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Two men donning maintenance uniforms have busted through ceilings of 10 apartments in Montgomery County and walked out of the homes with electronics, guns and jewelry, police said.
Montgomery County Police began tracking a group of burglars have been breaking into second-floor apartments through ceilings in May.
"They're walking up stairwells, climbing into attics and breaking through the ceiling," said Police Capt. Thomas Didone, commander of the 5th District station in Germantown.
There have been four burglaries in Germantown where burglars busted through the ceiling since June 5, the most recent was Oct. 1. Similar break-ins have also been reported in Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Rockville and Howard, Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties since May, Didone said.
Police believe two men, possibly wearing maintenance uniforms, are responsible for the burglaries, Didone said. The burglars have stolen guns, jewelry, credit cards, money, televisions and computers, Didone said.
The first ceiling break-in in Germantown happened on June 5 in the 19000 block of Sweetgum Circle, Didone said. The burglar busted through the ceiling and was surprised to find someone home. The burglar ran out the front door of the apartment and the resident called police, Didone said.
"The pattern in Germantown stopped for a while, but started back up again recently," said Didone, who said burglars also dropped into apartments in Germantown on June 9 and Oct. 1 in the 12000 block of Great Park Circle, and Sept. 22 in the 19000 block of Sweetgum Circle.
Detective Rod Stephens said the apartments that were burglarized "don't have cameras."
Police are looking for two African American men between 28- and 38-years-old who may be driving a silver mini-van or dark colored Jeep Cherokee, Didone said. The men may be carrying a ladder, Didone said.
Surveillance video at a supermarket in Largo caught a man and a woman using a credit card reported stolen after a break in.
Anyone with information on the identity of the suspects is asked to call Detective Rod Stephens at 240-773-6239 or the county's Tip Line at 240-773-8477. Anonymous tips can be sent via text to 274637.