Videocassette Recorder

Police Blotter is a sampling of crimes in Howard County.Ellicott City: 4200 block of Centennial Lane: Someone broke into the Burleigh Manor School between Saturday and Monday. A rear window was broken, but nothing appeared to be missing.Elkridge: 6600 block of Santa Barbara Road: Sherwin Williams Co. was broken into between Friday and Monday. The store was partially ransacked and an attempt was made to break into a safe, but nothing was reported missing.Elkridge: 5700 block of U.S. 1: Someone broke into Boulevard Automotive Inc. on Monday and stole a stereo from a car parked outside the garage area.

Orchard Beach man reports $8,800 theftA 33-year-old man told police that someone stole $8,800 from his home Tuesday -- money he kept hidden under a baseball cap on his dresser.Daniel Todd Selke, who lives in the 7800 block of Waterview Drive in Orchard Beach, told police that someone broke a front bedroom window and crawled inside.Once inside, police said, the thieves took only large denominations, leaving behind bills totaling $385 that were on a shelf nearby.Other items left behind included a videocassette recorder and a TV.The investigation is continuing, but police said a relative may be a suspect.

POLICE LOG* Ellicott City: 9700 block of Cypressmede Drive: Someone entered a garage through a side door and stole tools last Wednesday, police said.9500 block of Frederick Road: Silverware was taken from a home Friday when someone slipped in through a slide door while the resident worked in the back yard, police said.3100 block of Normandy Woods Drive: A would-be car thief tried to steal a 1990 Dodge Daytona Sunday, but instead took bowling equipment found inside the vehicle.* Elkridge: 7700 block of Route 1: Someone entered an unlocked mobile home and stole a videocassette recorder Sunday, police said.

$5,000 in items stolen from homeAnnapolis police are investigating the theft of more than $5,000 of items from a home on Thursday.Police said someone threw a brick through a living-room window and entered the home of Joe Ando, 33, of the first block of Gentry Court.More than $4,000 worth of jewelry, a videocassette recorder, stereo, camcorder, frozen meats and a small amount of cash were stolen.The theft occurred between noon and 3 p.m.

POLICE* Eldersburg: An official of Peebles Department Store in the 6400 block of Ridge Road reported to state police that 40 long-sleeve casual shirts were stolen from a rack in the store Nov. 12. The shirts, with the label Bugle Boy, were ripped from their hangers, the official said. The loss was estimated at $1,200. State police are investigating.* Gamber: A resident of the 4000 block of Sykesville Road reported to state police that someone kicked in the side door of her house and stole a videocassette recorder and $250 in cash Thursday.

POLICE LOG* Elkridge: 8700 block of Morning Breeze Court: Someone pried open a home's rear sliding glass door and stole crystal, china, silver, jewelry and a safe box Monday. Police said the burglar also took a suitcase and used it to carry away the other property.6400 block of Meadowridge Road: A television, videocassette recorder and sheets were stolen from a home after someone forced open a side door Monday, police said.5800 block of U.S. 1: Someone kicked and shattered the front glass door to Elkridge Liquors Tuesday, but apparently was scared off by an alarm, police said.

POLICE LOG* Clarksville: 6600 block of Isle of Skye Drive: A resident returned home Tuesday and saw a man dressed in dark clothing fleeing from the home. Police said the suspect entered through an unlocked basement door.* Marriottsville: 1000 block of Henryton Road: A neighbor watching a resident's home scared off a burglar who entered through an unlocked second-level sliding glass door Tuesday, police said.11800 block of Ramsburg Road: Someone kicked open a front door and used a pillow case to haul off coins, a videocassette recorder, Christmas presents and an electric hedge trimmer Tuesday.

* Woodbine: 15500 block of Bushy Tail Run: An electrical garage door was tampered with between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tuesday. Someone entered the garage, took a key to enter the house and stole a stereo, videocassette recorder, video camera and jewelry box.* Woodstock: 10900 block of Frederick Road: A door was kicked in between 11:20 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The house was ransacked, and a television and VCR were stolen.