Vehicles ransacked in Massachusetts Avenue corridor of Bethesda

Two thieves targeted vehicles in neighborhoods along Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda during broad daylight on December 3, 2025, Montgomery County police report. They were successful in obtaining stolen property and cash from inside of unlocked vehicles on Massachusetts Avenue itself, on Wapakoneta Road in Mohican Hills, and on Falmouth Road in Spring Hill. The thefts took place between 9:00 AM and 12:46 PM. 

Police describe one suspect only as a Black male of unknown age, and have no physical description of the second suspect. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000. 

Burglary/auto theft spree in Massachusetts Avenue corridor of Bethesda

Burglars and auto thieves started December off with a bang in the Massachusetts Avenue corridor of Bethesda. Four homes were burglarized, three others were the target of attempted burglaries, and at least four vehicles were stolen in that area between December 1 and December 4, 2024. Homes were burglarized in the 5700 block of Harwick Road, the 5300 block of Iroqouis Road, the 6000 block of Ramsgate Road, and the 5900 block of Massachusetts Avenue. Burglars attempted to break into homes in the 6100 block of Cromwell Drive, the 5900 block of Welborn Drive, and the 6300 block of Kenhowe Drive. Cars were stolen from the 5700 block of Harwick Road, the 5700 block of Ridgefield Road, the 6000 block of Ramsgate Road, and the 5900 block of Massachusetts Avenue.

One arrest was made in the last stolen car incident. An 18-year-old Bethesda man has been charged with felony 1st-degree burglary, felony theft, felony unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and rogue and vagabond. He has posted a $1500 bond, and has been released to await trial. Montgomery County police report that they have recovered all four stolen vehicles. Suspects in the other cases remain at large.

Speed limit reduced on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda

The Maryland State Highway Administration has reduced the speed limit on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda from 35 MPH to 30 MPH. New signage has been installed on the section of the state highway between Sangamore Road and Westmoreland Circle at the Maryland-Washington, D.C. border, with yellow tags that read, "NEW." 

The remainder of the road, a two-lane segment between Sangamore and Goldsboro Road, was already set at 30 MPH. This latest adjustment follows a more drastic speed limit reduction on River Road, from 45 to 35 MPH. As with River Road, there was no public process or advance notice of the plan to change the speed limit.

Bethesda home burglarized

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a home in Bethesda on Thursday evening, June 15, 2023. The burglary was reported at a house in the 5700 block of Massachusetts Avenue. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry at the home.

Police investigation closed Massachusetts Ave. for 5 hours at Capital Crescent Trail bridge last night

Updated 9:35 AM: An email from Walt Whitman High School Prinicipal Alan Goodwin to parents is now beginning to circulate. It states that a Whitman student died last evening. Sources tell me it was related to the police investigation reported below, but police have not officially confirmed that yet.

Here is the text of the email; however, I am redacting the name of the student - and identifying details - for now out of respect for her, and her family:

Dear Whitman Community, 

A Whitman student unexpectedly died last night, and our school is in mourning. [xxxxxx] was a [xx]th grader, a member of the [xxxxx] and next year she was going to be a leader of our [xxxxx] Club. We have numerous upset staff and students. Our counselors are meeting with students and staff, and MCPS has sent additional counselors and psychologists to help. Nothing saddens me more than the loss of a child. I will share any information I learn from the family regarding arrangements as they become available. Please keep [xxxx] and her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. 


Sincerely, 

Alan Goodwin

I will update this story when it is appropriate to provide identifying information. I thank the commenter below for being one of the people to share the email with me. I will hide that comment for now, again, out of respect for the student and her family. The cause of death has not been officially identified yet.

Massachusetts Avenue remained closed in Bethesda between Westbard Avenue and Little Falls Parkway for about five hours last night, as Montgomery County police conducted what appeared to be a death investigation in the roadway. Officers were called to the scene for a report of a pedestrian being struck by a car near the Capital Crescent Trail bridge around 8:15 PM last night.

A substantial number of police cruisers remained on the scene for the rest of the evening, blocking the road as officers detoured traffic. A diagonal line of cones directed drivers onto Westbard from Massachusetts.The road reopened around 1:00 AM this morning.

