Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Crime Trends topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police: June saw robberies and a spike in theft-from-auto incidents in College Park
Summary
Prince George’s County contract officers briefed College Park elected officials on June crime totals, including two robberies (one commercial, one involving University of Maryland student with juvenile suspects) and a concentrated rise in thefts from vehicles that investigators say are under active probe.
College Park officials heard a June crime briefing from contract police officers that highlighted two robberies, several burglaries and a notable increase in thefts from vehicles.
The police presenter said the department recorded one commercial robbery on June 2 at a gas station on the 9800 block of Rhode Island Avenue and one citizen robbery on the 5000 block of College Avenue. "Two unknown suspects entered the gas station, displayed handguns, and demanded cash," the presenter said of the commercial robbery, which is under investigation by a robbery unit. In the citizen robbery, officers arrested two juveniles; a handgun recovered by a K-9 unit turned out to be a BB gun, police said.
The presenter gave totals for the month: 1 citizen robbery, 1 commercial robbery, 6 assaults (three domestic), 3 commercial burglaries, 3 residential burglaries, 25 theft-from-auto incidents, 19 other thefts and 2 stolen vehicles. He noted some burglary suspects gained entry by shattering doors and in one residential case a suspect used a sledgehammer to break into a home and was taken to Capital Regional Medical Center for evaluation.
Council members pressed for more detail about the theft-from-auto cluster. The presenter described a pattern typical to the region: "The suspects will go through a neighborhood, apartment complex ... and they'll go steal tires and rims and airbags," he said, citing an incident in the Hollywood neighborhood where multiple Hondas had airbags stolen. He said June totals included 10 vehicles with tires and rims removed and seven vehicles with airbags removed; one catalytic-converter theft was also reported. "This is an active investigation," he added.
Officials and residents also raised concerns about the visible damage that accompanies some thefts, including smashed windows and destroyed steering assemblies. The presenter explained that incidents in which windows are shattered to remove an airbag are categorized as "theft from auto" in the department's records. He described the department's data process: officers file police reports into the RMS records system and an analyst compiles the statistics.
The police presenter urged residents to take preventive steps, including using steering-wheel clubs, reporting suspicious activity, and installing home surveillance cameras. Council members discussed exploring a city camera rebate program; the council said it would consider the idea at future meetings.
The presentation concluded with a multi-year comparison of crime and an invitation for members to follow up with staff; no formal action or vote was taken during the meeting.
