Crime & Safety

Columbia Man Faces Charges in Local Burglaries

Robert W. Stone, who was indicted on burglary charges in December, faces charges related to additional burglaries.

A man already charged in a string of burglaries in Howard County faces more burglary charges after an investigation involving a stakeout, a helicopter search and DNA evidence, according to court records.

Robert W. Stone, of the 10300 block of Daystar Court in Columbia, was indicted this week on burglary, car theft and other charges in connection with incidents in Columbia and Ellicott City.  Stone is charged with stealing a minivan and an SUV in Ellicott City, as well as burglarizing residences on Dorsch Farm Road and Brampton Parkway in Ellicott City and Pemberton Court in Columbia.

According to court documents, police were investigating the theft of a van stolen in September from Dorsch Farm Road in Ellicott City. They found the van in Columbia, near Stone’s home, and set up surveillance, according to the charging documents.

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On Sept. 19, police said they followed the van driven by a man police identified as Stone first to the 4900 block of Brampton Parkway where the driver got out of the van for about three minutes, and then the corner of Bali Drive and Brittany Drive.

Police stationed themselves by the van and noticed a house in the 4000 block of Pemberton Court in Columbia with an open garage door and someone inside using a flashlight. Police then saw someone emerge from the house, according to investigators. Instead of returning to the van, police say a man ran behind the house.

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K9 and air units did not locate the man, police said. Police seized the van and it was swabbed for DNA evidence.

Later that morning, police received a call from a woman on the 4900 block of Brampton Parkway — where they had observed Stone earlier — reporting a burglary and a vehicle theft. Police found the 2006 Acura MDX SUV that day. It had been parked about a half-mile from the spot where the minivan was found.

Police say the results of the DNA evidence from the minivan allowed the company who processed it to conclude that, “within a reasonable degree of certainty, Robert William Stone is the source of the major component DNA profile obtained from this sample." 

In December 2012, Stone was arrested in connection with a November burglary in the 11300 block of Ridermark Row. In that incident, police were investigating a stolen vehicle when they saw a man walking away from a house that had been burglarized. Stone was arrested on the scene.

Police said during the ensuing investigation they were able to link Stone to additional break-ins in Clarksville and Columbia.

Stone is currently being held in the Howard County Detention Center.

Related:

- Comment: 'What the Heck is Going on?'

- Police Capture Masked Man as He Leaves Burglarized House


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