Police have not released any information to the public regarding the case as of press time. Three sources tell me officers were investigating a death.

Car stolen from Wisconsin Ave., robbery on Bradley Blvd., assault on Massachusetts Ave. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on May 12, according to crime data:

Liquor arrest. 8100 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Robbery. 5000 block Bradley Boulevard.

Disorderly conduct. Suburban Hospital.

Vehicle burglary. 3700 block Underwood Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Vehicle burglary. 3700 block Thornapple Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Stolen car. 5600 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. Bloomingdale's.

Assault. 5500 block Massachusetts Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. Academy of the Holy Cross.

Burglary. 11000 block Rockville Pike.

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Drug arrest. 6000 block Executive Boulevard.

4-car crash in Bethesda (Photos)

Mercedes Benz (left) and
Ford Mustang (right) were
two of four cars involved
in a rush hour collision
last night

A four car collision tied up traffic last night at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Cromwell Drive. Montgomery County Police and Fire and Rescue services responded to the scene. No information on injuries, or the cause of the crash, have been released so far.

Ambulance leaves the
scene of the
accident

Ride On 23 was stopped for a long time at the scene. It was unclear whether it had been involved in the collision, or was simply not allowed to divert from its route.

Northbound traffic on Massachusetts was forced to detour at Cromwell. That didn't stop one belligerent driver from running over a police flare, crushing it, and entering the southbound lanes of Massachusetts toward oncoming traffic. "No!!" a police officer shouted at the advancing vehicle. Then others began to follow that car, all running over the debris that remained of the flare.

Fire truck and flares -
before someone ran over
one of the flares

Eventually, a wrecker arrived to begin towing the cars away.

Wrecker has one of the
cars on its flatbed

Burglary on Greentree Rd., drug bust on Goldsboro Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 15, according to crime data:

Theft. 5000 block Rugby Avenue.

Drug arrest. Connecticut Avenue at Jones Bridge Road.

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 5500 block Massachusetts Avenue.

Burglary. 6300 block Greentree Road.

Drug arrest. Goldsboro Road at Massachusetts Avenue.

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Vehicle burglary. 11800 block Nebel Street (Pike District).

Pow! Oof! 3 assaults in 1 hour in Bethesda, theft at Westland MS + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 9, according to crime data:

Assault. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue at 2:04 PM.

Assault with deadly weapon. 5500 block Massachusetts Avenue at 1:50 PM.

Drug arrest. Wisconsin Avenue at Middleton Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 7000 block Arlington Road.

Assault. 7000 block Clarendon Road at 2:51 PM (Edgemoor).

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. Bloomingdale's.

Theft. Westland Middle School.

Vehicle burglary. 10300 block Strathmore Hall Street.

Burglary. 2700 block Daniel Road at 6:22 PM (Chevy Chase).

Assault. 11500 block Rockville Pike (Pike District).

Assault. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard at 11:38 AM.

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Executive Boulevard (Pike District).

"Other sexual offense." E. Jefferson Street at Montrose Road.

ASSAULT & DRUG ARREST ON MASSACHUSETTS AVE., 2 BURGLARIES ON SINGLETON DR. - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

An unusual day on normally-quiet Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda witnessed an assault, and a drug arrest, on Wednesday. On the same day, just off of Old Georgetown Road, two burglaries were reported on Singleton Drive.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on August 13, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. Bethesda Metro Center.

Vehicle burglary. 4300 block Rosedale Avenue.

Theft. Whole Foods Friendship Heights.

Theft. 100 block Summerfield Road.

Assault. 5500 block Massachusetts Avenue.

Theft. Bloomingdales (Friendship Heights).

Theft. 7600 block Holiday Terrace.

Vehicle burglary. 8900 block Clifford Avenue (North Chevy Chase).

Drug arrest. 5400 block Massachusetts Avenue.

Burglary. 9600 block Singleton Drive.

Burglary. 9800 block Singleton Drive.

Theft. 6200 block Walhonding Road.

Theft. Gold's Gym, 5520 Randolph Road.

