Fingerprints Lead To Charges Against Store Burglary Suspect: Police

WHEATON, MD — A Silver Spring man has been charged in connection with two commercial burglaries in Wheaton in November, according to police.

Mukhtar Ali Mohamed, 27, was served with an arrest warrant at a detention center in Washington, D.C., where he is currently being held on other charges, Montgomery County police said Monday.

At about 3:10 a.m. on Nov. 17, 2023, Mohamed attempted to force entry into the Montgomery County Liquor store in the 11400 block of Georgia Avenue. Mohamed left the scene after attempting to break the glass of the front door with a rock, according to police.

About an hour later., Mohamed forced entry into the Cricket Wireless store in the 11300 block of Georgia Avenue, stole merchandise and left the scene, police said.

The MCPD-Violent Crime Information Center reviewed surveillance footage of the Montgomery County Liquor store and saw Mohamed touching the glass door with his right hand prior to attempting to force entry into the business. The VCIC shared this information with detectives on the case who were able to lift latent prints from the glass door.

On Jan. 26, detectives received the results of the latent prints examination, which determined that the prints belonged to Mohamed. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant against Mohamed, charging him with theft, attempted second-degree burglary and second-degree burglary, according to police.