Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a string of burglaries near Mount Airy, in which items were taken from homes and businesses in Frederick and Carroll counties.

People have been advised to lock their vehicles and homes after storage buildings were forced open and dirt bikes and an all-terrain vehicle were taken, said Maj. Phil Kasten of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

In the first incident on Jan. 18, two dirt bikes were stolen from a shed in the 6800 block of Runkles Road. On Feb. 2, three dirt bikes were taken from a detached garage in the 3700 block of Boteler Road.

Investigators aren’t sure if those incidents are related to a burglary in August in which an ATV was stolen from a shed in the 7800 block of Bennett Branch Road, Kasten said.

Kasten urged people to lock their homes, vehicles and storage sheds and to remove electronics and other valuables when their vehicles will be left unattended.

Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating several commercial burglaries in the Mount Airy area but haven’t seen any residential burglaries recently, said spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Bailey.

Investigators declined to release information about the commercial burglaries because they’re part of an ongoing investigation, she said.

According to statistics gathered by Maryland State Police, there were 692 cases of breaking and entering in Frederick County in 2010 — the most recent year for which data was available.

State police also are investigating burglaries of several businesses on East Ridgeville Boulevard and Ridgeside Drive in Mount Airy between Dec. 26 and 28.

A man broke the front glass doors with a brick and searched through desks looking for cash before leaving, police said.

Investigators still haven’t been able to identify the man, but no other incidents have been reported, said Detective Sgt. Rob Stryjewski. The man was seen on surveillance video, but his head and face were covered. He was wearing a Boston Red Sox cap.

A Catonsville man is being held in the Carroll County Detention Center after being arrested earlier this month on charges of stealing vehicles from the Mount Airy area.

Frank Simpson IV is suspected in four cases in which items were taken from unlocked vehicles and vehicles were stolen, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

The burned remains of one of the vehicles was recovered by police in Baltimore County.

rmarshall@gazette.net