Harford's Helicopter Leads Deputies to 7-Eleven Thief: Sheriff

A man has been charged in connection with a robbery at an Edgewood 7-Eleven after officers in the Harford County Sheriff's Office helicopter spotted him more than half a mile from the scene of the crime, the sheriff's office reported.

At 8 p.m. on Saturday, deputies responded to the convenience store in the 1000 block of Gateway Road, where a man had gone behind the counter and emptied the cash register while the manager was in another room, the Harford County Sheriff's Office reported.

Eagle 1, the Harford County Sheriff's Office helicopter, was in the area returning from a mission requested by the Maryland State Police JFK barrack, and in under two minutes, located the suspect headed toward Woodbridge Center Way, the sheriff's office reported.

Officers in the air guided deputies on the ground to the suspect, and after a brief foot pursuit, deputies took the man into custody, according to the report.

Christopher Vananzo, 28, of the 200 block of Temple Drive in Bel Air, was charged in connection with the incident, the report said.

Vananzo was taken into custody, and the stolen property was returned to the owner of the 7-Eleven, the report said.

Venanzo was charged with theft less than $1,000, according to online court records.

The sheriff's office reported he was being held at the Harford County Detention Center on $2,500 bond.

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