Two Arrested For Series of Howard Co. Wire Thefts, Break-Ins
BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) -- A Woodbine man and a Mount Airy woman have been arrested for allegedly carrying out a series of copper wire thefts and residential burglaries targeting neighborhoods in western Howard County, authorities said.
Police started investigating after Verizon reported someone was stripping wire from telephone poles in the area. They discovered hundreds of feet of wire, valued at $87,000, had been stripped from a number of poles in a less than two week span.
The wire thefts coincided with a slew of complaints of break-ins from homeowners, who reported someone had stolen bicycles, power tools, golf clubs, and other items from their garages, according to the Howard County Police Department.
Investigators then stopped by local scrap yards and pawn shops and then identified Thomas Leo Hurley, 35, of Frederick Road, and Angela Marie King, 32, of Runkles Road, as the suspects responsible.
Hurley and King were arrested on warrants over the weekend. They're charged with 10 counts of theft, destruction or property and conspiracy to commit theft; multiple counts of burglary; and one count of engaging in a theft scheme. Both suspects remain in custody.
Here's a list of the locations where authorities have alleged the pair stripped and stole copper wire:
- 14200 block of Burntwoods Road, Glenwood
- 2600 block of Hobbs Road, Glenwood
- Route 97 near Burntwoods Road, Glenwood
- 5000 block of Ten Oaks Road, Clarksville
- 12500 block of Triadelphia Road, Ellicott City
- 6100 block of Ten Oaks Road, Clarksville
- Route 97 near Macclintock Drive, Glenwood
- Ten Oaks Road near Brighton Dam Road, Clarksville
- 14200 block of Forsythe Road, Sykesville (two cases)
They're charged with residential burglaries in the following areas:
- 12800 block of Triadelphia Road, Ellicott City
- 4000 block of Sharp Road, Glenelg
- 14000 block of Day Farm Road, Glenelg
- 13000 block of Royden Court, Ellicott City (two cases)
- 5400 block of Talon Court, Clarksville
- 13000 block of Williamfield Drive, Ellicott City
Police continue to investigate whether the pair are suspected of committing similar cases in the area.