The crime wave continues at the Westbard Square development in Bethesda. Over the last four months, thieves have struck with impunity, smashing vehicle windows in the parking garage and helping themselves to bags and valuables left inside. The latest theft took place this past Monday morning, June 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM. This is at least the 17th theft from a vehicle inside this garage since February, with most of the incidents taking place during daytime hours.
No surveillance camera images or arrests from any of the cases have been made public so far. It appears that security or police could simply wait in the garage, and/or set up a bait car trap, and easily catch the thieves in the act. Yet the thefts continue unabated.
Many of the victims have been customers whose vehicles were vandalized while they were inside the Starbucks. With a new pizza restaurant opening soon, it becomes even more imperative for this theft spree to be brought to an end. If diners are coming out to find their windows smashed and property stolen while they were eating lunch, this will be terrible for business, as you can imagine.
The Montgomery County Council remains silent on the crime wave at Westbard Square, which included a shooting that injured two people outside of Bowlero on March 29. Months later, only one suspect has been arrested in that case so far, with one or more shooters still at-large. Police have not specified how many shooters there were in total, only that there was more than one, so it is still unknown how many suspects are being sought. It's unclear why Montgomery County and Westbard Square property owner Regency Centers are not moving urgently and forcefully to quash this criminal activity, as the area is apparently gaining a regional reputation among criminals as a place where crimes can be committed with impunity, which will be a total and complete disaster for the development and the surrounding community.
14 comments:
Again, imagine how the retailers feel about this? Of this grows, people will simply avoid this multi-million dollar shopping center reimagine altogether. I'm not crazy about the ever-present cop car on Bethesda Ave but it's a deterrent
Don't bother the council! They have important things to do like banning bamboo and raising taxes.
Prior to redevelopment, Westbard was the shopping center I went to most often. Subsequent to redevelopment, I went to Giant once, several months ago (on a Saturday afternoon, very few customers). I hated the garage layout and poor signage. After reading these articles, no plans to return.
To be fair to MoCoPoPo, about 2 weeks ago I saw three undercover officers with unmarked vehicles in a discussion on the second level of the garage. I have training in counterespionage but must admit that these guys stick out like a sore thumb, so even the dumbest thief could probably spot them as well.
7:05 - I'd like to hear from the retailers and food establishments coming in. Because, for the thousandth time, your comment about not returning to shop there is a huge problem for them. Lastly, prior to redevelopment, as you mentioned, there was no crime at Westbard.
7:02 - and leaf blowers and styrofoam cups that keep your drink cool and plastic straws. And about about two dozen other things that we want need and desire
Westbard had plenty of thefts from the parking lot of the shopping center prior to redevelopment as well.
7:29 - When and what were the details? How often did they have crime there before? Was there some vehicle larceny? I guess that's what it's technically called when the original Center was thriving? Perhaps. But to this level and with this frequency and never an open air shooting'. m not sure anybody could say that unless you can show police reports chronicling the type of crime and the frequency of the crime
7:29, this is 7:05. Prior to redevelopment, I shopped there almost exclusively for many years. Never saw or heard of any issues and felt completely safe.
If lights are good on their patrol cars, why don't they just wear blue lights on their hats?
And destroying our neighborhoods and ignoring residents and taxpayers
Yeah, I never saw or knew of problems in the old parking lot.
A baited car would be great. Well, hopefully soon!
7:56 is selling current events as nothing new. Shootings that happened over 2 months ago never happened but I guess we should all accept it, right? The left always tries to sell something that isn't so and when that doesn't work, they revert to the "both sides" argument.
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