String of Burglaries Hits Takoma Park

[Howard Hartman]

	City of Takoma Park Police Department 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2012	Public Information Office              301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901

String of Burglaries Hits Takoma Park

There has been an upsurge in burglaries during the month of August. In the past two weeks, there have been six residential burglaries of unoccupied single family homes. The burglaries are also occurring right across the border into the District of Columbia. All members of the Department are on high alert for these crimes. We have increased uniform and plainclothes patrols in the City. Our detectives are following up on all leads and are working closely with other jurisdictions. The exchange of information between jurisdictions is proving helpful in our investigations. We will continue to update you as we make progress in these on-going investigations. Working together we can close these investigations by arrests.

Please see the below for specific information on burglaries that have
occurred:

The vehicles being used in these burglaries are stolen and have been two Dodge Caravans, a Volkswagon Passat and a Honda Accord.

The two suspects who are always described in these burglaries are:

• Suspect 1: Black male, 5’9-5’10, muscular build, dreadlock/twist hairstyle, last seen wearing an Ecko brand shirt with red accents and jeans.
  
• Suspect 2: Black male, 5’6 – 5’7, dreadlock/twist hairstyle, last seen wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.

The suspects may be armed.

The method of operation of these suspects is gaining entry through the rear of the home by removing window screens or breaking windows. They usually park their vehicle in the driveway and knock on doors to see if the house is occupied. This is usually during mornings hours after the victims’ leave home for work.

We need your eyes and ears in your neighborhoods. If it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. I urge you to secure your residences at all times. Please report ANY suspicious persons or vehicles in your neighborhoods to 301-270-1100 or 911. This is our number one priority.