Serial Burglary Suspect Targeting Small Businesses In Baltimore County
PARKVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- Baltimore County police are looking for a serial burglary suspect. The same person is hitting businesses in downtown Towson.
Amy Yensi gives us a look at the man police are now looking for.
The suspect has been busy, managing to break into several stores on the same block in one day, using only a tool and his backside.
Security cameras were rolling when the burglar broke into Enchanted Cakes and Treats on Harford Road. He made several attempts before bashing the glass with his backside.
"And he crawls right through it like a doggie door," said Carrie Shelly, who owns the bakery.
Three other shops--a market, restaurant and tobacco shop on the same street--were also broken into in August.
Baltimore County police say the suspect is behind at least eight business burglaries in the Parkville and Towson area.
"The suspect in this case uses a tool to crack glass doors, then he pushes the glass in to gain entry to the business," said Cpl. John Wachter, Baltimore County Police Department.
Once inside, he helped himself to everything in the cash register and then found the safe and took that, too. The suspect left the bakery with $1,000 in cash.
Officials say he cases the neighborhood before he strikes.
Though patrols are up in the area, store owners are still uneasy.
"I think I was numb more than anything. We had our home broken into in March, so it brought back some really bad memories," said Shelley.
Business owners say there is an upside to this. Not only are they banding together, but the burglaries have brought the tight-knit community even closer.
"I'd hate to see them being driven off by crime," said one man.
"All three of us are very small businesses. We're all family owned. You don't think that somebody's going to rob the little people," Shelley said.
Parkville residents are starting a neighborhood watch in response to these burglaries.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-307-2020 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP.