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Sheriff: 'Lock your car doors'
A recent rash of “car hopping” has the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office sending a reminder to residents to lock their cars when leaving them unattended.
In the past week an estimated $14,170 in property has been removed from vehicles in Sterling, Ashburn and the Dulles South area. All were left unlocked. Satellite radios, cellphones, digital cameras and MP3 players are some of the items that were removed.
Larcenies from vehicles are most often a crime of opportunity, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Locking your vehicle and removing or concealing high-dollar items will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim,” Sheriff Steve Simpson said.
He also advised residents to park in well-lit areas, activate their alarm systems, or use anti-theft devices and report any suspicious activity to the Loudoun Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021. According to the agency's Crime Analyst Unit, these types of thefts often take place at night and are most often committed by juveniles.
In Sterling, several vehicles parked on Wrightwood Place, Greencastle Road, Pheasant Run Court, West Meadowland Lane, Sugarland Run Drive, Cedar Drive, Charing Court, Duckspring Way, Fenton Wood Drive, Dudley Court and Darian Court have been broken into.
A resident observed a dark-skinned male inside a vehicle on Glengyle Lane July 19 about 2 a.m.
In Ashburn several areas were hit in the last few days. Three unlocked vehicles were entered on Zachary Lane July 18. Other areas hit were Wild Ginger Terrace and Milestone Square. A resident observed an unknown suspect in his vehicle July 18 about 1:40 a.m.
The Dulles South area has also seen its share of property stolen from unsecured vehicles. Areas hit in the last week include Glasgow Drive, Darkwood Street, Anderby Lane, Impala Court, Donerail Chase Drive, Myers Place and Lenah Run Circle. Two suspects, described as a black male and a white male, were observed in the area of Darkwood Street July 18 about 1 a.m. The suspects both fled the area.
Anyone with information about the perpetrators is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous, he or she should call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.
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