Resident Chases Down Man Charged in Sledgehammer Vehicle Burglaries

After having his vehicle broken into, a resident chased down and detained a man now charged with breaking into several vehicles in the Glen Burnie area with a sledgehammer, police said.

James Michael Koltko, 27, of Glen Burnie, was arrested by Anne Arundel County police after being detained by a resident who claimed he saw the suspect tampering with a vehicle on Margate Drive, according to a police report.

Police were dispatched to the area at 6:45 a.m. after a resident on Margate Drive heard a loud noise and the sound of his car alarm. The victim said he saw Koltko with a book bag taken from the vehicle. Koltko was chased down and detained by the victim until police arrived moments later, according to the report.

Koltko was carrying a small sledgehammer with him when police arrived and authorities said they believe the tool was used to break into the vehicles.

After police canvassed the surrounding area, six other vehicles were found with similar damage. Koltko was carrying several items on him that matched descriptions of items missing from those vehicles, police said.

A subsequent search of the suspect's house also found several items reported as stolen in a residential burglary and a vehicle theft on Queen Anne Road, and a shed burglary and two thefts from vehicles on Highland Drive, police said.

Detectives said Koltko may have been involved in other burglaries.

Koltko was charged with a string of burglary charges, including second-degree burglary, third-degree, two counts of fourth-degree burglary and eight counts of malicious destruction of property, according to the police report.