A Howard County, Maryland, investigation uncovered between $3 million and $5 million in stolen tools and construction equipment, thanks in part to a Sterling contractor who installed a GPS tracker on his tools.
The victim installed tracking devices on his tools after thieves targeted him. When he discovered tools missing, he reported the thefts to police and used the tracker to trace his tools to a storage unit in Elkridge, Maryland, WTOP reports.
Police then obtained search warrants of 12 locations, 11 of which are in Howard County, and eventually discovered around 15,000 pieces of stolen equipment over four months. Howard County police called this “one of the largest and most expansive theft cases in the region in recent years.”
“The scope of this investigation is enormous, and it’s ongoing,” said Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der during a news conference.
“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,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “This case shows the tenacity of our police department in their investigations and in their pursuit of justice.”
No charges have been filed yet, but police have several suspects.
Investigators believe these tools were stolen from stores, businesses, vehicles, residential properties, and construction sites in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Police identified over 80 victims so far but believe there are more, possibly thousands, Der said.
Anyone who has had tools stolen and believes they may have been recovered in this case can submit an online form to the Howard County Police Department.
“This case sends a clear message: We will not tolerate criminal enterprises operating here in Howard County,” Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said.
Feature image of stolen tools courtesy Howard County Police Department
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