THEFT SPREE CLOSES OUT BETHESDA NEIGHBORHOOD'S "SUMMER OF SNATCH"

Seven thefts in 72 hours was not how some residents of west Bethesda wanted to end their summer.   And once again, the beleaguered Green Acres neighborhood had the majority of the thievery.

It's been a long summer of discontent for Green Acres, which started the season with a burglary spree in May, rode out a midsummer theft wave, and now tops it off with 5 additional thefts, just as autumn leaves begin to fall.

What is it about Green Acres that attracted criminals like magnets this summer, in a year in which the 20816 zip code overall experienced unusual crime activity?  Certainly, unlocked vehicles may have played a role in some thefts from autos.  But one teenage burglar who went wild there in May was breaking into the basement windows of homes, according to police following his arrest.

There have been sporadic thefts in west Bethesda over the last few weeks.  Two thefts in Green Acres on Tuesday initially appeared to be part of that typical activity.

But Thursday's 5 additional thefts strongly suggest one or more thieves are actively working that area now.

So make sure to secure your vehicles and home, and don't leave any money, GPS systems or other valuables in your car.

Here is the complete list of thefts:

Tuesday, August 28

Theft.  5300 block of Western Avenue.

Theft.  4900 block of Crescent Street.

Thursday, August 30

Theft from vehicle.  4600 block of Bayard Boulevard.

5300 block of Baltimore Avenue.

4800 block of Jamestown Road.

5100 block of Wissioming Road.

7800 block of Maryknoll Avenue.

NEIGHBORHOODS JUST OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN BETHESDA ROCKED BY BLING RING BURGLARIES

SATURDAY BREAK-IN

8TH NEAR DOWNTOWN,

19TH OVERALL SINCE

BURGLARY SPREE

BEGAN

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

A continuing wave of burglaries appears to have settled on neighborhoods just outside of downtown Bethesda.

The Town of Somerset, and the patchwork of communities that make up Chevy Chase, have been the hardest hit.  Multiple burglaries - sometimes on the same block, as on Dorset Avenue - have occurred in subdivisions off the "Green Mile" stretch of 355, between downtown Bethesda and Friendship Heights, over the last several weeks.

Saturday's break-in in the 5400 block of Uppingham Street was the 5th burglary in Somerset, the 8th in "ring neighborhoods" outside downtown Bethesda, and the 19th overall since the crimes began July 17.

Termed the "Bling Ring" for the burglars' focus on old-money, wealthy neighborhoods, their break-ins began in Spring Valley, then moved into similar enclaves in Montgomery County days later.  Kenwood, Green Acres, Bethesda, Potomac, Chevy Chase, and Foxhall in DC have been among the victimized areas.

But as crime data for the last few weeks demonstrates, the burglary wave seems to have narrowed to a relatively small area south - and, in one case, east - of downtown Bethesda.

This would suggest that the burglars are casing homes in that area in the daytime.  Residents should not only lock their doors, but take note of suspicious vehicles or persons in the neighborhood, who don't appear to have business there.  If such activity takes place, contact police, and write down tag numbers and descriptions of the people.

As with the Green Acres burglary spree this summer, a confined area of activity will make it far easier for citizens and police to notice suspicious activity.  And hopefully, bring a close to the Bling Ring spree.