Crime & Safety

Ellicott City Burglary Suspect Arrested in Columbia Dumpster

Police said a man believed to be involved in a string of Ellicott City cat burglaries was arrested after attempting to hide in a dumpster on Tamar Drive in Columbia.

 

Police said a man suspected in a string of Ellicott City cat burglaries was arrested this week hiding in a dumpster on Tamar Drive in Columbia as he attempted to flee the scene of a burglary.

Cornelius Antonio McRae, 23, of Baltimore, was charged with multiple counts of burglary, theft and assault, police said.

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Police said they spotted McRae near the 8100 block of Tamar Drive on Jan. 6, near the site of a burglary that had just been committed. Police said they were in the area after they had located an unoccupied stolen 2013 silver Honda Pilot, which they determined McRae had been driving. 

Police reported they saw McRae carrying a pink purse, similar to one reported stolen in the Tamar burglary.

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McRae ran when police approached, but during a search of the area, police said they were able to locate him in a nearby dumpster. While attempting to arrest McRae, police said he resisted, injuring an officer's hand.

Inside the dumpster police reported finding a wallet and credit cards that belonged to the victim of the Tamar Drive burglary.

McRae is suspected to be involved in Dec. 17 cat burglaries near the 9800 block of Madeline Court, the 3700 block of Groversnor Drive and the 3800 block of Grosvenor Drive in Ellicott City as well as the Tamar Drive burglary.

Police said McRae entered the residences in Ellicott City through unlocked doors while the residents were sleeping and stole similar items, such as laptops, Apple products, wallets, purses, credit cards and money.

During the investigation, police said they determined multiple victims' credit cards were being used in a similar area in Baltimore and developed McRae as a suspect through pawn records.

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