(UPDATED 12/16, 10:45 a.m.) Man Robbed in Car While Making Phone Call: Howard County Crime Roundup

A man who had stopped his vehicle at a Columbia intersection in order to make a phone call was robbed late Monday night, according to the Howard County Police Department.

The robbery happened at about 11 p.m. at the intersection of Sewells Orchard Drive and Red Haven Road. The man, a 23-year-old from Columbia, had driven to visit a friend who wound up not being home and had pulled over to call his friend when the robbery occurred, according to police.

Four people approached the man's car, opened his door, displayed a gun and then struck the man, police said.

The man was robbed of his cell phone, cash, jacket and shoes, police said. The suspects – one of whom the man said he thought he recognized – fled on foot.

Nothing was reported stolen following a break-in at a vacant apartment on the 8700 block of Cloudleap Court. A screen was removed and a window broken. The break-in happened sometime between 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 13, and 9:34 a.m. that same day.

A silver 2006 Honda van with Maryland license plate 810M416 was reported stolen from the 10300 block of Log Raft. The theft happened sometime between 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13, and 4:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

Electronics were stolen from a residence on the 9900 block of Fragrant Lilies way. Entry was gained through a side window, and the residence was ransacked. There were no signs of forced entry, according to police. The break-in was reported on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 11:49 p.m.

An mp3 player was stolen from a residence on the 10000 block of Fall Rain Drive. Entry was gained through a window, and there were no signs of forced entry, according to police. The break-in was reported on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7:56 p.m.

A bicycle was stolen from an open garage at a residence on the 3700 block of Chateau Ridge Road. The theft happened sometime between 10 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13, and 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

- Construction equipment was reported stolen from the intersection of Route 216 and Interstate 95. The theft was reported on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7:13 a.m.

- A 1995 Saab was reported stolen from the 9300 block of Washington Boulevard. The theft as reported on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 3:44 p.m.

- A 1985 Chevrolet Blazer – yes, a 1985 Blazer – was reported stolen from the 11900 block of Homewood Road.