Police called after assault at Rockville store

Rockville City police were called to a retail store on Rockville Pike Thursday, after an assault was reported at the business. The assault was reported at a store in the 1600 block of Rockville Pike at 5:29 PM on Thursday, April 25, 2024. An individual was also accused of shoplifting in the the incident.

Rockville couple victimized in Facebook property scam

A Rockville couple fell victim to a Facebook scammer who targeted those seeking rental housing in the area, Rockville City police say. The couple, who live in King Farm, responded to a recent Facebook Marketplace ad offering a property for rent. They were told to electronically send cash deposits prior to viewing the property, police allege.

The couple then scheduled a property tour. When they arrived at the property at the appointed time, they found it was not actually available for rent, and the Facebook scammer was nowhere to be found. Residents should be on guard for such scams on Facebook and other websites with anonymous property listings. Do not pay any money upfront before you can confirm the legitimacy of a transaction or offer.

Tattooed man steals women's apparel in Rockville

A tattooed man stole a "large quantity" of women's apparel from a store in Rockville, Rockville City police say. Around 6:17 PM on April 9, 2024, the adult male suspect allegedly fled a store in the 1600 block of Rockville Pike with a valuable haul of women's athletic apparel. Police describe the suspect as a White male with a thin build, 20 to 29 years of age, with a mustache and tattoos on his arms. If you have any information about this incident or the suspect, contact Rockville City police at 240-314-8900.

Windows smashed on 21 vehicles on one Rockville street

Two thieves smashed the windows of 21 vehicles parked on one Rockville street on the morning of April 13, 2024, Rockville City police say. The two unidentified suspects were carrying flashlights along the 200 block of Congressional Lane at 4:20 AM Saturday. They proceeded to smash the windows on three dozen cars, and rummage through the interiors, police allege. 

Among items reported stolen from the vehicles were cash, ID cards, credit cards, and a small travel purse. No physical description of the suspects has been released. If you have any information about this incident or the two suspects, contact Rockville City police at 240-314-8900.

Car stripped of all wheels in Rockville parking garage

A car was stripped of its wheels in a Rockville parking garage on April 5, 2024, Rockville City police say. At 3:05 AM that morning, two unknown suspects drove a silver hatchback into a garage in the 100 block of King Farm Boulevard. While the getaway driver waited, the second suspect emerged from the vehicle wearing a mask and gloves. The masked suspect smashed the window of a car, and retrieved a wheel lock key from inside. They then proceeded to steal all four wheels from the car.

Music-blasting mohawk man nets Walgreens shoplifting haul in Rockville

A mohawk-sporting man stole "a large quantity of merchandise" from a Walgreens drugstore "while playing loud music," Rockville City police say. The man allegedly filled two reusable shopping bags and a shopping cart at the Walgreens store at 430 Hungerford Drive before fleeing the business at 10:40 AM on April 5, 2024.

Police describe the suspect as a Black male of thin-to-medium build, approximately 25 to 35 years old, with a light complexion, a mohawk and a full beard. If you have any information about this incident or the suspect, contact Rockville City police at 240-314-8900.

Thief racks up $10,000 in tolls after stealing EZ-Pass from Rockville business

A thief has taken an expensive joyride after stealing an EZ-Pass toll transponder from a business in Rockville. The business has now received a bill for about $10,000 in toll charges from highways and bridges, according to Rockville City police. They say the EZ-Pass was stolen from a business in the 200 block of N. Stonestreet Avenue way back in December 2021. The charges apparently only came to the attention of the business recently, and they reported the theft to police on April 2, 2024.

Thief ransacks unlocked vehicles in Rockville neighborhood

A thief "ransacked" several unlocked vehicles parked in the King Farm neighborhood, Rockville City police say. The cars were parked in the 1100 block of Pleasant Drive, and were not damaged. Police say the unknown suspect managed to find a vehicle key, loose change, a sun shade, and a flashlight.

The thefts occurred on March 28 or 29, 2024. Remember to lock your vehicle, remove all valuables visible through windows, and never leave your keys in the ignition or glove compartment. 

Assault at Target in Rockville

Montgomery County police were called to the Target store at 5700 Bou Avenue on Sunday afternoon, March 24, 2024, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The assault was reported at the store at 2:44 PM Sunday. At least one person was also accused of shoplifting in the incident.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda yesterday afternoon, March 21, 2024. The assault was reported at the mall at 3:06 PM Thursday. This is the third assault committed at the mall this year. Like the first two in 2024, yesterday's assault was related to a shoplifting incident at a store in the mall. 

The mall is currently on a pace to equal the number of assaults reported at the popular retail center in 2022, which was 12. That would be more than double the total assault reports at the mall last year, when only 5 such incidents were reported. Last year's drop in violent crime at the property came after Montgomery County police established a "resource room" inside the mall.

Do you recognize this Derwood burglary suspect?

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect in a burglary rampage across commercial properties in Derwood and Montgomery Village earlier this month. The suspect is accused of attempting to burglarize an ATM at the Bank of America in the 17500 block of Redland Road by smashing it with a rock at 10:58 PM on Sunday, March 3, 2024; forcing his way into and stealing cash from Spice Lanka on the same block moments later; and then trying and failing to force entry into Derwood Beer & Wine in the 17600 block of Redland Road. 

On Wednesday, March 6, police say the same suspect tried his luck in Montgomery Village, breaking into Vida Hair Salon at 19122 Montgomery Village Avenue at 11:02 PM. He allegedly took cash from the cash register and fled. A few hours later, at 3:21 AM on March 7, the suspect allegedly broke into Dollar Tree, Moe's Southwest Grill, Ledo Pizza and The Joint - all at the Montgomery Village Center. He is accused of stealing money from Moe's. The suspect then broke into the Metro by T-Mobile store at 9989 Stedwick Road in Montgomery Village.

