Police Arrest 2 in Crofton Battery Thefts

Anne Arundel County police charged two Crownsville residents with stealing vehicle batteries, after finding stolen batteries in their possession late Saturday, according to a department press release.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m., officers responded to a business on the 1600 block of Crofton Lane, in Crofton, for a reported theft in progress. As officers arrived, the caller relayed that the suspects had left in a pickup truck.

Officers located the truck on Route 450 near Route 3 and stopped the vehicle. Police found the stolen batteries in the truck, then arrested the driver and passenger, according to the press release.

Police charged Paul Anthony Wilson, 36, and Kelly Lynn Stevens, 38, both of Crownsville, with theft, destruction of property and being rogue and vagabond.

In June, AACOPD warned commercial drivers of the recent uptick in vehicle battery thefts, and announced the arrest of two men connected to a string of such thefts.

Police spokesman T.J. Smith said, under standard procedure, detectives are investigating whether Saturday's incident is connected to the thefts in June, but have not announced any ties.

"At this time, detectives continue to look into open cases involving battery thefts but [Wilson and Stevens] haven't been charged with any additional thefts," Smith told Patch.

AACOPD offered these tips for citizens and businesses to protect their property:

• Establish sufficient lighting in areas where trucks and commercial equipment are stored
• Uniquely and discreetly mark batteries so they may be conclusively identified by investigators should they become stolen
• Provide officers with images or details of these markings in any theft report
• Report suspicious vehicles immediately to police and obtain a detailed description
• Surveillance cameras, appropriately positioned, are an invaluable tool in protecting property and assets