A Germantown man has been arrested in connection with a rash of thefts and vandalism that occurred in the Damascus area earlier this month, Montgomery County police said.

Officers arrested Rodney Sylvester Hall, 18, of the 12900 block of Summit Ridge Terrace on Sept. 14, charging him with rogue and vagabond, theft, and conspiracy to commit theft, police said.

Hall was arrested after police released a surveillance video to the public showing three men trying to break into car doors overnight between Sept. 1-2 in the Plantations II neighborhood along Woodfield Road about three miles south of Damascus.

A police officer was able to identify Hall as one of the alleged suspects in the video after reaching out to contacts he had in the community, police said.

Police alleged that Hall — with the other two suspects — broke into nine cars and stole three bicycles from the neighborhood. Police believe that the three men also stole a car and vandalized eight mailboxes in Plantations II.

Hall was released on Sept. 15 from the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit in Rockville, where he was being held on $3,000 bond, according to online state court records. He has an initial hearing scheduled for Nov. 8 at Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

The vehicle or garage doors were left open in each instance of reported theft, police said.

“We are encouraging people to lock their vehicles and car garage doors, because they are easy targets,” county police Officer Rebecca Innocenti said. “Time and time again we see these suspects who target unlocked vehicles.”

Police determined during the investigation that the stolen vehicle in the incident was taken from a garage that was left open. The keys to the vehicle had been left on a table in the garage.

The vehicle, which had three bicycles inside it, was taken from the 9600 block of Rustic Manor Court. It was later found at the intersection of Rolling Fork Way and Peanut Mill Drive, with extensive damage including a flat tire, scrapes, missing headlights and bumper damage, police said.

The damaged mailboxes, which ran from the 23700 to the 25400 block of Woodfield Road, appeared to have been struck by the vehicle. Police said officers found a vehicle part left at the scene.

Innocenti said that the department is still investigating the incidents and looking for the remaining two suspects.

“We’re still asking for the public’s help,” she said.

The surveillance tape of the suspects can be seen at the department’s website at www.mymcpnews.com. Anyone with information about the incidents can call Officer Bromley at 240-773-6249. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 866-411-TIPS (8477) or enter a tip online. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment.

myoung@gazette.net