Howard County police are searching for a police-issued firearm and ammunition stolen from two separate police cruisers parked overnight Tuesday in the residential Mayfield community of Elkridge.
In both cases, which police believe are linked, the culprit broke a window on the police cars, while the officers were off duty and away from the vehicles.
After smashing the window, the culprit forcefully removed a secured firearm from a locked rack affixed to the interior of one car, police said. The culprit also stole blank police forms and a police baseball cap.
Ammunition was stolen from the second police car, police said.
The officers reported the thefts Wednesday morning, but police could not confirm whether the culprit was a Mayfield resident or a visitor when the thefts occurred.
“This case is a top priority for us,” said Police Chief William McMahon, who issued a temporary prohibition Wednesday on storing firearms in police vehicles, even those that are properly secured.
Officers will be required to store their weapons indoors, using trigger locks and gun safes, police said.
“We want to evaluate the various equipment we use to secure firearms and the installation of that equipment in our vehicles,” McMahon said.
“While we believe this is an isolated incident, we want to be sure all weapons are stored as safely as possible.”
Another police cruiser was targeted in the same Mayfield community in July, police said, when the culprit swiped a computer from the cruiser while it was parked at a police facility in the neighborhood.
Detectives are investigating whether the July theft is linked to Tuesday’s incidents.
Anyone with information should call police at 410-313-3200.
