An intruder trespassing inside an entrance vestibule attempted to smash an interior glass door that provides entry for tenants of 8200 Wisconsin to the apartment tower's lobby this past weekend. Yesterday, the interior lobby door could be seen papered over inside the Woodmont Avenue entrance to the building, and broken glass had been cleaned up. This comes after residents of the building have already expressed concern over the reduction of staffing at the lobby desk to only four hours per day. Some residents have reported security failures and trespassing by previous intruders, which were made possible by the lack of 24-hour desk coverage.
One recent event was an example of an apparent new trend of vagrants and homeless people "couch surfing" during the night in residential lobbies, including at least once at 8200. The individuals either sneak in, are assisted with entry by an unwitting resident, or possibly invited in by a bleeding heart tenant to crash for the night on lobby furniture. This is not only illegal trespassing or burglary in most cases, but a security risk to residents. Montgomery County police have not commented publicly on this weekend's incident at 8200, so the motive or intention behind the attempt to break in is unknown at this time.
The incidents I have heard from readers have all taken place at buildings in the Woodmont Triangle, where Montgomery County of course sustains several homeless facilities. As in White Flint and Derwood, some of these individuals have untreated psychiatric conditions and/or criminal records, and harass, beg, or assault people going about their business, as well as stealing from, robbing, or vandalizing local businesses. They have repeatedly broken into vacant buildings in that vicinity.
Now a growing trend is this couch surfing at residential buildings. This not only often provides access to mail rooms with packages in or off of lobbies, but in at least one case at a different building, residents reported a trespasser in the lobby then taking elevators to residential floors upstairs with unclear intentions.
19 comments:
I've noticed more and more vagrants around Woodmont Triangle lately. Just this morning, what appeared to be two drugged out homeless men were hanging around Veterans' Park, and another large very unkempt homeless man was walking by Trader Joe's as myself and a few other ladies were waiting for it to.open, quite scared. Last week, for 3 hours starting at 5am, an obviously mentally unwell individual was screaming obscenities and senseless ramblings at the top of his lungs from Veterans' Park. When I called MCPD to report this, I felt judged for calling. I've taken to carrying pepper spray!! What is happening to Bethesda? My husband and I have lived here 10 years but will be leaving when our lease is up, thankfully just as the Purple Line opens up. We're devastated but feel we have no other choice.
Yeah and pretty soon they'll be launching a MoCo version of the poop app to help you avoid the human feces all over the sidewalk. And by the way, why are homeless people suddenly called unhoused? For the same reason that illegal immigrants are called undocumented migrants. It's all a feel good vibe. Oh yes, illegal immigrant is a racist term. Yep. San Fran East. Wait till the PL opens.
The whole legalize drugs for recreational purposes experiment has been a disaster around the county.
Thank you for reporting this trend, Robert. I don't know which other news source around here would have covered, or will cover, it.
Can't wait for the PL!
Is it possible that the intruder was looking to shop for eyeglasses?
It's not a problem!! It's a good thing, learning from other cultures and different lifestyles. Don't like it, get into local politics and get dedicated security.
I live on Battery and this is not a new thing. It truly explains why I comment and respond the way I do on this blog and have done for years and will continue to do so. Go ahead, call me racist, a clown, pearl clutcher and the the reasons not to worry because nothing ever happens to you and everyone in Bethesda is safe all the time and how you're going to live life to the fullest and continue to vote blue no matter what because yer' an idiot. End of rant, but never, ever tell me what to do or how to feel ever again while on this blog. If all the perps gets away with everything, then maybe I will to when I finally snap and start acting out actively trying to identify some of you people.
Get the hell offa' this blog, jawando!!
Now that there's North Bethesda it's only fitting Bethesda becomes West Silver Spring. Eureka! I'm going to use that from now on...the change will really be apparent when we're blessed with the PipeLine.
It's most sad you 'feel judged' calling our Police force. I flagged down a rare roving patrol ( I guess they were patrolling) about a guy ranting and walking down the outside lane on Wisconsin and the cop looked at me like I was imagining things. He never even went to check the guy out.
7:19 - And how many of his yard signs are around? Plenty. Dumb voters rubber stamp without even blinking.
There seems to be an uptick in homeless men doing drugs in front of the apartment buildings on bethesda ave this is scary. you can't walk down bethesda ave to the shops without being hollered at by the homeless. and the cops in front of lululemon don't do ANYTHING!
The Silver Spring Library Purple Line station has already become a homeless shelter, complete with panhandlers high on drugs. And this is years before the trains start running.
These are the crimes (trespassing and sleeping in an apartment lobby) that impact residents quality of life but go unreported, particularly now with the county hiding their police radio traffic.
Politically, the police and county government aren't ever going to report that crime is up.
The only "legalized" drug in the county is marijuana, unless you think otherwise dopehead.
You started out well, I was with ya. But then calling people ideiotsxamd saying you’re going to snap and start acting out is a bad way to end. Sigh.
Didn't Robert write somewhere that he gets at least some of his crime news from official police reports? Dude, let the scanner thing go, already.
Calm down there, keyboard warrior. I'm sure you'd make the residents of Bethesda shake in their boots.
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