New mid-block crosswalk on Sentinel Drive in Sumner

New concrete island in the middle of
Sentinel Drive can be seen beneath the
two glowing orange barrels

A mid-block crosswalk is being constructed on Sentinel Drive near the driveway to the Sumner Court condominiums. It will line up with the existing pedestrian sidewalk that leads down from Sentinel Drive into the Shops at Sumner Place shopping center near the Safeway store.

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developer-funded Democrats to the four
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- unless you want the Sumner Place redevelopment
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The new crosswalk provides a concrete island refuge for pedestrians crossing the wide street. It just needs the actual crosswalk to be painted before it is completed.

Location before construction
on the crosswalk began

Car stolen from Burling Ct., assault on Sentinel Drive + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on October 11, according to crime data:

Stolen car. 5500 block Burling Court at 6:25 AM.

Liquor arrest. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Assault. 7100 block Fulton Street at 12:17 AM.

Assault. 5000 block Sentinel Drive at 6:09 AM.

Drug arrest. Conway Road at Lindale Drive at 12:01 AM.

Disorderly conduct. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard at 4:41 PM.

Drug arrest. 10600 block Weymouth Court at 4:07 AM.

Assault on Cordell Ave., Westlake Ter.; vehicle burglaries on Battery La. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on September 19, according to crime data:

Assault. 4900 block Cordell Avenue at 12:59 PM.

Vehicle burglary. 4900 block Battery Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 4900 block Battery Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 8300 block N. Brook Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 8600 block Burdette Road.

Assault. 7600 block Westlake Terrace at 6:18 AM.

Drug arrest. 6800 block Fairfax Road at 9:51 PM (Edgemoor).

Death. 4900 block Sentinel Drive at 7:54 PM.

YET ANOTHER USPS MAILBOX TO VANISH IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

I recently reported on the planned removal of at least one mailbox from the sidewalk outside of the U.S. Post Office at 6900 Wisconsin Avenue. But another even more venerable Bethesda mailbox could be removed from its longtime spot on August 21. Due to limited demand, the USPS says, it will reduce the number of mailboxes at the Shops at Sumner Place on Sangamore Road. 

Since there is only one freestanding mailbox on the property, by my recollection, I assume they are referring to the mailbox at the outer edge of the shopping center parking lot, right off Sentinel Drive. The only other mailbox nearby, as I recall, was at the entrance of the apartments around the bend on Sentinel Drive. According to the USPS, the second-closest mailbox in walking distance is on Westpath Road. The Sumner Place box was convenient for residents of the townhomes and condos across Sentinel from the shopping center.

Interestingly, demand apparently remains high for the mailbox at the Westwood Shopping Center, on Westbard Avenue. There are no notices regarding low demand or planned removal of that box, located outside of the Westwood Pet Center at the busy shopping center.

BETHESDA NEIGHBORHOODS JOLTED BY THEFT SPREE

6 THEFTS THURSDAY

INCLUDED 3 IN

1 BLOCK

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Fast-fingered thieves opened car doors across west Bethesda Thursday, as 5 thefts from vehicles were reported, as well as one other theft.

Particularly hard hit was the 6100 block of Cromwell Drive, where three cars were hit by one or more thieves.

Cars were also entered in the 4800 block of Willett Parkway, and the 6100 block of Ramsgate Road.  The latter street connects to Cromwell, so those thefts are very likely connected.

An additional theft was reported in the 4900 block of Sentinel Drive, a street with several apartment and condominium complexes by the Shops at Sumner Place.

There have been a few scattered thefts in Bannockburn and Glen Echo Heights over the last week or so, but Thursday's spree was a bit more unusual.  I haven't heard of any arrests in these cases, so assume the thieves are still out there, and lock your car doors at all times.

WEST BETHESDA

CRIME WAVE UPDATE

No Armed Robberies Reported in Latest

Police Report; Unofficial Reports of Assaults, Robberies

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Montgomery County Police continue stepped up uniformed patrols and tactical operations in the Westbard area. No armed robberies were reported in that vicinity.

An unofficial crime reporting website lists some crimes not included in the official report.

Remember, the Park Bethesda robbers were 3 individuals, armed with at least one gun, wearing ski masks, and usually assault their victim. A group matching this method of operation has struck other times on both sides of the Western Avenue border since January.

So, we're looking for armed robbery reports primarily, and assaults or robberies in crime reports.

Here is what SpotCrime lists under those categories since my update last Friday:

Assault at 7300 Wisconsin Avenue near Hampden Lane. February 27.

Robbery at 4500 block of Wisconsin Ave. NW, February 27.

Assault at 4900 block of Sentinel Dr., February 27.

"Theft of vehicle" at 5100 block of River Road, February 25.

County police representatives have stressed that online crime reporting websites not affiliated with actual police departments are not necessarily accurate. I simply present these cases so that citizens can be alert to suspicious activity, and continue to be aware of their surroundings while the Park Bethesda robbers are still at large. SpotCrime provides no detail, so there is no positive indication of those robbers' involvement in these cases. However, they fall within the range of criminal activity so far displayed by that operation.

In related news, last evening was the 14th straight night that Capital Properties darkened large portions of the Westwood Shopping Center parking lot, despite recent crime and safety concerns. It is not a winning public relations strategy with the community, and I am aware of no other shopping center in Bethesda having reduced its lighting, despite the county's Draconian energy tax.