They are images of young burglars on a mission---moving one way through the front showroom in search of high-end dirt bikes and then back again with their bounty, and it appears things went so smoothly they became return customers.
"The problem has been reoccurring,” said Mike Johnston, the owner of the Howard County business targeted by the burglars, “We were broken into a week ago Thursday. They broke in, stole five motorcycles and got away and then they came back Saturday morning. They broke in here about 6:30 in the morning Saturday morning and, again, got five more motorcycles."
But this time one caller reported spotting the young burglars pushing the motorcycles out of Ellicott City Motorsports on Bethany Lane, and another saw them loading them into a white van a short distance away.
Police caught up with them as they fled from the scene and crashed.
"We arrested three 16-year-old teenaged boys and a 15-year-old,” said Sherry Llewellyn of the Howard County Police Department, “All of them have been released to the custody of their parents. We've also determined that van was stolen from a resident in Baltimore City."
This time, Johnston got back an estimated $12,000 worth of motorcycles albeit dented and scratched up a bit, but the arrests have apparently ended a string of similar burglaries including Crofton and Glen Burnie shops as well.
"They've hit three motorcycle shops a total of five times in the last two weeks," said Johnston, but he's not celebrating the arrests just yet.
After all, if burglars would return to steal from his shop before he even had time to repair damage to the building from the first thefts, he wonders what will keep them from trying it again since they're only facing juvenile charges.
"I think that just shows that the system is broken,” said Johnston, “They know if they're under age that they can pretty much do what they want and they get a slap on the wrist. Nothing actually happens to them."
The teens in question face a series of charges including burglary, motor vehicle theft, destruction of property and fleeing and eluding police.
