What started as a late-night break-in at a Jefferson business has ended with a Calvert County man jailed on burglary and arson charges, after investigators say the targeted property went up in flames the very next day. Detectives traced stolen construction equipment to Prince Frederick and, during a search last week, pulled back roughly $50,000 worth of goods. David Roberts, 34, of Prince Frederick, is now facing a slate of felony counts including burglary, arson, malicious burning and theft, and is being held at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.
According to WJLA, deputies were called on May 3 to a commercial burglary in the 4100 block of Lander Road in Jefferson. A skid steer, a zero-turn mower, a flatbed trailer, machinery, construction materials and tools were all reported stolen. The station reported that investigators later connected some of the missing equipment to property on private land in Calvert County.
“The fire was determined to be arson,” WJLA reported after fire marshals and detectives examined a blaze that tore through the same building on May 4. Deputies told the outlet they believed the fire was tied to the earlier theft, turning a straight burglary case into an arson investigation overnight.
Search Warrant in Prince Frederick Recovers Stolen Gear
Detectives worked with the Calvert County Sheriff's Office to secure a search warrant for a property in the 100 block of Armory Road in Prince Frederick, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. Around 3 a.m. on May 14, Calvert deputies and Frederick detectives executed the warrant and recovered approximately $50,000 worth of stolen property linked to the Jefferson burglary, the agency said in a release.
Felony Charges and How to Reach Investigators
David Roberts was arrested at the scene and taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center. He faces charges of second-degree burglary, second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning and theft between $25,000 and $100,000, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. “Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Detective Whitehouse at 301-600-1046 or submit a tip through the FCSO tip line at 301-600-4131,” the release says.
