Crime report: Church school vandalized with swastikas
Precinct 8, Parkville
Second degree burglary: Between June 7 at an unknown time and June 9 at 4 p.m., unit block of Stoneway Place. The victim called the police about an unknown suspect riding his stolen bike. The victim’s bike had been stolen in a burglary of his shed earlier, but the incident had not been reported. The suspect was arrested and the bike was recovered.
Second degree burglary: Between June 10 at 7 p.m. and June 11 at 10 a.m., 1900 block of E. Joppa Road. Unknown suspect pried open the front door of Luxor Nail Spa and stole $2,800 that was left in a desk drawer.
Destruction of property: Between June 11 at 5 p.m. and June 12 at 8:30 a.m., 2500 block of Cub Hill Road. An unknown suspect painted a large amount of graffiti on the school building of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church including several swastikas and a burning cross.
Second degree burglary: June 11 at 2:16 a.m., 8600 block of Belair Road. An unknown suspect used a rock to break the front office window of Dry Clean 4 Less and stole $420 in cash.
Second degree burglary: June 13 at 4 a.m., 3300 block of E. Joppa Rd. An unknown suspect pried the front door of Quick Stop Food Market and stole an unknown quantity of cigarettes.
First degree burglary: June 13 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., unit block of Eastford Court. An unknown suspect entered residence through an unlocked sliding door and stole an X-Box console, X-Box controllers, several X-Box games and a cable for a total loss value of $750. The suspect apparently sold the property, which was later turned in to the police.
Precinct 9, White Marsh
First degree burglary: June 12 between 7:20 and 8:30 a.m., 9200 block of Sandra Park Road. Unknown suspects stole various pieces of jewelry, a DVD player, US currency, savings bonds and a digital camera from residence.
First degree burglary: June 12 at 8:37 a.m., 9200 block of Cornflower Road. Suspect entered residence by going through an unsecured basement window. Once inside they stole an undisclosed amount of currency and left via the patio door.
Armed Robbery: June 14 at 9:10 p.m., 8200 block of Perry Hall Boulevard. Victim was leaving White Marsh Mall when he was approached by unknown suspects who threatened victim with a knife and stole $35 in cash and a black Motorola cell phone.
Second degree burglary: June 15, 7900 block of Pulaski Hwy. Suspects broke into storehouse of T & K Scooters and stole one scooter valued at $1,500. Both suspects were later located and arrested.
Compiled by Beth Garner
news@timesheraldnews.com
Crime briefs
Avoid illegal fireworks
Buy locally - don’t cross state lines
As the July 4th holiday approaches, the local Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents that backyard fireworks displays are illegal in Baltimore County.
Fireworks are legal only when part of a public display for which a permit has been granted by the Fire Marshal. Legal fireworks displays have been scheduled at a variety of locations in Baltimore County.
It is illegal to purchase fireworks outside of Maryland and bring them into the state. The possession and use of illegal fireworks devices are misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $250.
Certain hand-held and ground-based sparklers are legal. A legal ground-based sparkler is a stationary device that emits a shower of sparks in the air. Any device that creates an explosion, detonation, loud noise, or that launches a projectile or moves along the ground under its own power is illegal in Maryland.
If you must purchase sparkler devices for private use, make sure you use only legal devices, and purchase them in the jurisdiction in which they will be used. In Maryland, only certain hand-held and ground-based sparklers are legal, and the local laws vary; some jurisdictions do not allow even sparklers.
The State Fire Marshal provides a list of all legal fireworks devices at www.firemarshal.state.md.us/gbs_company.htm.
Swimming safety tips
As summer officially begins this week, Baltimore County fire and emergency medical personnel stress three important safety precautions:
•Never leave young children unsupervised around the water.
•Remember that recklessness often leads to disaster.
•Don’t swim where swimming isn’t legal – that means no swimming in reservoirs.
Baltimore County averages between five and 10 drowning and near-drownings each year. The majority of these tragedies involve young children or people who decided to cool off in reservoirs or other bodies of water where swimming is illegal. Last year, four young people died in a one-week period - all of them while swimming in prohibited areas.
Swimming is illegal in the three city-owned reservoirs located in Baltimore County: Prettyboy, Loch Raven and Liberty, as well as private, abandoned quarries and in some parts of rivers and streams in state parks.
Swimming is not allowed in these waters because it is unsafe. These waters are full of hidden rocks, fallen trees and unstable ledges; the depths fluctuate suddenly; the water visibility is poor; and underwater currents can be treacherous.
Where you CAN swim
Swimming is permitted at your own risk in rivers and streams running through state parks, unless the area is posted “No Swimming.” Some state parks have beaches and lakes specifically designated for swimming – in those places, swimming is prohibited outside of the designated area.
EMS officials advise extreme caution even in areas where open water swimming is permitted. Open water swimming poses different risks than pool swimming because of limited visibility, tidal action and fluctuations in water depth and temperature.
It is unwise to swim without a lifeguard on duty. Always check the water depth and for hidden rocks before diving.
Pool safety
Most pool fatalities involve young children. Never leave a child unattended near a pool. Do not become complacent at public pools. It only takes a second for a child to disappear beneath the water. Even the best lifeguard is not a substitute for parental supervision.
If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability; brain cells begin to die after four to six minutes underwater.