Two Pizza Delivery Driver Robberies on Same Columbia Street Within Days of Each Other: Howard County Crime Roundup

Compiled from the daily police bulletin.

Town Center: Robbery

Howard County police are looking into whether two cases of pizza delivery drivers being robbed on the same street are connected.

Both robberies occurred on the 10300 block of Swift Stream Place, which is located in the Columbia village of Town Center.

The first robbery was reported at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. Police say two suspects approached the driver, assaulted him and stole cash and food.

One suspect was described as a black male, 6 feet tall, with a skinny build and hair on his chin. The other suspect was described as a black male, 5-foot-9, with a heavy build and no facial hair.

The second robbery was reported at 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30. Police say two suspects approached the driver and demanded the food and money. The driver gave them both, and the men fled on foot toward Lake Kittamaqundi.

One suspect was described as a black male, 18 to 25 years old, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 with a skinny build, and wearing a dark jacket and dark jeans. The other suspect was described as a black male, 18 to 25 years old, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 with a skinny build, and wearing a black jacket and black pants.

"Detectives are investigating the cases, along with the other recent pizza delivery robberies, to determine if they may be related," said Elizabeth Schroen, spokeswoman for the Howard County Police Department.

"The majority of the cases have involved legitimate deliveries, and various different pizza delivery businesses have been involved," Schroen said. "The number of similar robberies in a short time frame is certainly unusual and is being actively investigated."

The two cases on Swift Stream Place are the eighth and ninth robberies of a food delivery driver reported in the area since December.

The other recent food delivery driver robberies – all but one of which have been in Columbia – were:

• On Dec. 18, a pizza delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint on the 4900 block of Blue Wing Court. 
• On Jan. 11, a man working as a delivery driver for a Chinese food restaurant was robbed at knifepoint on the 7500 block of Weather Worn Way. 
• On Jan. 27, a pizza delivery driver was assaulted and robbed on the 9400 block of Macomber Lane.
• On Feb. 11, a pizza delivery driver was assaulted and robbed on the 9600 block of Whiteacre Road.
• On Feb. 13, a pizza delivery driver was assaulted and robbed on the 6600 block of Downdale Place.
• On March 8, a pizza delivery driver was robbed on the 5400 block of Harpers Farm Road.
• And on March 8 in Laurel, a pizza delivery driver was assaulted and robbed on the 9000 block of Stebbing Way.

Ellicott City: Break-in attempt

No entry was gained following an attempted break-in at a business on the 9100 block of Baltimore National Pike. The suspect or suspects sought to get inside by trying – and failing – to break a glass front door. The break-in attempt was reported at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 31.

Columbia and Laurel: Vehicle thefts (with an arrest in one case)

- Columbia: A Laurel man has been charged with stealing a vehicle from the 10400 block of Little Patuxent Parkway.

Lavar William Grigsby, 23, of 9220 Brides Path Lane, is facing one count of motor vehicle theft and three counts of theft, according to court records.

He is accused of stealing a vehicle from a man who had been at Union Jack's Pub in downtown Columbia at about 1 a.m. on Friday, April 1. The victim told police that he'd discovered his keys were no longer in his pocket. As he went to where he'd left his black 2005 Acura, he discovered that it was no longer in the parking lot.

Officers on duty at the time were told to look out for the vehicle. One officer saw it at a gas station on the 10600 block of Little Patuxent Parkway and arrested Grigsby without incident, police said.

- Columbia: A gold 1999 Chrysler Town and Country with Maryland license plate 06294M3 was stolen from the 5700 block of Cedar Lane. It was reported stolen at 7:06 a.m. on Tuesday, March 29.

- Columbia: A green 2004 Kia with Maryland license plate MPJ454 was stolen from the 9300 block of Pirates Cove. It was reported stolen at 8:10 a.m. on Thursday, March 31.

- Laurel: A dark blue Toyota Sienna was stolen from the 8800 block of Evermore Court. It was reported stolen at 1:50 a.m. on Tuesday, March 29.

- Laurel: Another vehicle was reported stolen from the 8800 block of Evermore Court at 12:13 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29. No information on the vehicle was available.

- Laurel: A vehicle was reported stolen from the 11200 block of Scaggsville Road at 12:09 p.m. on Monday, March 28. No information on the vehicle was available.