On March 9 at 1:19 a.m., Charles County Sheriff's officers responded to an alarm at Plaza Shell, located at 3185 Crain Highway in Waldorf. Upon arrival, officers discovered someone shattered the glass rear door with a large piece of concrete, stole juice drinks, power bars, cigarette lighters and several packs of Newport cigarettes from inside and fled the scene prior to the arrival of police.
At about 4:15 a.m., Sgt. P. Duckworth observed a suspicious male standing at the drive through window of a liquor store in Pinefield Shopping Center. When she approached him, he fled the scene. Officers located him nearby and as they approached him, he was lighting a cigarette. Officers found he was 17 years old and confiscated the cigarettes.
During a check of the surrounding area, officers located a backpack. A search of the bag revealed evidence of the earlier burglary and items that belonged to the 17-year-old boy. Officers arrested the boy. They examined the bottom of his shoes and found a unique shoe pattern that resembled a shoe impression left at the burglary scene.
They charged the boy with second degree burglary, theft of property worth less than $500, destruction of property worth more than $500 and possession of cigarettes by a minor. He was released to a family member. Officers are investigating whether he was involved in any other similar burglaries in Charles County. Officer R. Anderson is investigating.