Larceny

25 Years Ago (week of March 10-16, 1968):* The possibility of low-income housing for Howard County's rural Fourth District was discussed at a meeting of a local branch of the Farmers Home Administration. A 67-acre tract of land was being considered as one possible site for low-cost homes.50 Years Ago (week of March 14-20, 1943):* Judge James Clark acquitted a man accused of larceny, stating that the court would "not countenance having the criminal processes of Howard County used to settle accounts between rumrunners."

Police continued their search yesterday for an inmate who escaped from a state prison facility in Baltimore early Friday. Michael Allmond, 34, escaped from the Baltimore City Correctional Center through a vehicle entrance area about 2:50 a.m., according to George Gregory, a spokesman for the Division of Correction. Gregory said Allmond was part of a group of inmates who are assigned to special work details and are allowed out of their cells in the early hours. Allmond is serving a 20-year sentence for weapons offenses, larceny and auto theft, Gregory said.

NEW YORK - A Tyco International Ltd. accountant testified yesterday that the company's outside auditors had access to records of $1.98 million in art purchases made by L. Dennis Kozlowski, then chief executive, for his New York apartment. The statement by the accountant, government witness Linda Auger, supported the defense contention that Kozlowski and his finance chief, Mark Swartz, didn't try to hide the financial activities for which they are on trial, charged with fraud and larceny, in a New York state court in Manhattan.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. granted clemency to 16 people yesterday and issued one medical commutation to a man diagnosed with AIDS. Since 2003, Ehrlich has issued 231 clemency orders, according to a statement. Yesterday's clemency went to: Ernest C. Atkinson Jr., 58, convicted of larceny in 1971 and two counts of larceny after trust in 1975; Derrick D. Dew, 41, convicted of distribution of phencyclidine and possession with intent to distribute heroin in 1986; George Diggle, 35, convicted of breaking and entering in 1989; Jose M. Fernandez Sr., 53, convicted of malicious destruction of property in 1977; and Carolyn D. Gray, 40, convicted of misdemeanor theft in 1998.

The crime rate dropped 10 percent in Harford County last year, according to statistics compiled by the Maryland State Police.Figures show that the total number of crimes committed in the county fell to 6,078 from 6,722.Only St. Mary's, Washington and Worcester counties reported a larger percentage of decline in crime for 1992. All had an 11 percent decrease last year.Cecil County's crime rate also fell 10 percent.The figures in the 1992 Preliminary Uniform Crime Report are provided by law enforcement agencies statewide and are listed along with 1991 totals.

Two Boys' Latin School graduates who play lacrosse at Syracuse University have been arrested after a break-in at a campus gym where clothing, equipment and athletic shoes were stolen, a school spokesman said.Sophomore defensemen John Glatzel, The Sun's 1997 All-Metro Player of the Year, and Tom Nee were suspended indefinitely from the team and the university along with freshman midfielder Michael Springer, according to university spokesman Kevin Morrow.The players are scheduled to have a university hearing tomorrow.

BALTIMORE CITY* ARMED ROBBERY: Central District -- Two men dressed in dark clothing walked into a bookstore in the 700 block of N. Howard St. They displayed an unknown type of handgun and stole money from the cash register before fleeing minutes after midnight Friday.* ROBBERY: Central District -- Two men walked up to a man in the 300 block of Park Ave., struck him and took an undisclosed amount of cash about 3 a.m. Saturday.* STOLEN AUTO: Central District -- A red Honda with Maryland license plates PKD 669 was stolen from the 200 block of Waxter Way sometime between 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. yesterday.

Baltimore CityTHEFT: Central District -- Someone stole a Maryland registration tag from a car parked yesterday in the 1200 block of Mount Royal Ave.ROBBERY ATTEMPT: Central District -- At about 4 p.m. yesterday, a gunman pulled out a handgun and threatened a man in the 100 block of W. Madison St., but the intended robbery victim knocked the gun away and the gunman fled.LARCENY: Central District -- Someone broke into a car parked in the 600 block of Dolphin St. between noon and 6 p.m. yesterday.

Baltimore CitySHOOTING: Western District -- A man and a woman were both shot about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 2400 block of W. Baltimore St. The man was shot in the lower left leg and the woman in the right leg; both were being treated at University Hospital. A suspect was being questioned and investigators were trying to determine the motive for the shootings.ARMED ROBBERY: Western District -- A woman reported she was robbed of $15 Wednesday afternoon by an unknown man who pointed a gun at her as she was walking in the 1700 block of N. Carey St.ARMED ROBBERY: Southwestern District -- A man pointed a gun at another man walking in the 2500 block of W. Baltimore St. Monday night and ordered him to hand over money.