Downtown merchants worry about crime jump
By NICOLE YOUNG, Staff Writer

It all started with a brick through a window.

Within minutes, windows and doors are smashed open and thousands of dollars of computer equipment goes missing - some of it in broad daylight and on busy roadways.

Generally not considered a high crime area, the tourist-driven and historic downtown has seen crime slowly infiltrate its comfortable, affluent district.

A handful of offices and commercial buildings have been hit in the last month, every time with the same target: computers. The method of getting to those computers has been the same each time as well - a brick through a glass window or door.

Offices at 100 Cathedral St., 108 Cathedral St., 20 West St., and 115 West St. were all hit within two weeks. The 100 Cathedral address was targeted several times.

At this point, police have not been able to connect the crimes, but Officer Hal Dalton, city police spokesman, called the similarities between the burglaries "pretty striking." They were also a bit out of the ordinary, some being performed as early as 8:40 p.m., with daylight remaining and in the midst of plenty of foot and street traffic.

"Usually, you think of commercial burglaries between midnight and 4 to 5 a.m.," Officer Dalton said. "Most of these were a lot earlier in the evening and to me that increases the risk of being caught. That part of town is not exactly isolated - there's restaurants and bars nearby."
He said the police weren't sure if drugs were the motive behind the recent spate of burglaries. Drug addicts will typically sell computers and monitors that cost hundreds of dollars for as low as $20 to feed their habit, he said.

"Statistically, if you look citywide, it's not that big of a trend," Officer Dalton said. "But generally, most all of these kinds of crimes are drug driven. Anything of value, people will sell real cut rate."

Wednesday night, at about 9:40 p.m., officers responded to a call at 100 Cathedral St. for a report of a burglary in progress, the same building where a computer was stolen last week.
Police arrested Gary Donell Morgan, 42, of Annapolis and charged him with first-degree burglary. Officer Dalton said police believe Mr. Morgan is also involved in at least one similar burglary. Two computers taken from the building were recovered, Officer Dalton said.

Garden Architects at 115 West St. only had their Dell laptop computer one day before it was stolen from the showroom the evening of June 20 - and it's not the first incident they've had, either.

Robbie Fitzgerald, the shop's owner, said the company has had minor issues with the property before. Their awning has been ripped up, planters knocked over and broken, some mystery liquids have been smeared on the door, but no one had ever broken in until a brick smashed through a pane of glass.

"Although it is well-lit, it is still not extremely well-traveled," she said of their location. "It's disturbing to know that someone came into the space, but it was very, very obvious the thing they were after."

And other businesses have been on the lookout as well.

The Annapolis Business Association has been sending out e-mail blasts with crime prevention tips and Larry Vincent, owner of Lawrence Clothier on Main Street, submitted a petition to the aldermen and Mayor Ellen O. Moyer with more than 400 signatures asking for help with the growing crime problem downtown.

"We've done everything and their answer was to appoint a committee," he said. "The (city's) attitude is part of the problem - they are dismissive. We told them a year ago they had problems."

Mr. Vincent said both the police chief and the mayor have done little more than talk.
"We don't need another mindless committee, but actual leadership and actual responsibility for this problem."

But city officials said the rise in crime hasn't gone unnoticed.

Alderman David H. Cordle, R-Ward 5, and chairman of the Public Safety Committee, has organized a forum from 6-9 p.m. tonight at City Hall addressing these and other issues facing the city.

Annapolis Police also have a commercial crime specialist who visits each of the crime scenes and provides information and tips for how to better secure the buildings.

Unlike some other business owners, Ms. Fitzgerald praised the work of the police and said their response time was good and their downtown presence was making a difference.

"The patrol cars on the streets really make a difference," she said. "The more they can be on the street, the less there is the potential for crime."

Moving her business to West Street about four years ago, she said she sees a different kinds of people walking the streets today and a much safer neighborhood.

"There are more people with kids out willing to walk the streets. It's a safer place," she said. "The individuals involved in illicit businesses, I don't see them as much and that's good. It is changing and there is a strengthening of the businesses community within the area. I think it will only get better - I'm patient."