Detectives are working with all of the business owners who were affected to determine if any other property or cash was stolen from their spaces. Police describe the suspect as an adult Black male, approximately 5-feet, 10-inches in height, with a slim build. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Detectives have released a photo of the suspect, shown above.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or these crimes is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org, and click on the “www.p3tips.com” link at the top of the page, or call 1-866-411-8477.  Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Rockville police to give away free steering wheel locks to combat theft

Rockville City police will be giving away free steering wheel locks on Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The giveaway will be held at the police station at 2 W. Montgomery Avenue, while supplies last. Auto thefts continue to be a major problem in Montgomery County. The steering wheel locks can also be an effective deterrent for airbag thieves.

Rockville bar patron steals employee's car after arguing with staff

A disgruntled patron at a bar in Rockville argued with bar staff, then later retaliated by allegedly stealing one of the employees' cars. Rockville City police say that the suspect jawed with employees, then snatched a set of car keys from one of their jackets, and stole that employee's vehicle from outside the establishment. The vehicle theft was reported at a bar on Seven Locks Road around 2:00 AM on the morning of March 1, 2024. Police have not released a description of the suspect.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda late Friday morning, March 1, 2024. The assault was reported at the mall at 11:20 AM. At least one person was also accused of shoplifting in the incident. This is the second assault reported at the mall in 2024; the first in February also involved shoplifting from a business inside the mall. Another accused mall shoplifter allegedly was in possession of a synthetic narcotic a week before Friday's assault.

Police called after assault at Rockville sporting goods store

Rockville City police responded to a report of unsportsmanlike conduct at a sporting goods store Friday morning, February 23, 2024. A 2nd-degree assault was reported at a store in the 1600 block of Rockville Pike at 10:51 AM. Dick's Warehouse Sale is located on that block. At least one person was also accused of shoplifting in the incident.

Suspects sought in assault and theft at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police are looking for three suspects in a February 5, 2024 assault and shoplifting incident at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The three entered Zara and grabbed merchandise, police say. On their way out of the fashion boutique at 12:22 PM, they allegedly assaulted a store employee. This is the second assault reported at the mall this year.

Police describe the suspects as a Black male around 40 years of age, a Black male aged 20-25, and a Black female aged 20-25. If you can identify any of the suspects, or have any information related to this incident, you are asked to call police at the anonymous Crime Solvers tipline at 1-866-411-8477, or the non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

Police target airbag thief who targets Honda Civics in Rockville

An airbag thief struck the Twinbrook Forest neighborhood in Rockville over several recent days, and focused primarily on Honda Civics. Windows of at least four Honda Civics, along with one Acura, were smashed. The thief was successful in getting away with four of the five airbags they attempted to steal. In the fifth case, Rockville City police say, a resident saw a suspect breaking the window of a Civic in the 2300 block of Ring Street at 8:12 PM on February 10, 2024. The thief apparently noticed the resident, and fled the scene before being able to remove the vehicle's airbag.

Police describe the suspect in that case as a male of unknown race, 5'6" in height, and wearing a black beanie. If you live in Twinbrook Forest, especially near the streets in question, perhaps you have doorbell or security camera footage of the beanie-wearing suspect you can forward to police. The thefts occurred on the following streets: 1600 block of Gruenther Avenue between 9:00 PM on February 6 and 6:30 AM on February 7; 300 block of Gruenther Avenue between 4:00 AM and 6:45 AM on February 7 (you could assume that the first incident may have taken place within, or close to, the same time window as the second); 1600 block of Forbes Street between 7:00 AM and 8:30 PM on February 10; and the failed attempt noted above in the 2300 block of Ring Street at 8:12 PM on February 10.

If you have information or video footage related to these thefts, you are asked to call police at 240-314-8900. Honda Civics are a popular target for airbag thieves, but not the only target. Experts recommend installing "The Club" or another anti-theft device on your steering wheel to discourage thieves, as well as installing or activating a car alarm, and parking in a well-lit area if possible.

Pitbull stolen in Rockville

An 8-month-old pitbull was stolen from the yard of a Rockville home on January 12, 2024, Rockville City police say. The dog was taken from a yard in the 200 block of N. Horners Lane in East Rockville. Police say the pitbull was stolen sometime between 12:00 and 1:00 PM that afternoon. If you have seen the stolen dog, or have any information about suspects or this incident, you are asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Rockville police seeking e-bike thief

Rockville City police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in connection with the theft of an e-bike in the Twinbrook area of the city. On January 4, 2024, the suspect entered Trek Bicycle at 5750 Fishers Lane at 7:57 PM. He allegedly proceeded to remove an e-bike from the store's window display, and fled the scene. Police describe the suspect as a Black male—33 to 37 years of age, with “facial hair” and wearing all-black clothing. Anyone with information regarding the suspect or this incident is asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Rockville police searching for New Year's meat thief

Rockville City police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a suspect who allegedly stole meat from a business on Rockville Pike. The suspect entered a business in the 1800 block of Rockville Pike around 2:35 PM on January 1, 2024. He allegedly grabbed an unspecified quantity of meat from the business, and fled in a Honda SUV. Police did not release the tag number or model of the getaway vehicle.

The suspect is described by police as a Black male wearing a black jacket, surgical mask, black pants, and red shoes. Anyone with information regarding the suspect or this incident is asked to call police at 240-314-8900.