Comments and Alerts
GTCC Memeber "Preview Invitation" for the 'NEW' Cockeysville Library
Renovations to the Cockeysville Library are almost complete ...... ! ! !
Please join Baltimore County Public Library Director, Jim Fish and Cockeysville Library Branch Manager, Mollie Fein, for a SPECIAL GTCC "Pre-Opening" Library Preview on this coming Saturday, June 19th, 2010 between 10:00AM and 11:00AM. Light refreshments will be served!
This Preview is scheduled especially for all GTCC Association Members to celebrate the completion of the recent renovations to the Cockeysville Library.
Please invite all of your Association Members to attend this Special Preview ! RSVP to the Cockeysville Library manger, Mollie Fine at 410-887-7750 Ext. 110
The renovated library will feature many improvements and upgrades:
- Fully updated interior design, including:
- Additional express checkout stations
- Comfortable and welcoming library spaces
- Video information center
- Newly equipped meeting room
- Family restroom
- Expanded children's area
- Newly designed teen section
- Additional public computers and laptop stations
- Easy access returns room
- Group conference and quiet study rooms
Come on out this Saturday and join your GTCC fellow members and the Library Staff to share in the excitement of all of the new renovations & improvements ! ! !
See you all there .................
Bottle Bombs
Recently, a Precinct 7 Police and Community Relations Council member sent me an inquiry about an email she received alerting her to the existence of soda bottle bombs or "Drano Bombs" in the Precinct 7 area.
If you are not familiar with the term, Drano Bombs are cheap and easily made explosive devices that require only an empty plastic soda bottle with a screw on cap, some liquid bathroom cleaner and a small amount of aluminum foil, sometimes rolled into a small ball. Chemical reactions between the aluminum foil and the liquid cleaner inside the sealed bottle cause the bottle to expand, contort and eventually burst. The plastic bits of bottle debris act as shrapnel when the bottle explodes. IF THE BOTTLE EXPLODES CLOSE ENOUGH TO A PERSON, SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR.
We have had past incidents involving soda bottle bombs in the Precinct 7 area. However, they have been sporadic in nature. They are sometimes placed inside of roadside mailboxes in order to destroy them as a "prank". However, there are occasions in which these devices have not detonated but, if disturbed or moved, CAN detonate hours after being made.
Please examine the attached photo of a soda bottle bomb. Should you come across such a device on your property or in your mailbox, DO NOT TOUCH OR DISTURB THE DEVICE IN ANY WAY. Keep everyone back at least 150 feet. Call 911 to report the incident. A police officer will respond to verify the incident and will have the Hazardous Devices Team respond to safely remove and dispose of the item.
Captain Martin Lurz
Precinct 7
Strawberry Custard Roll & Ribbon Cutting To Mark The Opening Of The New Baltimore County Farmers Market
State Senator Jim Brochin, State Delegates Susan Auman and Bill Frank, County Executive Jim Smith, County Councilman Bryan McIntire and other local dignitaries will lend a hand in cutting a strawberry custard roll and a ribbon to mark the official opening of the new Baltimore County Farmers Market at the Maryland State Fairgrounds that will offer high quality local produce, meats, flowers, goods, gifts, and more to the community. The Baltimore County Farmers Market, conveniently located with free parking at the Maryland State Fairgrounds North Gate, will take place from
2 p.m. to 6 p.m., every Wednesday through October.
The Grand Opening will feature greetings from local dignitaries, live entertainment, giveaways, and a special strawberry preparation demonstration by Chef Carole Brosso from Patrick's of Cockeysville.
| EVENT: | Baltimore County Farmers Market at the Maryland State Fair Grand Opening Strawberry Custard Roll & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony |
| DATE: | Wednesday, June 9, 2010 |
| TIME: | 2:00 PM |
| LOCATION: | Maryland State Fairgrounds, North Gate, 2200 York Road, Timonium, MD 21093 |
The market, exclusively run by Baltimore County farmers and producers will offer a variety of fresh in-season fruit and vegetables starting with strawberries, asparagus, spinach, lettuce, spring onions, with more types of produce available each week. Chicken, beef, bison, bread and honey are just a few of the other featured local items. Participating Baltimore County Farmers and Vendors: Albright Farms; Atwater's Bakery; Calvert's Gift Farm; Charles Street Gourmet; Gunpowder Bison & Trading Company; Hills Forest Fruit Farm; Hope Ridge Farm; Nick's "Backfire" Brands Spices and Rubs; One Straw Farm; Pahl's Farm; Quite A Stir Bakers, Simmer Rock Farm; Springfield Farm; Talmar Garden and Horticultural Center; Warns Produce Farm; White House Fresh Flowers; and more.
For more information, contact Baltimore County Farmers Market at 410-207-2165 or www.baltimorecountyfarmersmarket.com.
Special Attention To Residents of The Shetland Hills / Lutherville Communities:
On May 17, 2010, I sent out an email alert regarding a residential burglary in the 100 block of Martingale Road. Over the next few days, additional burglaries and one attempted burglary were reported in the Timonium and Mays Chapel area, as later updated on the GTCC and LCA websites.
On 5/21/10, officers and detectives working in the area spotted a suspicious vehicle in the Orchard Hills / Lutherville area. The vehicle was followed out onto York Road and stopped. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for a serious traffic violation. Subsequent investigation recovered evidence stolen in several of the Timonium area burglaries. As a result, the driver was also arrested and charged with this recent burglary trend. There haven't been any residential burglaries reported in these areas since 5/21/10.
I know some of the area residents are concerned that this trend is continuing and were not aware of the arrest. I had to delay the official community notice of the arrest due to the sensitive nature of a portion of the on-going investigation.
