Neighborhood Watch
Scroll down to see information and announcements from our Fairfax County Police Department / McLean District Station point of contact MPO Tom Black. Contact info: 703-556-7750 ext 2227; tom.black@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Robbery in Falls Church Area
(March 24, 2008) A man entered the Subway restaurant at 2250 Pimmit Drive and robbed a 33-year-old Falls Church-area man working as a clerk. This occurred on Saturday, March 22 around 9:30 p.m. as the victim was closing the store. The suspect pulled out a gun and demanded money. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. The victim was not injured. The suspect was described as black, in his 40s. He was about 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall. He wore a black coat, a black hat and white pants. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Crime Solvers Seeks Man Wanted for Two Burglaries
(March 21, 2008) Fairfax County Crime Solvers is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 45-year-old William Keith Smith. Smith is currently wanted by police on two counts of burglary, two counts of credit card theft and one count of grand larceny auto. These charges stem from two residential burglaries. The first burglary occurred on Wednesday, February 6 at a home in the 8400 block of Stonewall Drive in the Vienna area. The second occurred on Friday, March 14 at a home in the 7600 block of Virginia Avenue in the Falls Church area. In each burglary, jewelry, credit cards and vehicles were taken. Smith was developed as a suspect in both burglaries. He is 5 feet 7 inches tall and 200 pounds. He is balding and has brown hair and hazel eyes. Smith has no fixed address but is known to frequent the Vienna and Falls Church areas as well as the Johnson Hill area of Arlington County. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of William Keith Smith is asked to contact Fairfax County Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637).
Home Improvement Scam
(March 12, 2008) On Monday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m., officers responded for a report of a suspicious event in the 5300 block of William and Mary Drive in Alexandria. They learned that several laborers had entered into a contract with the homeowner, a 74-year-old Alexandria-area man, to perform work on the house. The employees were allegedly soliciting without a license and never completed the work. Matthew W. Fincham, 22, of no fixed address has been charged with no solicitor’s license and larceny by false pretense. He is currently being held at Fauquier County Jail on unrelated charges. The investigation continues and additional charges are expected. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637) or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
The Siren Newsletter, February 2008 (McLean District Station of Fairfax County Police Department)
Tires Flattened on 13 School Buses
(March 10, 2008) Police are investigating the vandalism of 13 school buses parked at Falls Church High School, located at 7521 Jaguar Trail. An alarm sounded on Thursday, March 6 around 9:45 p.m., and during a check of the school and its perimeter, 28 tires were found to have been slashed. It is believed that a razor blade was used to flatten the tires. Police are asking anyone with information about the tamperings to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
PNC Bank on Leesburg Pike Robbed
(March 7, 2008) Two tellers at the PNC Bank, 8150 Leesburg Pike, were the victims of a robbery on Thursday, March 6. A masked man entered the bank around 1:45 p.m. and approached a 37-year-old Annandale woman working as a teller. He implied a weapon and demanded money then turned to a second teller, a 45-year-old Vienna-area woman, and again demanded money. They relinquished an undisclosed amount of money and the suspect fled. There were no injuries. The suspect was described as being about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall with a medium build. He wore a rubber mask over his face, a gray, hooded sweat shirt, dark pants, black and white sneakers and gloves. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Sexual Assault in Falls Church
(Feb 6, 2008) On Tuesday, February 5 at 7:45 p.m. a 29-year-old Falls Church-area woman was abducted and assaulted near Lee Highway and George Mason Road. The victim was walking on Lee Highway on the sidewalk and talking on her cell phone when she was attacked. The suspect grabbed her and touched her inappropriately. He fled the scene and she was not injured. The suspect was described as unknown race, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing a black mask, black long sleeve shirt, dark pants and tennis shoes. Detectives are working this case with the possibility that it is connected to a series of attacks with similar characteristics and suspect description. The public is asked to keep personal safety in mind at all times. Be alert. Someone not paying attention to their surroundings makes an easier target. Be confident. Walk with a purpose. Trust your instincts and react to unsettling feelings. Additional Personal Safety Tips can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637) or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Window and Security Film Presentation
(Feb 4, 2008) On Thursday, February 28 at 7:30 pm, Fairfax County Police Officer Tom Black will hold a presentation at Marshall High School on Route 7/Leesburg Pike which will cover the topic of window security. He is bringing in two companies that are experts in this area and will give demonstrations showing how criminals can break into your home. They will also show different products that can prevent this from happening. By the end of the presentation you should be very educated in the area of window security and know how to make this area of your home secure. If you have older windows in your home, Office Black highly recommends this presentation because you will see how criminals unlock your windows from the outside without breaking the glass. The Fairfax County Police Department is not endorsing either of the companies attending, but you will find that they are a very good resource in making your home just a little bit more secure.
Date - February 28th 2008
Location - Marshall High School
7731 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, Va 22043
Time - 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Enter the front doors and go down hallway to your left. The room is called Michael Hall and is near the library.
Fairfax County Crime Solvers Takes a New BYTE Out of Crime
(Jan 31, 2008) With the recent creation of their new website, Fairfax County Crime Solvers has tapped into the latest technology available for receiving anonymous tips. Tipsters may now give their information via texting or e-mail using state-of-the-art software purchased through Anderson Software. Texting is a popular form of communication for the younger generation and Fairfax County Crime Solvers hopes to open that line of communication with them.
Previously, tipsters were limited to calling a phone number. This new software opens the door for Crime Solver programs and interfaces these newer forms of communication with tip-taking. It enables tipsters to communicate through a secure server that blocks their identity. Thus, tipsters are able to relay vital information from anywhere they can send text or e-mail messages and at any time.
