Police: Westminster Couple Charged in Rash of Burglaries

A Westminster couple was charged today with four burglaries in Westminster and Hampstead between June and November, police said.

Carroll County Sheriff's detectives served charges on William Scottie Bircher II, 25, and Shannon Lee, 26, both of Westminster, Friday morning for burglary and theft, according to police reports.

Between June and November, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office responded to four burglaries in the northern Westminster and Hampstead area where police say the suspects forced their way into homes and removed jewelry, coins, firearms and other small miscellaneous items for an estimated $58,000 value.

During a joint investigation involving the Baltimore County Police, Westminster Police and the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, Bircher and Lee were observed breaking into a Westminster home and placed under arrest, police said.

Upon executing search and seizure warrants at Bircher and Lee's residence, detectives recovered approximately $25,000 of stolen property, according to a police report. Bircher and Lee were charged with four counts of first-degree burglary, four counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and theft.

Bircher and Lee are being held at Carroll County Central Booking while awaiting a bail review hearing before the District Court Commissioner.  Following their hearing, they’ll be returned to the Carroll County Detention Center where they’re awaiting trial on other burglary charges. 

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Detective Corporal Brian Dayton at 410-386-2572.