UPDATE: Police Arrest Two in Midday Smash and Grabs at Centennial Park

Update - August 1, 4:38 p.m.

Police said Thursday they've arrested two Florida men in midday smash and grabs witnessed by a Patch employee at Centennial Park on Wednesday.

James Javon Blakely, 26, of Pompano Beach, FL, was charged with two counts of theft, malicious destruction of property, as well as rogue and vagabond. Vincent Sands, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, was charged with attempting to elude police and numerous traffic violations.

Police located the men's vehicle as it was leaving the park area and after a brief pursuit on Route 108 they found it in the area of Black Star Circle in Columbia, unoccupied, said a police spokesperson. 

Police later found the two men during a search of the area. Property taken in the thefts was recovered, said police. Police are investigating whether the suspects may have been involved in other vehicle break-ins in the area.

Original Story - July 31, 5 p.m.

Howard County police are searching for two or possibly more burglars after two smash-and-grabs were reported in broad daylight at Centennial Park on the border of Ellicott City and Columbia Wednesday afternoon.

A Patch employee, who witnessed the crimes take place at about 3:30 p.m, said, “I’m sitting at Centennial Park … working, just enjoying the beautiful day and all of a sudden I hear, ‘smash.’”

The employee was sitting on a park bench above the south parking lot when the person heard noises below. “I looked back and saw this guy throw what looked like an elbow into a [car] window.”

Then, the witness said, the burglar reached in and grabbed a pink bag out of a Vokswagen. 

The witness said the burglar threw the bag into a dark-colored Cadillac with heavily-tinted windows. The bag contained a Kindle Fire and a signed check. 

“Thank god I had my purse with me,” she told Patch.

The driver of the Cadillac appeared to follow the burglar in his car as he walked down the row of vehicles peering into their back windows.

That’s when the witness called 911 just as the man smashed a second window on a crossover SUV.

The owner of the second vehicle reported a purse was stolen from her car. The glass shattered into her child's safety seat, which later had to be shaken out by a responding officer. She was with her child and husband in the park at the time of the burglary.

Police told Patch that they believe they had located the vehicle, but that, as of about 4:30 p.m., they were still searching for the burglar or burglars.

Columbia Resident Patrick Williams’s car was parked between the two cars that were broken into. He said that he had an iPad in the back seat, but just before he got out of his car, he covered it with a piece of paper.

Luckily, his car was not broken into.

“It’s a shame,” Williams said. “It’s one of the better parks,” after seeing the break-ins.

Howard County Police consistently warn residents about leaving valuable items inside their cars.  Police also said victims should immediately report stolen checkbooks to your bank.

A recreation and parks employee as well as a park ranger both said other smash and grabs were reported earlier this year at Centennial Park.

Editor's Note: We did not include the name of the witnesses in this crime for their safety.