Maryland ‘candy bandit’ steals truck and four boxes of chocolate on valentine’s day

Maryland ‘candy bandit’ steals truck and four boxes of chocolate on Valentine’s Day

JOPPA, Md. – A Valentine’s Day crime with a sugary twist has deputies in Harford County searching for a man who they say stole a truck, then helped himself to several boxes of candy bars before casually buying a soda and leaving the scene.

According to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the candy-coated caper happened February 14 at a Royal Farms store on Mountain Road in Joppa. Investigators said the suspect arrived in a stolen truck, walked inside, grabbed two full display boxes of candy bars, and carried them outside without paying.

The man then returned to the store, bought a soda as if nothing had happened, and went back out to his vehicle. But apparently, two boxes of chocolate weren’t enough — deputies said he came back inside again and walked out with two more boxes before driving off.

Deputies dub suspect the ‘Valentine’s Day candy bandit’

Authorities shared surveillance images of the suspect on social media, joking that they’d like to “have a chat about proper checkout procedures — and stolen vehicles.” The post quickly gained traction online as residents reacted to the bizarre holiday theft.

Investigators said they’re still trying to identify the man and are asking anyone who recognizes him to call the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Southern Precinct at 410-612-1717.

  • Suspect stole a truck before targeting candy at Royal Farms
  • Four display boxes of candy bars taken on Valentine’s Day
  • Deputies ask public for help identifying the “candy bandit”

The investigation remains active as detectives work to locate the suspect and recover the stolen vehicle.

Related links: harford county sheriff | maryland theft | valentines day crime

Shore News Network

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.