Taxi Cab Robbery Arrest

The investigation is continuing, but Ocean City Police have arrested 17 year old Thomas Scaniffe of Ocean Pines for his involvement in a couple of taxicab robberies that occurred on December 30th. He is charged with armed robbery and other offenses and is being held in default of $250,000 bond in the Worcester County jail. Anyone with information should call 410-723-6604.

NEWS RELEASE; OCEAN CITY & OCEAN PINES TAXICAB ROBBERY – UPDATE

Ocean City Police have identified and charged a suspect in the taxicab robberies that took place on December 30, 2010. On January 1, 2011, Ocean City Police arrested
Thomas Scaniffe, 17, of Ocean Pines.

Scaniffe was charged as an adult with armed robbery, robbery, first degree assault, second degree assault, two counts of theft less than $1,000 and resisting/interfering with an arrest. After his initial appearance by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner, Scaniffe was held on a $250,000 bond and transferred to Worcester County Jail.

On December 30, 2010, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the Ocean City Police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Avenue in reference to an armed robbery.
Officers interviewed the victim of the robbery, who was an on-duty taxicab driver. The victim told officers he received a call from a restricted phone number requesting a cab ride from Ocean Pines to Ocean City. The cab driver picked up two males at approximately 12:50 a.m. on Marview Drive and brought them to Ocean City. Once at 5th Street, the two males assaulted the taxicab driver, taking money and other items.

A second similar incident took place on December 30, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. A taxicab driver responded to Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines. Two males entered the cab, demanded money, and assaulted the driver with a weapon.

The investigation is ongoing. Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police ask anyone with knowledge about the incident or the suspects to contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6604.

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Taxi Cab Robberies In Ocean City and Ocean Pines Investigated

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in apprehending suspects of two recent robberies that occurred in Ocean City and Ocean Pines. On December 30, 2010, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the Ocean City Police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Avenue in reference to an armed robbery.

Officers interviewed the victim of the robbery, who was an on-duty taxi-cab driver. The victim told officers he received a call from a restricted phone number requesting a cab ride from Ocean Pines to Ocean City. The cab driver picked up two males at approximately 12:50 a.m. on Marview Drive and brought them to Ocean City. Once at 5th Street, the two males assaulted the taxi cab driver, taking money and other items.

The victim described the suspects as follows: The first suspect is a white male, approximately 22-26 years of age, 6 foot tall and wearing a hooded sweatshirt and knit hat. The second suspect is a white male, approximately 22-26 years of age, approximately 5’-7” to 5’-9”, wearing a sweatshirt and knit hat.

A second similar incident took place on December 30, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. A taxi-cab driver responded to Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines. Two males entered the cab, demanded money, and assaulted the driver with a weapon.

The victim described the suspects as follows: The first suspect is described as a bi-racial male, possibly “Hawaiian,” believed to be in his 20s, wearing blue jeans. The second suspect, a white male, is believed to be in his 20s, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and carrying an edged weapon.

The Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean Pines Police Department are conducting a joint investigation of the armed robberies. Taxi-cab and pizza delivery businesses should be aware of these incidents and use crime preventive measures during their course of business. Those needing assistance in acquiring crime preventive measures are encourage to contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Office of Community Service at 410-723-6610.

Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police ask anyone with knowledge about the incident or the suspects to contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6600.

www.wgmd.com

Thieves Pulled Over For Seat Belt Violation

OCEAN CITY -- Thousands of dollars in suspected stolen property was recovered when Selbyville police stopped a Dodge Caravan for seat belt violations.

Selbyville police were advised to look for the vehicle after receiving a tip that it had been involved in a burglary in Ocean Pines.

According to Lt. Greg Schoepf of the Ocean Pines Police Department, two residents returned home Saturday to find two strangers on their front porch. Once confronted, the two people said they were feeling weak and looking for some juice, according to police.

After the strangers left, the residents went inside to discover their house had been broken into and several items had been stolen. They immediately called Ocean Pines Police to report what had happened and give them a description of the vehicle.

They later identified James W. Cloyd, 63, of Berlin and Patricia J. Clemer, 25, of Berlin as the two who had been on their porch, police said.

After confirming it was the same vehicle that had fled the burglary in Ocean Pines, police held the occupants until Ocean Pines Police officers and detectives with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation could arrive.

Upon searching the vehicle authorities found about $4,400 in suspected stolen property, drug paraphernalia and 40 100-mg pills of a controlled substance.

The suspected stolen property included several televisions, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, tools, videos and DVDs, according to Scott Collins, chief of the Selbyville Police Department.

"I think it's ironic -- they do a burglary and then get stopped for a couple of seat belts," Collins said.

Some of the stolen property has already been returned. Collins said additional property is expected to be returned to the original owners once they are found and able to identify it.

Cloyd and Clemer were charged with six counts of receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle for drug distribution, two traffic offenses of not wearing seat belts and not having valid insurance.

Cloyd is being held at Sussex Correctional Institute on $34,100 secure bond, and Clemer is being held on $33,000 secure bond.

Charges in Maryland are pending, police said, as well as additional charges in Delaware.

www.delmarvanow.com