Montgomery County police were busy at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda as the last week in January began. Officers responded to two robberies in 24 hours at the popular retail center at 7101 Democracy Boulevard. A strong-arm robbery was reported at the mall on Sunday, January 26, at 6:30 PM. Less than 24 hours later, on Monday, January 27, a second robbery was called in at 12:40 PM. A business at the mall was the victim in that robbery. The tenant has not yet been identified. An unspecified weapon was implied or employed in the second robbery, but it was not a gun.
Montgomery Mall had nearly made it to the end of the first month of 2025 without a violent crime taking place there. Eleven assaults were reported at the mall in 2024, up from five in 2023. The last assault was on November 12, 2024. A new leadership team was brought into the mall by parent company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield ten days later. The peak holiday shopping period from Black Friday through Christmas then passed uneventfully, in terms of crime. Only the typical shoplifting calls expected at any mall during the holiday season were reported during that time. January had likewise been violent-crime-free, until this past Sunday.
Competing with Wheaton Mall?
ReplyDeletethe police are letting it happen there should always be an undercover and one cruiser at the food court smdh
ReplyDelete"Because the cops don't need you and man they expect the same"
DeleteJust like Tom Thumbs blues
-Bob Dylan
Montgomery Mall should revert to its original mission and completely eliminate the Food Court. This facility only serves to attract an undesirable element that spends very little money and causes the vast majority of trouble. The people with money will return when the people without money are gone.
ReplyDeleteGood answer, throw the baby out with the toilet water. All malls have food courts, but your MAGA mind (think like a Don) wants to blame it.
DeleteWhat does Trump have anything to do with Montgomery Mall's food court?
DeleteThe Food Court is an important element of the mall. People go shopping and then they have a bite to eat. I go to the stores and eat with my family often at the Food Court. I don't believe that the Food Court is connected to the two robberies.
DeleteThat's a fascinating take. Eliminate the food court is a bizarre idea, given that people like to, you know, eat... while shopping, seeing movies, etc. also bizarre is going all "political crusade" on the dude for expressing a weird opinion. Don't think Project 2025 calls for food court bans, but heck, who knows? Maybe just light the parking lots better and have a cop or two onsite? Probably more effective than banning Orange Julius.
DeleteWhich stores?
ReplyDeleteSinister elements trying to undermine its existence.
ReplyDeleteBob Dylan Blonde on Blonde.
ReplyDeleteI think it was Hwy 61 Revisited.
DeleteLots of speculation w/o any details about the actual crimes (who/what/where). Hopefully more details can lead to appropriate actions to address isdues.
ReplyDeleteAnd deal with the daily drag racing in the parking garage - screeching all the way around up and down - every single damn day!
ReplyDelete