The notorious Tysons Tire Bandits have struck once again, bringing the total number of thefts in the area since February up to nine.
A Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) recap from yesterday (April 29) said tires were stolen from a vehicle from The Fountains neighborhood at the 1500 block of Lincoln Way.
This isn’t the first time the small residential community just north of Tysons Galleria has been hit by tire thieves. On March 7, an FCPD report said another vehicle in the community had its tires stolen.
At the time, a Redditor claiming to be the victim of the larceny shared a warning to others about the incident on the Northern Virginia subreddit. According to the Reddit post:
Hey all, just a quick warning. I just had the wheels stolen off of my 2018 Charger on Sunday night from the parking garage in my apartment complex. I filed a police report and the officer with whom I spoke said that this is becoming a much more prevalent problem in the area, with thieves targeting vehicles even in open parking lots.
My car had wheel locks, but unfortunately they really don’t do anything except slow the thieves down by a few seconds, as most of the perpetrators in this area are professionals, and are in and out within minutes. Just a caution for everyone, perhaps consider installing tilt sensors or dash cameras in your vehicles to prevent something like this from happening to you. Definitely the first purchase I’ll make once my car is back up and running.
When we last reported on the spate of thefts on April 9, the total was seven. Since then, the April 11 FCPD recap also reported that tires were stolen from a vehicle on the 1500 block of Westbranch Drive.
This is the fourth time tire thieves have hit the 1500 block of Westbranch Drive. Police said the location is an offsite garage for a local dealership, which made it a target for the thieves.
While the investigation is ongoing, police said the thefts are likely related.
File photo
Rite Aid, Walgreens Raising Age to Buy Tobacco — “Beginning Sept. 1, Walgreens will stop selling tobacco products to people who aren’t legally allowed to drink alcohol. Rite Aid will do the same, and plans to implement the policy at all stores by July 22.” Rite Aid has two locations in McLean. [McLean Patch]
WWII Vet Lauded at Earl’s — “A World War II veteran born in 1919 is spending his centennial birthday year on the road traveling to all 50 states and the nation’s capital on a journey he calls the ‘No Regrets Tour’ … While at dinner Friday night [April 19], [the reporter] witnessed all the patrons and staff at Earl’s Kitchen and Bar in Tysons Corner give him a standing ovation when his son and daughter brought him to the restaurant.” [ABC7]
Absentee Voting Began Friday — Absentee voting started on Friday (April 26) for the June 11 primary elections statewide. People can vote absentee in-person at their local voter registration office or by mail. [Virginia Department of Elections]
Vienna Students Honor Fallen Warriors — Madison High students and staff members “cut yellow ribbons and attached the name tag of a fallen warrior: one for each service member killed in-theater since September 11, 2001… The ribbons and their attached tags will be suspended from the rafters at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Three Arrested at Tysons Corner Center — “On Thursday, Fairfax County police said they arrested 22-year-old Molly Helmer, of Annandale, and accused her of shoplifting from a Spencer’s store… As Helmer left the store with friends, 19-year-old Lia Chen, of Annandale, was accused of throwing her water bottle down and spilling her drink all over the store’s floor, police said… During the incident a third person was arrested, 27-year-old Steven Bun, of Fairfax. Police said Bun ‘aggressively approached officers, cursing at them and attempting to interfere with their investigation.’ Bun was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.” [WUSA9]
Veronica Youngblood Not Appearing in Court — “Fairfax County prosecutors were frustrated that the Tysons mom, 33-year-old Veronica Youngblood was absent again for court. The judge appeared to be, as well, telling the courtroom, ‘This case has got to move on.’ Youngblood is accused of shooting and killing her two daughters inside their Fairfax County apartment in August 2018.” [ABC7]
Development Hits Height Issues — “It may not be the largest senior living facility unit-wise, but The Mather will almost certainly be the region’s tallest. And that is a problem for Fairfax County planners, who have recommended denial of the application citing three reasons: its height — the building will rise to a maximum 285 feet — design and open space plan.” [Washington Business Journal]
There was little major criminal activity of note in Vienna this week, but there was a hat.
Last Friday, according to the Vienna Police Department’s latest crime report, police found a hat in the 100 block of Moore Avenue, SE. Separately, an athletic bag was found at Cottage Street and Moore Avenue, SW.
Other entries in the crime report — which chronicles every police incident of note in the Town of Vienna, from the serious to the most mundane — include animal incidents and lost items.
Police say a cat bit an employee of an animal hospital during a medical procedure last week, noting “the cat resides in Town and was placed on a 10-day quarantine.”
If you or someone you know lost a cell phone and purse last week, check the Vienna police station. Last Thursday (April 18), an Uber driver turned in those items left by customers in his vehicle, the report says.
Photo via Facebook
Fairfax County Police say two employees at an unnamed business near the Spring Hill Metro station were threatened at gunpoint, and one was robbed.
The report says the robbery took place on the 8400 block of Broad Street — the block behind The Ascent residential building — around 2 p.m. on Tuesday (April 23), according to the police report.
