A recent wave of thefts, burglaries and robberies has caused county police to switch tactics in the Western District and use more covert patrols to stop criminals.

Capt. Jerard Flemings, district commander, said after a Police Community Relations Council meeting that after the holidays there will be more "special tactical patrols" through the district to combat the crimes. During the shopping season officers focused on retail centers during the day, keeping an eye on cars as people shopped, and focused on neighborhoods at night, making sure that their homes and cars weren't broken into.

But now police will use marked, unmarked...