Suspects Sought in String of Burglaries, Car Thefts

Germantown detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying suspects in a second string of thefts and burglaries reported in Damascus this month.

“These suspects are opportunists,” Montgomery County Police Officer Rebecca Innocenti, a police spokeswoman, told Patch.

“Unlocked doors are easy targets,” she said.

Montgomery County Police released photos of five suspects Wednesday and have urged people to lock the doors to their cars and homes. Innocenti said detectives did not think the burglaries were linked to a string of alleged Damascus thefts on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, in which police claimed at least three suspects used a stolen car to ram mailboxes.

The suspects in the more recent string of thefts were linked to the following incidents overnight Sept. 17–18:

Vehicle stolen, home burglarized | 24300 block of Newbury Road —Police said overnight the suspects entered an unlocked garage door and then gained access via an unlocked side door. Car keys were among the items taken from the kitchen. The suspects then stole a 2012, black Honda Accord with Maryland registration 9BTK05 from the driveway. 

The vehicle has not been found, police said in a statement Wednesday.

Credit cards stolen | 10010 block of Damascus Hill Court —  Police said suspects stole items from an unlocked vehicle, including credit cards that were used at a convenience store in Gaithersburg.  Detectives have obtained photographs of the five suspects at the convenience store.

Stolen Subaru found | 10100 block of Nightingale Street — On Sept. 18, police found a stolen Subaru, which police think the suspects “dumped” after stealing the Honda from Newbury Road. The Subaru had been reported stolen Aug. 31 from the 600 block of Hillsboro Drive in Silver Spring. 

Detectives from Germantown’s the 5th District station have asked anyone who recognizes these suspects from the photographs 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.