Archived Crime Alerts
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Nighttime Burglary of an unoccupied house on West Lenox Street
At 12:35 pm this afternoon, the residents arrived home to discover someone had burglarized their home. Village Officer Joseph Chung responded to the house. Montgomery County Police also responded to help search the area for any evidence related to the crime.
Officers were able to view video footage that showed two suspects were involved. The suspects first appear on the video around 9:40 pm on Saturday 05/20/23. The suspects used a work plank/walking board from a nearby house that was being renovated. They used the plank to climb onto the second-floor roof. The suspects then made entry by breaking the window glass on the second floor. The suspects left the same way they came in and removed the plank from the side of the house.
The residents are currently determining what was stolen. Officers were able to collect evidence that has been submitted for processing. The house alarm system was activated, but the suspects did not trigger the alarm system.
If anyone has any information or seen anything suspicious on West Lenox Street on Saturday 05/20/23 between 9 pm and 11 pm, please call the Village Police at 301-654-7300.
Click Below for Archived Crime Alerts by year
- 2022 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2021 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2020 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2019 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2018 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2017 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2016 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2015 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2014 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2013 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2012 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2011 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2010 Crime Alerts (PDF)
- 2009 Crime Alerts (PDF)
Friday, May 19, 2023
Nighttime Burglary of Occupied House on Oliver Street
At 4:40 this morning, a resident was woken by a noise and heavy breathing by an intruder. The noise was coming from the bathroom or kitchen. The resident grabbed his phone and ran to the front door. The resident observed the suspect coming around the house from the side of the house. The suspect ran down the driveway onto Oliver Street towards Wisconsin Avenue. The resident called 9-1-1 and waited for Village and County officers to respond.
Village Officer Ryan Patterson arrived within a minute, followed quickly by several Montgomery County officers. Officers searched the area, and Montgomery County officers observed the suspect in the parking lot of Sacks Fifth Avenue. The officers chased the suspect but lost sight of him. Montgomery County K9 responded and searched the area, but the suspect was not found.
The suspect was described as a black male, 5’10”, 180 pounds, athletically built, and wearing a beanie-like hat. The resident advised that nothing was disturbed in the house or stolen. The suspect entered the basement bathroom window that was most likely shut but not locked.
Montgomery County Detective and Village Officer James Timmerman collected evidence from the scene. The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has any information, please contact Village Communications at 301-654-7300
Residents are urged to lock all doors and windows, activate their alarm systems, leave outdoor lights on all night, and call the police as soon as they see or hear anything that raises their concerns. Residents are also encouraged to consider installing exterior cameras if they have not done so already.
*****
Theft from worker vehicles during the day. Residents asked to warn their contractors.
On 05/17/23, three vehicles were entered. The crimes occurred between 9 am and 2:30 pm. There were no eyewitnesses.
- In the unit block of Laurel Parkway: The driver’s door window was smashed, and a cell phone was stolen.
- In the unit block of West Lenox Street: One vehicle had no signs of forced entry. A wallet and $300 in cash were stolen. The second vehicle, the driver’s door lock, was punched in. Nothing was taken.
On 05/18/23, three more vehicles were entered. The crimes occurred between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm. There were no eyewitnesses.
- In the unit block of Magnolia Parkway: The driver’s side rear window was smashed, and a laptop was stolen.
- 5600 block of Kirkside Drive: The vehicle was unlocked, and a bag with $600 in cash was stolen.
- 100 block of Hesketh Street: The vehicle was unlocked, and a lunch box was stolen.
Village officers are focusing their patrols on this problem. Residents can help by notifying their contractors and domestic workers to remove all valuables from sight and to lock their vehicles. If they see any suspicious person or activity, call the Village Police immediately at 301-654-7300. If you can get a license plate number and take a photo, that would be a huge help for the police.
Monday, April 17, 2023
Windows Smashed on 6 Cars on Oxford Street
10 total cars entered early Saturday morning
While on patrol at around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday April 15, Village Officer Davor Hrnjak spotted two cars parked on the street in the unit block of Oxford Street with broken windows. Officer Hrnjak alerted the owner of the cars, and while he was investigating that incident, several Oxford Street residents awakened to discover that their cars had also been damaged.
Investigation revealed that between 3:15 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, thieves entered a total of ten cars on Oxford Street. The thieves entered six of the cars by smashing windows; the remaining four cars were entered via unlocked doors. The thieves stole almost nothing—a pair of Apple AirPods from one car and $5 in change from another—yet the damage caused by smashed car windows left victimized residents with the hassle and expense of arranging repairs.
Village Officers Hrnjak and Almas canvassed the neighborhood and learned that barking dogs and a car alarm awakened at least three households shortly before 4:00 a.m. One resident spotted a dark-colored sedan rolling down the street without headlights on. Unfortunately, residents did not call the police.
Village Police have reached out to the Montgomery County Police and the Metropolitan (DC) Police to alert them to this event and to determine if either agency has identified any suspects in similar crimes in their jurisdictions. The investigation is continuing.
Residents—especially those on the East Side—are urged to review their security cameras between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. If you find a recording which captured any suspicious persons or vehicles, please contact the Village Police at 301-654-7300 so that we can arrange to obtain a copy of it. Additionally, if you are awakened by noises in the middle of the night, please call the Village Police. Our officers will get out their in minutes and will investigate.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Residents Receive Calls from a Man Pretending to be a Village Police Officer
Caller attempts to scare residents into sending money
UPDATE: Scammer is now using the name of Village Lt. Dasilva; ignore this thief
Residents report that the caller has pivoted and is now using the true name of one of the Village Police Department’s officers: Lt. Dasilva. Do not be tricked by this thief. This is just another twist on an old con game. Ignore this scammer!
So far this morning (January 26, 2023), the Village Communications Center has received calls from 7 residents reporting that a man called and identified himself as ‘Sgt. Ham’ from the Chevy Chase Village Police Department (we have no such person in the Department).
‘Sgt. Ham’ told the residents that an arrest warrant had been issued for them for failing to appear for court, and they must send money to avoid arrest. Each of the residents said that ‘Sgt. Ham’ called from 301-241-7018. When some of the residents challenged ‘Sgt. Ham’s’ claims, he told them that they would receive a call from his supervisor, a lieutenant. After a few minutes, the ‘lieutenant’ called those residents and their caller ID displayed the Village phone number (301-654-7300). Obviously, these thieves are able to use technology to make it appear as if they are calling from the Village Hall.
Below are some tips to keep you from falling victim to telephone scammers—including these police impersonators:
1. Paying money to avoid service of a true arrest warrant isn’t a thing. This is not how it works.
2. Ignore every incoming call that is unfamiliar to you. Simply do not answer the phone; let it go to voicemail.
3. Never send money to an unexpected/unknown caller. We call these people thieves. Don’t let them trick you.
4. Many such callers insert a sense of urgency into their scam (pay immediately or be arrested; grandson needs bail money right now; the offer will expire very soon; the IRS will put a lien on your assets by the end of the day; etc.). Resist the urge to send money. Call the Village Police before you do anything.
5. And never, never, ever (did I mention never?) purchase gift cards to send money to any caller for any reason.
6. If you made a mistake and answered the phone, just hang up. You owe no courtesy to a thief. Get out of there and if you know how to block the caller’s number, do that.