According to the report:
Two employees overheard a commotion in the stairwell and saw two men walking away. The employees were then approached by the men and one of them displayed a black handgun. One employee ran away while the second was assaulted and his property was taken. The men left the area in a black sedan. They are described as black, about 6′ and wearing dark clothing.
File photo
(Updated 2:35 p.m.) Falls Church Police have made two arrests after they say a massage parlor customer was sexually assaulted.
“Police responded to Rainbow Massage (800 W Broad St., Unit 101) after a victim reported inappropriate touching during a massage,” according to a police press release.
On Friday (April 19) police arrested 60-year-old Dongfang Chen and 55-year-old Zao Wen Xie. Chen was charged with Sexual Battery and Massage Permit Violations. Xie was charged with allowing an Unlicensed Massage.
Detectives believe there may be more victims, the press release says. Anyone with information can contact the City of Falls Church Police at 703-248-5053.
More from the press release:
Per City Code Sec. 8-74, a massage establishment must have a permit to operate in the City of Falls Church. All massage therapists must be certified by both the Virginia Board of Nursing and have a massage therapist permit from the City of Falls Church. Customers have the right to view all appropriate permits and licenses upon request.
Image via Google Maps
Fairfax County police are looking for an armed man who tried to rob a hotel employee but ended up leaving empty-handed.
The incident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12. A man displayed a gun and tried to take money that an employee was counting at the Quality Inn on Spring Hill Road in Vienna, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The man left empty-handed after a brief struggle with the employee, who called out for help, police say.
“The suspect is described as black, 6’2″ to 6′ 5″, 180 to 200 pounds, wearing a red and white long sleeve shirt with a collar and a black backpack,” according to FCPD.
Photo via Google Maps
A Vienna resident angrily cursed out a town employee in a confrontation over a running fire hydrant Wednesday.
The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. on the 300 block of Windover Avenue, NW, according to the latest Vienna Police Department crime report.
“A Town of Vienna employee was running a fire hydrant to clear the water when a resident became angry and confronted the employee using profanity,” the crime report said. “The neighbor advised he was upset because the water was flooding his yard.”
Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
Fairfax County police are looking for witnesses to help clear up conflicting accounts of a reckless driving incident last week.
Police say the incident took place last Friday (April 5) on Beulah Road between Leesburg Pike and Old Courthouse Road. According to FCPD:
We received complaints of reckless driving around 5:45 p.m. involving three cars — a black Honda Civic, a blue Honda Civic and a silver Honda Accord. One car was forced off the road and caused several nearby drivers to have to avoid collisions.
The drivers were identified, but police said they provided conflicting accounts of the event.
The incident is believed to have started in Maryland but continued down into Fairfax County, police said. There were no injuries.
“We would like to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the aggressive driving behavior of these individuals at that time,” police said in the press release. “Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to call Master Police Officer C. R. Quattrin at the McLean District Station at 703-556-7750.”
Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, by calling 1-866-411-TIPS or by texting “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637). Tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1000 if the information leads to an arrest.
Free Rides to Tysons — The new Fairfax Connector Route 467, which runs from Tysons to Vienna to Dunn Loring, is now operating and is free for the month of April. [Twitter]
Law Firm Finishes Move to The Boro — “Womble Bond Dickinson is excited to announce that it has completed its move to the new Boro Tower effective April 1… [The law firm] will occupy the entire 15th floor of the Boro Tower, consisting of approximately 24,000 square feet of office space.” [CityBizList]
New Falls Church Ice Cream Shop — “Falls Church just got a little sweeter with the opening of Kiln & Custard at Lincoln at Tinner Hill, 455 South Maple Avenue. The business will celebrate its grand opening Sunday, April 7 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.” [Patch]
Vienna Named ‘Tree City’ Again — “Vienna has been certified as a ‘Tree City USA’ by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 18th time, and will host a special event on Friday, April 26 at 5 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center.” [InsideNova]
Mamma Mia! in McLean — “Langley High School concludes its 2018-2019 theater season with an international hit sensation: Mamma Mia!. It will play on April 25-27 at 7 p.m., April 28 at 2 p.m. and May 2-4 at 7 p.m. and May 5 at 2 p.m., 2019 at Saxon Stage Theater at Langley High School.” [McLean Connection]
Falls Church Van Break-ins — “Falls Church Police are seeking two suspects for breaking into the same van three times. Video from the latest break-in shows one suspect inside the van.” [Patch]
An unwanted hug led to a call to police in the Town of Vienna Thursday evening.
The creepy incident happened at the intersection of Maple Avenue W at Center Street N and was reported around 6:45 p.m., according to police.
“A woman advised she was standing in front of Starbucks when an unknown man approached her and asked for a hug,” said today’s Vienna Police Department crime report. “When the woman ignored the man, he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her. The woman ran from the man and notified the police after she arrived home.”
Should the man ever be caught, he could face assault charges.
Photo via Facebook
