The blue lights of a police car, set upon a blue sky background.

LINTHICUM, MD – A 38-year-old woman is facing charges after police say she stole a running vehicle early Friday morning in Linthicum, only to be caught moments later following a brief foot chase.

According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Northern District, the incident occurred around 12:55 a.m. in the 700 block of Nursery Road. Investigators said a woman left her gray 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer running while she stepped inside a nearby business.

Moments later, a female suspect entered the idling SUV and drove away. The victim, with help from a witness, followed the stolen vehicle until it came to a stop near the intersection of Nursery Road and Hammonds Ferry Road. When officers arrived, the suspect allegedly tried to run but was quickly taken into custody.

Police identified the suspect as Jaclyn Marie Johnson, 38, who currently has no fixed address. Johnson was arrested at the scene without further incident.

Quick response credited for fast arrest

Authorities say the victim’s decision to immediately report the theft and provide real-time updates helped officers locate and recover the vehicle within minutes. No injuries were reported, and the SUV was returned to its owner.

Vehicle stolen from business parking lot on Nursery Road
Victim and witness followed the stolen SUV until police arrived
Suspect Jaclyn Johnson arrested after brief attempt to flee

Police are reminding residents not to leave vehicles running and unattended, even for short periods, as these thefts can occur in seconds. The investigation remains ongoing.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.