The crime wave around the new Westbard Square development in Bethesda continues. A March 29, 2025 shooting that wounded two people outside the Bowlero bowling alley at 5353 Westbard Avenue has been the highest-profile incident, but an ongoing spree of thieves breaking into cars parked in the development's parking garage has claimed at least three more victims since May 10. Montgomery County police reported that two vehicles were broken into between 3:38 PM on May 10, and 3:13 PM on May 11. Money and other valuables were stolen from inside the cars.
A third vehicle parked in the garage was broken into this past Thursday, May 22, at 9:45 AM. According to a witness who passed the scene about 45 minutes later, one of the car's windows had been smashed.
This makes a total of at least 16 vehicles that have been broken into in the Westbard Square garage since February. Like virtually all of the incidents, the latest three occurred during daylight hours. Most of the victims report that they had simply parked their car in the garage, and gone into Starbucks, only to come out and find their vehicles damaged and items stolen from within. "This is making me hesitant to shop and go to Starbucks there," the witness said.
As with the March shooting, there appear to be no consequences for the criminals who are preying on patrons of the development's businesses. And, as with the shooting, no surveillance images of the garage perpetrators are being released to the public. Who are these thieves, and where are they coming from?
Word is getting out that this is a "free pass" area for crimes, and that does not bode well for public safety or successful businesses in the Westbard community. Now you have residents and customers starting to say they feel unsafe. I'm surprised that property owner Regency Centers and Montgomery County are not moving swiftly to get this under control.
10 comments:
California passed Prop 36 and got rid of the progressive crime enabler Gascon by huge margins. Now if the voters in MD can open their eyes, we might be able to save the state but with who's running and currently in charge it's only wishful thinking.
The only way the owner will take notice is if it affects his wallet directly!!!
Where are the police? How hard would it be to "seed" a throw-away vehicle with tempting tidbits inside, then watch it until someone tried to break in. Then nab them. They used to do this in Miami Vice all the time. Maybe the Bolsheviks in charge don't want to catch criminals. That has to be it.
Silver & Sons is really good I've heard. Gotta try that place but I'll make sure to park over at Little Flower and walk up the hill.
7:17 Dontcha know that many, if not most gubmint programs are all about the 'care and feeding' (and image protection) of our urban "youth"? Even after we catch them we reward them and wonder why they keep coming back. One day either party will step over that personal line that our Gubmint doesn't think exists or tries to ignore or undermine. It's gonna Bea long hot summer: we will have interesting times.
Which brings to mind: Car 54, Where Are You?
"don't want to catch criminals" I think that you hit the proverbial nail on the head!
Thank you, Robert, for continuing to highlight this important issue.
2:50 Re: Car 54... Maryland trivia- Fred Gwynne is buried in Finksburg, MD Carroll County.
That sounds like a Nursery Rhyme.
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