Crime & Safety
Police: Teen Used Craigslist, Pellet Gun In Robberies
Police said the teen placed online offers for an iPhone and then robbed victims with a pellet gun fashioned to look like a handgun.
Anne Arundel County police arrested a 17-year-old from Glen Burnie after he lured people to an elementary school parking lot with an online offer for a cell phone, then robbed them with a modified pellet gun, according to a department press release.
Police said several robberies were reported in the parking lot of George Cromwell Elementary School, on the 500 block of Wellham Avenue, as people waited for a transaction arranged through Craigslist.
According to police, in one incident on Aug. 3, the suspect fired the pellet gun and struck the rearview mirror of a victim's vehicle. Another person reported a similar incident on July 29 at the same location, where the victim handed over money and a phone.
In response to the reports, detectives posed as potential buyers through the Craigslist ad and arranged an exchange on Monday.
At around 6 p.m., the suspect approached the undercover detective at George Cromwell Elementary, displayed what appeared to be a handgun and attempted to rob the officer. Additional officers responded and eventually chased down the suspect, who was still holding the gun, according to police.
Officers arrested the 17-year-old from Glen Burnie, and charged him as an adult with multiple counts of armed robbery, assault, theft, disorderly conduct and weapons offenses, according to online court records.
Police said the weapon was a pellet gun fashioned to resemble a semi-automatic handgun.
Investigators also found the teen had arranged six more appointments before he was arrested Monday evening. Police said additional incidents may have gone unreported, and any additional victims should contact the Northern District of AACOPD at 410-222-6135.
Online court records show the same teen was also arrested last month in connection with a July 1 armed home invasion at the house of an 82-year-old Glen Burnie man.
More crime headlines:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.