Man Charged With 11 Car Break-Ins In Germantown

GERMANTOWN, MD — Police arrested a 22-year-old Germantown man they say committed 11 theft from vehicles in the area throughout December and January, and are looking for a second suspect.

Shaheem D. Kearse, of Birdseye Drive, was charged with illegally possessing a firearm and the following thefts from vehicles:

• December 20, 2017 – 18800 block of Bent Willow Circle
• December 24, 2017 – 12800 block of Climbing Ivy Drive
• December 24, 2017 – 12100 block of Island View Circle.
• December 26, 2017 – two thefts from vehicles in the 12500 block of Coral Grove Place
• December 26, 2017 – 12600 block of Grey Eagle Court
• December 26, 2017 – 18800 block of Bent Willow Circle
• January 13, 2018 – 13100 block of Millhaven Place
• January 13, 2018 – 13300 block of Dovedale Way
• January 21, 2018 – 12200 block of Eagles Nest Court
• January 22, 2018 – 12600 block of Grey Eagle Court

Police responded to the Stags Leap Court area at about 2:45 a.m. Jan. 13 for the report of two suspects breaking into vehicles. Responding officers located two men matching the description of the suspects in the 18000 block of Mateny Rd.

Officers identified one of the suspects as Kearse. The second suspect fled on foot from the officers and was not identified, police said. Officers located property in Kearse’s possession that did not appear to belong to him, but the officers were unable to identify the owners of the property at that time.

Kearse was released from custody without charges pending further investigation. Detectives later determined that the property in Kearse’s possession had been stolen from a vehicle located in the 13300 block of Dovedale Way.

Further investigation revealed that beginning in late December of 2017 and continuing through January 22, 2018, Kearse committed eleven thefts from vehicles in the Germantown area.

A Montgomery County search warrant related to these thefts was executed at Kearse’s residence on February 1, police said. As a result of that search warrant, a firearm was located in Kearse’s possession.

Investigators also determined that Kearse and the second suspect were at a Germantown gas station just prior to the report of the thefts on Mateny Road. Detectives believe that the suspect in the surveillance photograph from the gas station is the suspect who fled on foot from the officers.

Kearse is currently being held without bond at the Montgomery County Detention Center on the firearm charge.

Anyone with information regarding the second suspect is asked to call the 5th District Patrol Investigations Unit at 240-773-6263. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided that leads to an arrest in this case.

Photos via MCPD