THEFT SPREE CONTINUES IN WEST BETHESDA, ASSAULT AT BETHESDA COUNTRY CLUB, DRUG ARREST IN GROSVENOR - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

The theft spree continues in western Bethesda, with thieves returning to Sumner and Green Acres, and hitting new targets, like Kenwood and Somerset.

A separate wave of vehicle break-ins occurred on December 18 in White Flint, according to crime data. An assault was reported at Bethesda Country Club on Bradley Boulevard the same day, as well as a drug arrest in Grosvenor.

Here is a list of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 18 and 19:

December 18

Assault. Bethesda Country Club.

Theft. 7700 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Theft. Bethesda Metro Center 1.

Theft. 4900 block Hampden Lane.

Burglary. 5300 block McKinley Street (NIH area).

Theft. 5200 block Chamberlin Avenue (Kenwood).

Theft. 5800 block Warwick Place (Somerset).

Burglary. 5100 block Dorset Avenue (Kenwood).

Theft. 4400 block Willard Avenue (Friendship Heights).

Theft. 5300 block Western Avenue (Mazza Gallerie area).

Vehicle burglary. 8900 block Ewing Drive (Bradley Hills area).

Theft. 4800 block Bayard Boulevard (Green Acres).

Drug arrest. 10400 block Grosvenor Place.

Vehicle burglary. 11300 block Orleans Way (White Flint).

Theft. 6100 block Tuckerman Lane (Tilden area).

Vehicle burglary. Orleans Terrace (White Flint).

Theft. 11300 block Woodglen Drive (White Flint).

Vehicle burglary. 11600 block Nebel Street (White Flint).

Theft. 11500 block Rockville Pike (White Flint).

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard (Westfield Montgomery Mall area).

Theft. 7100 block Westlake Terrace (Westfield Montgomery Mall area).

December 19

Theft. 7400 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Theft. 8000 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block Cordell Avenue.

Theft. 4900 block Auburn Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Drug arrest. MD 355 at Cedar Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 5200 block Elsmere Avenue (Cedar Lane area).

Vehicle burglary. 4700 block Merivale Road (Green Acres vicinity, River Road corridor).

Vehicle burglary. 6000 block Roosevelt Street (Bradmoor).

Theft. 5100 block Westpath Way (Sumner).

Theft. Ericsson Road (Cabin John/Glen Echo area).

Vehicle theft. 11400 block Rockville Pike (White Flint).

Theft. 10400 block Auto Park Avenue (Westfield Montgomery Mall area).

THEFTS CONTINUE IN BETHESDA NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Three more thefts were reported in neighborhoods along Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda on December 17. One was in Sumner on Baltan Road, which has already been hit in this crime spike. The second and third were in the Green Acres/Glen Cove area. Since my last crime update, another theft was also reported not far from Baltan, in the 5100 block of Westpath Way.

If you live in the area, make sure your car and home doors are locked, and that all valuables are removed from the vehicle cabin.

Here is a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 17:

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Earlston Drive (Glen Cove area, Massachusetts Ave. corridor).

Theft. 5100 block Baltan Road (Sumner).

Vehicle burglary. 4900 block Bayard Boulevard (Green Acres).

Arrest for weapons offense. 4400 block East-West Highway.

Burglary. 4600 block Norwood Road (Chevy Chase along Green Mile).

Theft. 6900 block Maple Avenue (Chevy Chase, just outside downtown Bethesda).

Vehicle burglary. 5800 block Plainview Road (Whitman HS area).

Theft. 4900 block Strathmore Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 11100 block Rokeby Avenue/4700 Argyle Avenue (Garrett Park area).

Theft. 11300 block Rockville Pike (White Flint).

Vehicle burglary. 11400 block Commonwealth Drive (Tilden area).

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. Home Depot, 7111 Westlake Terrace.

VEHICLE THEFT AT BETHESDA ES, 3 ASSAULTS & MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here is a list of crimes reported around Bethesda on September 7-8, 2013, according to crime data:

September 7

Theft. 5300 block Westbard Avenue.

Assault. 4900 block Earlston Drive (Green Acres area).

Assault/rape. Suburban Hospital. No details given, but remember that a sexual assault reported at the hospital does not necessarily mean the incident occurred at the hospital.

Assault. 4500 block Middleton Lane (downtown Bethesda area).

September 8

Vehicle theft. Bethesda ES.

Vehicle burglary. 11500 block Rockville Pike (White Flint area).

ANOTHER STOLEN CAR IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Yet another car has been reported stolen in Bethesda. This one was taken from the 9200 block of Bulls Run Parkway on Wednesday, May 8, according to crime data.

Here are other notable crimes reported this week:

MAY 7:

Theft. 10400 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 4800 block Fairmont Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 7700 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 4400 block Montgomery Avenue.

MAY 8:

Theft from vehicle. 4700 block Sangamore Road.

Theft from vehicle. 8800 block Hempstead Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 5700 block Roosevelt Street.

Theft. 4800 block Moorland Lane.

Theft. Walter Johnson HS.

Theft. Home Depot.

Theft. 4700 block Montgomery Lane.

HOW MANY INCHES OF SNOW WILL BETHESDA, DC AREA GET FROM WINTER STORM SATURN?

Bethesda is under a Winter Storm Watch right now. The sun is shining, but there's a wintry chill in the air.

