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.

Frank Pepe's at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda to offer Paul Giamatti Pie on Oscars Sunday

Actor Paul Giamatti gave an enthusiastic endorsement of the White Clam with Bacon pizza from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana recently on television. The pizza chain will return the favor tomorrow, Sunday, March 10, 2024 - the day of the Academy Awards - by renaming that pizza the Paul Giamatti Pie for 24 hours. A medium Paul Giamatti Pie will cost $25 on March 10 only, at the Frank Pepe's locations at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and at the Alexandria Commons mall in Alexandria.

Mystery suspect cuts cable to golf cart backup camera in Rockville

Rockville City police are looking for an unknown suspect who took a bizarre action in the King Farm neighborhood. Sometime between 2:00 PM on March 1, 2024 and 11:00 AM on March 4, an unidentified person cut the cable to the backup camera of a golf cart parked in the 300 block of Saddle Ridge Circle. That is near the King Farm Citizens Assembly Community Center Clubhouse. Anyone who has information regarding the suspect or this incident is asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Montgomery County's first Wawa opens in Gaithersburg (Photos)

The first Wawa convenience store and mega gas station celebrated its Grand Opening yesterday, March 7, 2024 at 405 S. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. Many of the price promotions for the opening remain in effect through Sunday, as you will see in some of the photos below. The gleaming interior holds, if not every snack you can imagine, every snack you need. 

Located directly across MD 355 from Gaithersburg High School, Wawa has posted a prohibition on having more than two minors inside the store at any time. Backpacks are also prohibited beyond the vestibule of the store. It will be interesting to compare gas prices at this Wawa with competitors Sheetz and Royal Farms up the road in the coming months.

IKEA sets opening date for first Montgomery County store

IKEA has set an opening date for its first Montgomery County store, a small-format Plan & Order Point store at 101 Boardwalk Place at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. The store will open on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM. A grand opening celebration will be held from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. There will be giveaways, free food (Swedish meatballs?), and free drinks. Attendees will also be able to compete for prizes in the Spin to Win game. See my sneak peek at the Plan & Order Point interior for an idea of what is in store at Montgomery County's first IKEA store.

"We are thrilled to bring the best of IKEA to our DMV neighbors," IKEA U.S. CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer Javier Quiñones said in a statement. "We’ve seen that customers are still eager for in-person experiences, and we hope that this new Plan and order point with Pick-up provides a new and convenient way to shop."

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.

Rockville apartment tenant robbed, assaulted at knifepoint

Rockville City police are searching for a suspect in the March 2, 2024 armed robbery and assault at an apartment complex in the 2000 block of Baltimore Road. Around 3:12 PM Saturday, a tenant was just outside his apartment door when he was approached by an adult male suspect. The suspect displayed a knife, and demanded the tenant empty his pockets. Refusing to comply, the tenant attempted to flee.

The suspect then kicked the tenant, and managed to obtain cash from the victim before fleeing the scene. Police describe the suspect as a male of unknown race, wearing a black jacket with a hood. Anyone who has information regarding the suspect or this incident is asked to call police at 240-314-8900.