I am proud of the officers and the work that they did in these neighborhoods. I am also proud of the community for the residents' willingness to call 911 and to assist my officers with tips and information. Thank you for helping us to make this happen.
Captain Martin Lurz
Precinct 7
Residential Burglaries (Update) 5-24-10
As a result of a recent residential burglary trend, Precinct 7 officers and burglary detectives in both marked and unmarked cars have increased patrol in the Lutherville and Timonium communities. We have spent a lot of time speaking with residents, delivery drivers, mail carriers, etc. The residents of the area have provided us with information based on their recent observations of community activity. As our investigation continues, please note the following things that will assist us:
-
Please! DO NOT hesitate to call 911 immediately to report suspicious solicitors or other unknown persons who come to your door with a disjointed story or other ruse. It's well known that this is a common method used by burglars to "case" a residence to see if anyone is home. BUT, you need to call 911 immediately - don't wait - and provide the 911 operator with a physical description of the person/s and of any vehicle that the person/s could have used. Some of the more common "stories" give to homeowners who do open the door (much to the chagrin of the burglar) is that the person is lost, or that the person's car is broken down just around the corner, or the person is seeking outdoor work. Put yourself into the mind-set of a burglar - if you saw a potential house target and you wanted to make sure no one was home before breaking in, how would YOU do it? I'm betting that whatever you think of has been tried before.
-
Entry into the house in four, and possibly five, of the most recent burglaries occurred through an unlocked door. Think about it...that means that instead of just quickly breaking out a window or prying open a door, the burglar is first checking the perimeter of the house to see if any doors or windows are unlocked. This is definitely the preferred method of entry to burglars because forcing a door or window or breaking glass makes noise and attracts attention. That's something that burglars want to avoid because it increases the chances of getting caught. So, please make sure you doors and windows are locked securely when you leave your house.
Our investigation is continuing and we are working closely with the community residents. You can assist us by calling 911 and by securing doors and windows. The assistance and information provided by the residents has been very beneficial and I appreciate all the support. I will update the LCA and GTCC as soon as I can.
Captain Martin Lurz
BCoPD Precinct 7
Deception Burglaries
Captain Marty Lurz of the Cockeysville precinct asked that we publicize the persistent problem with deception burglaries. Read the email below to gain better understanding of the methods used to perpetrate these crimes and responses to combat the problem.
ALL PRECINCT 7 EMAIL TREE MEMBERS...PLEASE SHARE THIS OVERVIEW WITH
ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
I've written before about a theft crime known as a "Flim-Flam" or
"Pigeon Drop". This involves a "con" situation in which a victim -
usually (but not always) elderly - is convinced to give up a sum of
money as a good faith promise to obtain a larger sum of money.
Pigeon-Drop thieves usually work in pairs, BUT have been known to work
alone with the aid of a cell phone as a prop. These crimes usually occur
in shopping centers and often in the vicinity of banks. Most of these
type of scam crimes will follow this pattern:
The suspect/s will identify a potential victim, otherwise known as the
"mark" or "pigeon". A suspect will approach the victim and strike up a
friendly conversation in order to gain the victim's trust. After that, a
second suspect will approach and ask if anyone lost a wallet, bag, or
purse containing money but no identification. The second suspect will
show the item which contains a roll of "flash money" which is usually
nothing more that a large paper bill wrapped around an inner roll of
paper, etc. The two suspects will discuss what to do with the money. One
of the suspects may offer to call a "lawyer friend" for advice. That
suspect will then either walk away to "make that call to the friend" or
fake a phone conversation while standing with the victim. The suspect
will then say that the friend has offered to hold the found money for X
number of days and, if it's not claimed, all (victim and suspect/s) are
entitled to it. At this point, one suspect will offer to put up "good
faith money" to secure his/her interest in the found money. The victim -
and remember, usually an unsuspecting elderly victim who has been "sized
up for vulnerability" already - will be asked to do the same. The
suspect/s will then accompany the victim to a bank where a sizeable
withdrawal of cash is made. That "good faith" money is given to the
suspect to be held by the "lawyer friend" for X-number of days. The
suspect/s will then leave after telling the victim that they will "be in
touch".
That's it! Done! And yes, there are actually folks that will do this
because it works on some victims. Remember though, that there are many,
many variations of the flim-flam scam. And, as I said, it can be
pulled off by one suspect acting alone. The one I've described is one of
the most common methods of operation.
The common issues amongst all the scams are:
The victim is usually elderly and/or vulnerable.
"Something" is found containing what appears to be a large sum of
cash.
The victim will be asked to put up "good faith" money to secure an
interest in the found money.
TELL FOLKS YOU KNOW WHO COULD BE TARGETED HOW TO AVOID FOUND MONEY
SCAM
Trust instincts and if the situation seems unusual or if you feel
uncomfortable, walk away
Trust only people you know. Do not trust someone because they seem to
have honest faces and pleasant personalities. That trust is they key to
the scammer's success.
If someone found $50.000 would he be willing to automatically give up
$25.000 just as a sign of good faith? Highly unlikely.
If legal advice or other money assistance is required, the service of a
competent financial professional should be sought. Before you withdraw
any sum of money at someone else's suggestion you should call your bank,
lawyer or any trusted person who could posses appropriate knowledge.
If you have concerns about elderly parents, family members, etc. making
a large withdrawal of cash in such a situation and there is no joint
account or power of attorney, etc., contact the bank manager to see if
the account can be flagged for co-authorization of large-sum cash
withdrawals.
Awareness is the key to combating this crime that preys on the elderly.
Please pass this information along. There are actually videos of hidden
camera pigeon-drop scams that you can watch on YouTube to see how it
works. Just web-search "Pigeon-Drop You Tube" on your web browser.
Captain Martin Lurz
BCoPD Precinct 7