Winter Storm Saturn is on its way to the DC area.

How many inches of snow will end up falling on Bethesda tonight and on Wednesday?

The average prediction is 5-6 inches. Some forecasters say it could be as many as 8-12.

But here's an intriguing prediction: the now-famous Euro Model is saying the DC area will receive a 1-3" accumulation. This contradicts the majority of forecasts. Yet it is intriguing because the Euro Model was dead-right about the hurricane last fall.

The fact is, nobody knows. But conditions are right for up to a foot of snow.  And it is supposed to be a wet, heavy snow. That means more effort to shovel and plow for humans and machines.

Even though the Euro Model sounds unlikely, you can't rule out the data from a model that has been accurate so many times.

The fact that temperatures will rise above freezing on Wednesday could certainly reduce the potential total accumulation.

But that ice and slush will freeze solid after dark again, so watch out.

Today, expect light showers by 5:00 PM, changing over to snow after dark.  Accumulation of 1-2" possible tonight. Winds gusting to 30 MPH.

Wednesday, heavy showers and heavy snow. Accumulation of 5-12" possible through Thursday morning. Winds will gust to 35 MPH. Visibility could be affected if snowfall is heavy, due to winds.

Metro and Metrobus are total wildcards in recent years, in contrast to their past practice of operation during all but the worst snows in prior decades.

Stay tuned here and at @BethesdaRow on Twitter for updates throughout the storm!

WINTER STORM IAGO APPROACHING BETHESDA, 1-3" RAIN AND/OR SNOW ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE IN DC AREA

BETHESDA STORM CENTER:
IAGO SNOW UPDATE

While some forecasts have overhyped the snowstorm expected to hit the DC area today, you can count on slick roads during the evening rush hour tonight.

Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN and employees have the option for UNSCHEDULED LEAVE or UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK, according to the OPM website.

Expect rain showers this morning, and a rain/snow mixture early in the afternoon.  Temperatures are not currently forecast to drop below freezing tonight. Any concentrated snowfall will have difficulty sticking if that holds true.

In the worst case scenario, snowfall accumulation should total no more than 1-3" by evening.

Snow should taper off after 9 PM.

This is more likely a "be careful driving" storm than a "clean out the grocery store" blizzard.

Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for Bethesda weather updates as warranted.

BETHESDA WEATHER FORECAST

Another beautiful day ahead in Bethesda:  Sunny with highs in the upper 70s.  5 MPH breeze.

Tonight will be Sweater Weather again:  Lows in the lower 50s with a 5 MPH breeze.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE: KENWOOD FIREWORKS ASTOUND, POWER OUTAGES ABOUND

There were more lights in the sky over some parts of Bethesda, than there were on the ground below.

Some residents and businesses remained without power last night, including the neighborhood of Kenwood Park (bordered by River Road, Goldsboro Road, Wilson Lane and Bradley Boulevard) and 7-11 on River Road.

Meanwhile, many homes in hard-hit 20817 had their power restored throughout the Independence Day holiday.

While Montgomery County Government inexplicably canceled its official fireworks displays (as did cities with close political ties, like Rockville and Gaithersburg), thanks to the private Kenwood Golf and Country Club, Bethesda residents in-the-know were still able to enjoy a spectacular fireworks show.

A record crowd gathered nearby, and there was no nightmarish trip home on hot, crowded Metro cars, and no pickpockets to deal with!

If Friday's storm proved anything, it's that the demise of the air-conditioned, American indoor shopping mall, and personal automobile, have been prematurely predicted by the usual suspects.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE - POWER OUTAGES, COOLING CENTERS

Heat Alert! Storm Alert!

There is a chance of storms today, the temperature will be high (what a shock!) and many are still without power.

For those reasons, the Bethesda Library on Arlington Road will be opened as a cooling center (and as a library, of course: books, internet, etc.) from noon until 8 PM tonight.

You'll be a short walk from the barbecue on Bethesda Lane in front of Redwood between 12 and 6 PM, if you'd like a burger or hot dog.

New Power Outages

Last night's storm caused an additional 11,000 outages.

Old Power Outages

Kenwood (the neighborhood, not the club!) was without power as of 11:00 PM last night.

Power Restorations

Pepco made some progress in the hard-hit 20816 and 20817 zip codes.  Residents near Fernwood and Greentree Roads reported having power by mid-evening last night.

Gas stations on River Road reopened, but 7-11 appeared to remain closed.

Power was restored for the first time in the Springfield neighborhood off River Road.

Stay tuned to @BethesdaRow on Twitter and this blog for the latest news!

PEPCO CAM: EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS OF PEPCO CREW STAGING AREA IN BETHESDA

The exclusive Pepco Cam captured Pepco crews organizing operations at a new staging area on River Road, across from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda.

Residents with outages in the 20816, 20817 and Potomac areas are entering their fourth hot night without power.  Hopefully these are the guys who will be getting to those neighborhoods tonight.

At this hour, the River Road commercial strip - gas stations and 7-11 included - remains in darkness, as do nearby neighborhoods.

These vehicles included trucks that have traveled from across the country to assist in Pepco operations following Friday's killer storm.

Crews line up at Pepco's River Road staging area this evening,
including trucks from Florida Power and Light.

Check out that Emergency Response Team sedan with
tinted windows - maybe Agent Mulder is in there.