Intruder trashes rental room in Rockville

An intruder entered a Rockville home and trashed a rental room on April 7, 2025, Rockville City police report. The suspect snuck in through a rear door, and was apparently targeting a specific rental room inside the home in the 300 block of Baltimore Road in Croydon Park. Between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM that afternoon, police say, the intruder overturned the room, leaving items strewn about. No description of the suspect, or their motive, has been released at this time. If you can identify the intruder, or have any other information about this incident, call police at 240-314-8900.

Auto Spa Express car wash proposed for Gaithersburg

Car washes have been a tough sell for approval in Gaithersburg in recent years. Auto Spa will be the latest chain to make the case for one before the Gaithersburg Planning Commission tomorrow night, April 16, 2025. The property in question is 10009 Fields Road, which is bounded by Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road, right smack between Downtown Crown and Rio Lakefront. As such, the traffic expected for the car wash is controversial, but Gaithersburg planning staff are now supportive of a car wash use. 

The property owner has tried and failed over the last five years to attract a retail or restaurant tenant to the site. Three letters of intent were signed: one by a bank, one by a casual restaurant, and one by a drive-thru fast food restaurant. However, none of those proposals were "economically feasible or sustainable," the owner concluded.

Feces left in grocery delivery bag in Rockville

An online grocery shopper in the Burgundy Hills area of Rockville found an unexpected surprise in their order when it was delivered. Rockville City police report that a resident of the 300 block of Taylor Avenue found that feces had been placed in one of the grocery bags that were delivered to the doorstep of their home on April 7, 2025. Police determined that a suspect they describe only as "an unknown woman" had placed the feces into the bag at approximately 6:00 PM that evening. If you have any information that can assist detectives in closing this case, call police at 240-314-8900.

ECCO closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

ECCO has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The comfort shoe retailer's space has been sealed off, and signage has been removed. A number of stores are swapping locations inside the mall, but I noticed that ECCO has been removed from the mall website, and this location has been removed from the store locator on the ECCO website. ECCO still has a Tysons store at 1961 Chain Bridge Road at Tysons Corner Center.

Big Papi's Tacos opens in Rockville

Big Papi's Tacos is now open at 201 E. Middle Lane in Rockville Town Center. They are holding a soft opening this week with a limited menu. A ribbon-cutting will be held this Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM with taco samples. Finally, they will close out the week with their grand opening on Saturday, April 19.

Police called after jealous ex takes baseball bat to car in Rockville

Rockville City police were called after a individual used a baseball bat to damage a vehicle in the Burgundy Estates area on April 4, 2025. The incident took place in the 600 block of Edmonston Drive, near the Rockville Civic Center. According to police, the suspect observed a former partner sitting in a vehicle with another woman at 5:45 AM. The suspect then allegedly used the baseball bat to strike the car. 

Rockville Best Buy to participate in midnight Nintendo Switch release on June 5

Some Best Buy stores across America will hold special late-night hours for the June 5, 2025 release of the Nintendo Switch 2. Customers who pre-order their system will be able to pick it up at participating stores at 12:01 AM. In Montgomery County, the Best Buy stores at 1200 Rockville Pike in Rockville, at 20914 Frederick Road at the Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown, and at 10901 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton will be participating in the Switch 2 event. Despite the exorbitant $449.99 price, Best Buy is warning that "This item is expected to sell out quickly."