Three Columbia Teens Charged with School Break-Ins

Three Columbia teens, including twin brothers, were indicted last week on charges of burglary and theft involving seven break-ins at Howard County Public School System schools and facilities.

The trio is alleged to have used a stolen set of master keys, according to a state's attorney's spokesperson.

Alexander George Schweitzer, 19, and his twin brother Nicholas James Schweitzer, 19, both of the 5600 block of Stevens Forest Road, were indicted along with Jacob Hayes Mann, 19, of the 6200 block of Freestone Court.

Alexander Schweitzer and Mann allegedly stole computers and other equipment from Talbot Springs Elementary School, Stevens Forest Elementary School, the Applications and Research Laboratory, the Faulkner Ridge Center, Jeffers Hill Elementary, Atholton Elementary and Hammond High School, according to Howard County state’s attorney’s office spokesperson Wayne Kirwan.

Nicholas Schweitzer was allegedly involved in the Talbot Springs and Hammond High burglaries.

According to the charging documents and police reports the following items were taken:

• Talbot Springs Elementary - March 28, 2012 - around 9:23 a.m. - Two Epson powered S5 projectors, a router and a laptop bag ($838.00)
• Stevens Forest Elementary School - March 28, 2012 - around 12:30 a.m. - Apple iBook, Apple Macbook, Canon Powershot SD1200, Canon carrying case, memory card ($2,170)
• Applications and Research Laboratory - March 28, 2012 - around 1:18 a.m. - No items taken, suspects left after lights came on in the building
• Faulkner Ridge Center - March 29, 2012 - around 1:30 a.m. - No items taken, suspects left after lights came on
• Jeffers Hill Elementary - March 28, 2012 - around 2:30 a.m. - Apple iMac desktop computer, Canon Digital Camera ($2,300)
• Hammond High School - April 3, 2012 - around 12:45 a.m. - 6 Apple iBook laptops, computer speakers ($1,500)
• Atholoton Elementary - April 19, 2012 - around 2:30 a.m. - Atholton swipe ID card ($10)

On May 1, police executed search warrants at the suspects' addresses and found many of the stolen items as well as Howard County Public School master keys.