In one of the worst theft cases in the area, Maryland police recently made an unbelievable finding when they found over 15,000 stolen construction tools worth between $3 to $5 million. This was reported by the Howard County Police Department on May 23. They credited the achievement to a carpenter who was looking for justice.
The Howard County Police Department referred to the case as “one of the largest and most expansive theft cases in the region in recent years.” Thanks to the timely actions of a dedicated Virginian carpenter who wishes to remain anonymous, a large pile of stolen tools was found in a storage facility.
This carpenter became determined to stop the criminals who were breaking into his work vans, so he concealed many AirTags in his heavier tools so they could be found. On January 22, he tracked down the culprits at a storage facility after taking aggressive steps that paid off when they attacked again. He immediately let the authorities know, which started a chain of events that resulted in the stolen goods being found.
“They don’t know what they do to me,” the carpenter expressed, emphasizing the impact of the thefts on his livelihood. “They steal our job.” Despite losing around 50 tools, only a few have been recovered.
The Howard County Police confirmed the use of a tracking device in their press release: “During the investigation, which began in late January when a tracking device in a stolen tool led officers to a storage unit in Elkridge, detectives have conducted search warrants at 12 locations – 11 of which are in Howard County – from where they recovered the tools.”
Detectives believe the tools were stolen from various places, including retail stores, businesses, vehicles, residential properties, and construction sites across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The stolen tools were primarily stored in Howard County and were likely sold through various channels.
Although no suspects have been charged yet, the case involves approximately 80 victims. Police are urging these individuals to contact them to retrieve their stolen items.
Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der praised his team for their dedication to the case. “This case sends a clear message: We will not tolerate criminal enterprises operating here in Howard County,” Der stated. “I want to thank the detectives from our special investigations division and all the officers who have helped on this enormous and unprecedented case. They have put in thousands of hours and have many more ahead of them. They will see it through to the end.”
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball also commended the police for their efforts.
“Howard County is a community where all residents should be safe and feel safe, and we just took another giant leap towards achieving that goal,” Ball said. “This case shows the tenacity of our police department in their investigations and pursuit of justice.”
