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23600 block of Dixie Ridge Court - Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23800 block of Rolling Fork Way – Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23800 block of Rolling Fork Way – Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
9700 block of Stanton Hall Court - Theft from (unlocked) vehicle
23700 block to 25400 block of Woodfield Road – approximately eight mailboxes vandalized

Investigation by officers on scene of the stolen vehicle and bicycle revealed that the victim of the stolen vehicle had left the garage door open and the keys to the vehicle were left on a table in the garage. The victim of the stolen vehicle located his vehicle at the intersection of Rolling Fork Way and Peanut Mill Drive shortly after discovering it had been stolen. The vehicle suffered extensive damage to include a flat tire, scrapes, missing headlights, and damage to the bumper. Located in the vehicle were three bicycles, one of which belonged to the victim. It is believed that the other two bicycles were also stolen and detectives are working to identify their owners.

Investigation by officers on scene of the theft from vehicles revealed that all nine victims of the theft from vehicles had left their vehicles unlocked. Some of the stolen items had been discarded in the yards and streets by the suspects and were returned to their owners.

Officers on scene of the vandalism to mailboxes on Woodfield Road determined that a vehicle had been used to strike mailboxes. A vehicle part left at the scene indicated that the suspects used the vehicle stolen from the 9600 block of Rustic Farm Court to commit the acts of vandalism.

Detectives of the 5^th District are asking anyone who recognizes these suspects from the home video or has information about the above mentioned crimes to please call Officer Bromley at 240-773-6249. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or enter a tip online. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this felony crime.