Residents push for cameras after vehicle-window smashings; police and officials note many incidents occurred outside city limits

Residents and officers spent a significant portion of the April 6 meeting discussing a wave of vehicle-window smashings and confusing media coverage that labeled incidents as occurring in College Park.

Bridal Pollock, speaking for neighbors in Yarrow, described seeing four cars with driver-side windows smashed while walking her dog. “Three days ago… there were four cars that had had the driver's side window smashed out,” she said. Residents noted that television reports had named College Park, which some officers said resulted from shared ZIP codes that cross municipal boundaries.

Sergeant Wayne Coop told the group that several of the incidents cited in media accounts occurred in neighboring Berwyn Heights and other nearby areas, not inside College Park. “Just because y'all shared the same ZIP code, everybody thought it was College Park. It's not,” he said, and urged residents to remember jurisdictional boundaries when interpreting news posts.

Neighborhood speakers and officers discussed possible responses, including placing cameras or license-plate readers at limited entrances to neighborhoods such as Yarrow. One resident suggested LPR units at two entrance points; officers agreed the idea merits discussion with elected officials and public-works staff, noting that placement, privacy, and cost are all issues to be reviewed.

Police also reported coordination with University of Maryland police and Prince George’s County units as part of ongoing investigations. No formal policy decision or procurement action was taken at the meeting; officials asked staff to research feasibility and to follow up with residents.