[February 16, 2006 (7:00 pm)] Takoma Park Police responded this afternoon to a crime spree in the Pine Crest and Circle Woods neighborhoods near New Hampshire and Eastern Avenues. Two citizens were robbed and two unattended vehicles were stolen in less than 15 minutes on Poplar, Cockerille and Fifth Avenues.
At about 3 p.m., four suspects in a red Acura intercepted a citizen in his yard in the 6700 block of Poplar Avenue, demanded and took property before fleeing. The suspects then got into a Camry that had been left running and unattended in a driveway in the 6700 block of Cockerille.
Moments later the suspects, now occupying two vehicles, took a cell phone from a victim in the area of Orchard and Fifth. A weapon was implied but not displayed and the victim was not injured. The suspects then discarded the Camry taken minutes earlier, entering a Sequoia that was left running and unattended in the 6400 block of Fifth Avenue.
The suspects fled the city in two vehicles:
- a red or maroon four-door Acura, which was reported stolen in an armed carjacking in Washington, D.C.
- the silver 2001 Sequoia
As more than eight Takoma Park officers converged on the numerous crime scenes and were canvassing the area, a Takoma Park officer located and followed a blue 2006 Chevy Colorado pick-up, occupied by several individuals, behaving suspiciously. The driver apparently became aware of the officer following and recklessly fled at high speed in heavy traffic. The truck was revealed to be stolen from Charles County, although it is unknown whether the truck was involved in the Takoma Park crimes.
Over recent days, incidents have been occurring in Takoma Park and nearby D.C. and Prince George’s County involving multiple youth or young men in multiple stolen vehicles. Residents are urged to report suspicious behavior especial in mid-afternoon in neighborhoods near the D.C. and Prince George’s County boundaries. (For example, one of today’s victims had noticed the suspects earlier “eyeing” one of his vehicles. The suspects left and returned moments later to rob him.)
Residents are warned that leaving a car running and unattended is a dangerous practice, even in the daytime for very short periods. State law prohibits an owner from leaving a car with keys in the ignition and unattended.
Suspects in today’s events are described as young black males. In one robbery the victim described the suspects as 14-15 years old, 5'6" to 5'7" with thin builds. The other victim described the driver of a suspect vehicle as about 20, wearing a tan sweater. One of the two suspects who demanded property was described as a17-18 years old, light complected, wearing a black knit hat, black shirt and black jacket tied around his waist. The second, who implied he was armed, was described only as about 17-18 years olds.
Anyone with information related to these events should call the Takoma Park Police at 301/270-1100.