Burglars target homes while residents are away

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006

Burglars have been casing houses in Potomac and Rockville, waiting to rob and ransack them while residents are away from home, according to police.

Eighteen homes were robbed between Jan. 5 and Oct. 2 and detectives believe the burglars paid close attention to the residents’ routines, to determine when residents would be on vacation or away from home for an extended period of time, a Montgomery County Police Department release said.

In 12 of the burglaries the victims had been on vacation, in two cases victims were out for the evening and in four other cases victims interrupted the burglary when they returned home or were in the residence. In three cases the victims had property removed from a safe kept inside their residence, the release said.

In some incidents, the burglars used ladders to climb to second floor windows, then pried them open and ransacked upstairs bedrooms, the release said.

According to the release, burglaries occurred in the following areas:

*Jan. 5 in the 10500 block of Rivers Bend Lane

*Jan. 13-15 in the 10200 block of Irongate Road

*Feb. 16-20 in the 8900 block of Holly Leaf Lane

*March 26 through April 1 in the 10000 block of Counselman Road

*April 6-10 in the 8500 block of Horseshoe Lane

*April 22-23 in the 10100 block of Bentcross Drive

*June 4 in the 10000 block of Bentcross Drive

*June 9-19 in the 7000 block of Natelli Woods Lane

*June 13-14 in the 8900 block of Holly Leaf Lane

*July 10 in the 10000 block of Bentcross Drive

*July 14-16 in the 8600 block of Country Club Drive

*July 14-16 in the 8500 block of Country Club Drive

*July 22-23 in the 6800 block of Capri Place

*Sept. 3 in the 9900 block of Bentcross Drive

*Sept. 8-10 in the 6400 block of Goldenleaf Drive

*Sept. 9 in the unit block of Alloway Court

*Sept. 24 in the 5400 block of Duvall Drive

*Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 in the 7300 block of Arrowood Drive

The suspects are described as two black males, 20 to 30 years old, approximately 180 to190 pounds, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, and both with short, black hair, the release said.

Police suggest that residents notify close friends and family that can monitor their homes when they’ll be out of town for an extended period of time. Officers warn community members to pay attention to suspicious situations and people in their neighborhoods and to report them to police, especially when neighbors are away for a weekend or long vacation.

Other tips include: placing valuables, such as jewelry, in a safe deposit box during an extended stay away from home; installing inside and outside motion detection devices and automatic lighting systems and stopping mail and newspaper delivery while homeowners are away or having someone retrieve it every day.

In addition, police warn residents who currently have alarm systems to make sure the alarm company will notify police if the alarm is activated.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call the 1st District Investigative Section at 240-773-6084, or the 2nd District Investigative Section at 301-657-0112. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and⁄or indictment in these cases.