11-13-2024 4:03am

FALLSTON THIEF

Jeff Barto Editor

Police use drone to catch Fallston thief

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office recently utilized a drone to capture a thief in the Fallston area. Thanks to technology and observant neighbors, a suspect sought by the Harford County Sheriff's Office for breaking into vehicles and stealing items was tracked with a drone.

Early Nov. 8, a resident located in the 2100 block of Albrook Court reported someone trespassing on private property. The sheriff's office knew that this area had been targeted recently by someone stealing items from vehicles. So with a possible suspect on the prowl, a sheriff's office drone was launched.

"The drone operator identified an individual walking down Ryan Road and guided the responding deputy to the area where the suspect, identified as John Sawyer, was taken into custody. Deputies found a window punch and pepper spray in Sawyer’s belongings, along with a concealed dirk knife," the sheriff's office stated.

The sheriff's office reported that Sawyer, 35, lives on Arden Drive and trespassed on the resident's property, then walked through the neighborhood with the intent of breaking into vehicles using his window punch and stealing items from the vehicles.

Sawyer was taken to the Harford County Detention Center where he has been charged with trespass posted property, possession of burglary tools and concealed dangerous weapon, the sheriff's office reported.

"Please remember to lock your vehicles and remove any valuables. And, kudos to the homeowner who followed the simple advice of 'see something, say something,'" the sheriff's office said.

Authorities say the area had recently been victimized by someone going through vehicles to steal items. In an effort to quickly identify and catch the suspect, a drone was launched. The drone operator identified an individual walking down Ryan Road and guided the responding deputy to the area where the suspect, identified as John Sawyer, was taken into custody. Deputies found a window punch and pepper spray in Sawyer’s belongings, along with a concealed knife.

It was determined that Sawyer, 35, with an address on Arden Drive, had trespassed on the victim’s property and walked through the surrounding neighborhood with the intent of breaking into motor-vehicles using the window punch and stealing items the vehicles. Sawyer was taken to the Harford County Detention Center where he was charged with trespass posted property, possession of burglary tools, and concealed dangerous weapon.

After an initial appearance in front of a District Court Commissioner, Sawyer was released.