In addition, their new website provides current information on wanted persons, news releases, suspects caught in the act and upcoming events. This site is continually updated. It was designed with the user in mind and provides a means to stay current with the latest efforts of the Crime Solvers Board.
Fairfax County Crime Solvers is the first in the Washington Metropolitan region to implement this new texting and e-mail software. Other programs in the nation that currently use it have seen a sharp increase in the number of tips received.
Fairfax County Crime Solvers is a non-profit 501C3 organization comprised of business leaders and citizens throughout the area. They provide a venue for those with knowledge of a criminal act to report information without the fear of retaliation. Their tip lines are protected under law. The Fairfax County Crime Solvers’ Board of Directors invites you to visit their new website at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org Those who wish to report information may now utilize one of the three methods available:
• By phone – Call 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 and follow the voice prompts to Fairfax County
• By e-mail – visit www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org and click on the secure link to communicate back and forth.
• By texting – Text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637
Neighborhood Crime Canvass
(Jan 30, 2008) Dear Neighbor: The Fairfax County Police Department is currently investigating an abduction in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County. The case occurred on Monday, January 28, 2008 in the 7300 block of Allan Avenue, at approximately 7 p.m. The victim was walking westbound on Allan Avenue from West Street at the time of the assault. The suspect grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a dark area. The attacker fled when a passing vehicle drove by. This incident is similar to five other incidents that have occurred in Fairfax County since November 14, 2007.
The suspect in this incident is described as follows: A male, approximately 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing dark clothing, gloves and a mask covering his face.
We encourage you to call police detectives if:
• You know anyone matching this description.
• You have seen this individual in your neighborhood.
• You have any information regarding this incident.
• You are aware of any suspicious people that may be associated with this incident
• You see this individual, do not take any action. Call the police.
REMEMBER:
The information that you have, regardless of how trivial you may feel it is, could be the critical link in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. Crime Solvers Tips that lead to an arrest and indictment in this case, will be eligible for a reward. Callers never have to give their names, just the information. The information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential.
PLEASE CONTACT:
Detective Erik Stallings
Erik.Stallings@fairfaxcounty.gov
(703) 246-7866
Or
CRIME SOLVERS
1-866-411-8477
Fairfax County Police
Non-emergency number
(703) 691-2131
Woman Assaulted While Walking Home
(Jan. 29, 2008) On Monday, January 28 at 8 p.m., officers responded to the 7300 block of Allan Avenue in Falls Church for a woman who was assaulted. The 63-year-old Falls Church-area woman was walking home from a bus stop when she was attacked. The suspect grabbed her from behind and dragged into a dark area. The attacker fled when a passing vehicle drove by. The victim was not injured.
The suspect was described as a man of unknown race about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 150 pounds. He was wearing dark clothing and a dark ski mask.
This is the sixth similar incident in Fairfax County and makes 11 total incidents including the City of Alexandria. Investigators from Fairfax County and Alexandria City have been working closely on these cases. In all these cases the suspects have been wearing dark clothing and ski mask. They have ranged in height from 5 feet 1 inch to 6 tall of unknown race. They have attacked from behind and assaulted their victim. The victims have been white, Hispanic, black and Asian. They have ranged in age from 18 to 63 years old. The similarities among the victims have been walking alone in hours of darkness.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477) or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
Personal Safety Tips from Fairfax County Police Department
• Be alert - Someone not paying attention to their surroundings makes an easier target
• Be confident - Walk with a purpose, look alert, do not zone out
• Trust instincts - Learn to trust intuition and react to unsettling feelings
• If it doesn’t feel or look right, it probably is not right
When in Public
• Carry cell phone
• Discuss travel routes and arrival times
• Have someone escort you, if possible
• Avoid carrying large sums of money
• Report suspicious people or activity Immediately
• Walk in well lit, populated areas and avoid cut-throughs
• Avoid walking close to hedges and bushes
• Before leaving a bus or public place, Look around to see who is in the area
Automobile/Parking Lot Safety
• Lock car doors
• Park in well lit areas
• Keep hands free if possible
• Look around and see who is nearby
• Service vehicle regularly
• Consider road-side assistance
• Before leaving a public place, STOP, look around with keys in hand already
• STOP before getting to vehicle, make sure no one is approaching
• Get into car, STOP and lock doors
Crime Prevention is everyone’s responsibility
Requires cooperation among citizens, police, business owners
Scam Artists Targeting the Elderly
(Jan 23, 2008) Police are investigating at least four incidents in which elderly victims in their 70s were scammed out of several thousand dollars in cash. In all the cases, the victims were approached by a very well-dressed man in shopping centers in the Beacon Hill and Hybla Valley areas. The man asked about the victims’ church and how he could donate a large sum of money. He further explained he is visiting from Africa and here to collect on an insurance policy but cannot take the money home with him. The victims eventually drove the suspect to a church where they were met by another well-dressed man. The victims were asked to show their “good faith” money before the suspects handed over the donated cash, which was put in a scarf or bandana. The victims withdrew thousands of dollars and during a prayer, the suspect switched the money with a different scarf of shredded newspapers. Both suspects then left together.
The suspects were described as black, between 40 and 50 years old. They appeared to be well-educated and one was described as having an African accent.
Police are warning citizens not to volunteer their own money in exchange for more. Always verify any charity organization before donating money. If anyone thinks they may be a victim or has information, please call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131