Theft from Vehicle arrests

INCIDENT SUMMARY: Throughout the month of December and January, the Frederick Police Department had become aware of a rash of thefts from vehicles occurring primarily in the west end of the City. The number of vehicle break-ins were much higher than normally reported, which caused a coordinated investigated effort within different Divisions of the Frederick Police Department. Many of the break-ins had similarities that led officers to believe many of the break-ins were connected.

Ofc. Hoxie and Ofc. Bolden of the Department’s Patrol Division investigated three of the vehicle break-ins during the week of January 5^th, and were quickly able to determine two suspects, Williams and Estep (see below). With the assistance of video surveillance from a local pawn-shop and home improvement store, Williams and Estep were identified as being involved in two of the vehicle break-ins and linked to numerous others. Ofc. Hoxie and Ofc. Bolden were able to obtain and serve, with the assistance of the Department’s Directed Patrol Unit, Drug Enforcement Unit, and Criminal Investigations Division, arrest warrants and search and seizure warrants for the two subjects. Both were arrested over this past weekend and are currently being held at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.

Some of the stolen property has been recovered. The investigation is still on-going. The Frederick Police wants to remind the citizens of the City of Frederick that almost all of the property stolen from those vehicles involved in this investigation was property left in plain view in vehicles parked at the owner’s residences. You can prevent yourself from becoming a victim of such crimes by ensuring that all property of any value should be removed from vehicles when out of sight of the owner.

Arrested were Willimas, David James and Estep, Dennis Leroy