Man Assaulted During Home Invasion In Columbia: Howard County Police

COLUMBIA, MD — A man went into a Columbia home without permission and assaulted the homeowner around 10 p.m. March 21.

The incident happened at a home located in the 6000 block of Laurel Wreath Way. Howard County Police were able to track down the suspect and arrest him. The homeowner told police nothing was stolen and no one was injured, according to police.

Jadarrel Allen, 37, of Upper Marlboro has been charged with burglary, assault and trespassing in connection to the incident.

In January, residents were rattled when they learned about a home invasion robbery that happened in the 8400 block of Oak Bush Terrace around 3:20 a.m. Several men with their faces covered broke a sliding glass door to gain entry into the home. They pulled out a gun, assaulted one resident and stole items, according to the Howard County Police Department. The suspects then stole the residents' vehicle, a 2004 Honda Accord, that was later recovered nearby.

According to data provided by the Howard County Police Department, there were 420 incidents of burglaries/breaking and entering across Howard County in 2023. There were 133 robberies committed and 16 stolen property offenses.

While police do not yet have suspects in custody, Seth Hoffman, spokesperson for the Howard County Police Department, spoke with Patch previously and shared several tips to help keep homeowners and their property safe.

1 - Always keep all doors, including your garage door and rear slider, closed and locked.

2 - Ensure that the door leading from your garage to the interior of your home also is locked.

3 - Keep valuables in an unexpected place, in case a thief makes it inside. For example, don’t keep your most valuable jewelry in your jewelry box. "Burglars want to get in and out quick, so don’t make it easy for them to find your valuable or sentimental items," Hoffman said.

4 - Always lock your vehicles and remove valuable property. Even if your garage door is closed, a garage door opener in an unlocked car is like a key to your home.

5 - Always report suspicious activity in your neighborhood by calling 911 or non-emergency 410-313-2200.