ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — A Maryland man accused of burglarizing a Verizon store found himself on the opposite side of a crime just moments later when the pickup truck he allegedly used to get to the scene was stolen while he was inside the business, according to police.
The unusual series of events unfolded around 5 a.m. on June 25 in Ellicott City, where Howard County police responded to a reported burglary at a Verizon store along Baltimore National Pike.
Investigators say a suspect shattered a window to gain entry into the store and stole merchandise before leaving the building. Officers arriving at the scene discovered blood on the broken window and reviewed surveillance footage showing the burglary in progress.
Roughly 30 minutes later, the same officers were called to a nearby 7-Eleven after a man reported that his pickup truck had been stolen.
According to authorities, officers immediately noticed blood on the man’s hands, clothing, and glasses—details they believed matched evidence recovered from the Verizon burglary.
Police quickly connected the two incidents and took the man into custody.
The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Jalen Godard of Odenton, who was charged with burglary, theft, and destruction of property. Court records indicate he was ordered held without bond as the case moves through the judicial process.
Body camera footage released by the Howard County Police Department shows Godard repeatedly denying involvement in the burglary before learning that his own truck had been stolen during the incident.
After realizing his vehicle was gone, one responding officer remarked, “That’s kind of some karma right there, ain’t it?” The exchange has since drawn widespread attention online, with many social media users calling the incident a striking example of instant karma.
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the theft of the suspect’s truck, and investigators continue working to identify the individual responsible for stealing the vehicle.
Authorities have not released details about the value of the merchandise taken from the Verizon store or whether any of the stolen items have been recovered.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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