Police Warn Shovelers to Increase Awareness

Fairfax County Police Department
Public Information Office
4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030
703-246-2253. TTY 703-204-2264. Fax 703-246-4253
FCPD-PIO@fairfaxcounty.gov
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police
News Release: 09/357/0093/LHC/(2)
December 23, 2009

Police Warn Shovelers to Increase Awareness

Mount Vernon Police District – Police are investigating at least two burglary cases in the Belle Haven area of Fairfax County in which thieves appear to be targeting homes where residents are outside doing yard work.

Most recently, a 56-year-old woman’s home was burglarized on Monday, December 21 while she was outside shoveling snow, following the region’s record snowfall. A thief shoved open a side door in the 6000 block of Woodmont Road around noon, trekked through multiple rooms, and stole credit cards from the victim’s purse. The thief subsequently used the cards extensively in Potomac Yards retail center.

In an incident on November 18, a thief entered a home in the 6000 block of Edgewood Terrace and stole credit cards from a 64-year-old woman’s purse. The victim had been outside working in her yard all afternoon, and had not locked her doors. The thief, in that case too, went to numerous retail stores and used the victim’s credit cards.

In both cases, the suspect is described as a male, black, and in his late 20s. He is approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighs around 200 pounds.

Police remind residents, across Fairfax County, to secure their doors when they are not present in their home; even if they are in their own yards or visiting nearby neighbors. For more tips on holiday crime prevention, see the Mount Vernon Police District station December newsletter: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/newsletter/mtv/december2009.pdf.

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.