MORE THEFTS IN MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD CORRIDORS IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME REPORT

The latest Bethesda crime data includes additional thefts in two corridors already hit during the last 10 days: Massachusetts Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. The number of incidents does not yet equal a crime wave, but is a good reminder to lock doors in these areas.

APRIL 19:

Theft. 6100 block MacArthur Boulevard.

Theft from vehicle. 5800 block Namakagan Road (Sumner).

Theft from vehicle. 4900 block Westway Drive (Green Acres).

Theft from vehicle. 11000 block Rosemont Drive (Luxmanor).

Theft. 10400 block Grosvenor Place.

Burglary. 7900 block Woodmont Avenue.

APRIL 20:

Assault/"other sexual offense." 5100 block Nicholson Lane.

APRIL 21:

Burglary. 4900 block Essex Avenue (Town of Somerset).

Theft. Tommy Joe's.

Theft. Bethesda Row Giant.

Burglary. 6100 block Rudyard Drive (Wildwood area).

ASSAULT REPORTED FROM WESTBARD CIRCLE IN BETHESDA SATURDAY

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

One day before a 21-year-old female jogger was sexually assaulted on the Capital Crescent Trail, an unspecified type of assault was reported to police a few blocks away.

Saturday's assault was reported from the 5300 block of Westbard Circle in Bethesda.  That is the Kenwood Place condominium complex off of Westbard Avenue.

The assault comes about a month after a pepper spray assault and robbery blocks away at Massachusetts Avenue and Baltimore Avenue.  There was also a recent robbery on Cammack Drive on October 6 [previously reported here], and a burglary in the 6000 block of Massachusetts Avenue on October 15.

An assault could simply be a domestic violence incident, or a fight between intoxicated individuals.  So Saturday's assault is not a cause for alarm, unless details emerge to suggest otherwise.  But given the serious nature of the nearby trail assault the following day, and the September pepper spray assault/robbery, any assaults reported in that area of Bethesda are worthy of attention.

In related news, Park Police are now conducting extra patrols along the CCT.  But the best advice at this time is to avoid using the CCT after dark.  Period.

ROBBERY ON BETHESDA RESIDENTIAL STREET - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

SECOND MASS. AVE

AREA ROBBERY IN

THREE WEEKS

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

A robbery occurred Saturday, October 6, in the 5100 block of Cammack Drive.  Cammack is a dead-end street with a cul-de-sac, and some very expensive homes, in the exclusive west Bethesda enclave of Spring Hill.

The incident was the second robbery in that area in the last three weeks.  It took place yards away from the first of those robberies, the September 15 pepper spray assault and robbery on Massachusetts Avenue, near Baltimore Avenue.  The suspect in that case was described as an adult white male, unshaven facial hair, and short hair.  He is still at large.  Could it have been the same guy?  There is no description of the newest robber to go by yet.

The best advice is to be alert for a man of that vague description, or any other suspicious person, particularly in the Massachusetts Avenue corridor.

ROBBERY IN BETHESDA

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

There was a mild spike in crime along the Massachusetts Avenue corridor in Bethesda this weekend.  It included the first robbery in west Bethesda since January, if I recall correctly the year's statistics.

On Friday, a theft was reported in the 5000 block of Ft. Sumner Drive.  Saturday, there was a robbery in the 5300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, and a theft in the 6400 block of Walhonding Road.  Walhonding is a few blocks up Massachusetts from Ft. Sumner.

Take note of suspicious persons and vehicles in your neighborhood this week.

BETHESDA HIT-AND-RUN UPDATE: VICTIM'S FAMILY SPEAKS - EXCLUSIVE!

"WE'RE VERY KEEN

TO CATCH

THE VILLAIN"

POLICE NOW AWARE OF

POTENTIAL SPEED

CAMERA EVIDENCE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The driver who fled the scene of Friday morning's collision with a cyclist on Massachusetts Avenue is still at large.  Meanwhile, the victim's husband is asking the community to help find the culprit who left his wife "bleeding and unconscious in the road."

Tom Skinner has posted a message on a community message group, asking fellow citizens to spread the description of the suspect's minivan among neighbors, and on any local listservs they subscribe to.

That minivan - late model, dark blue, and with passenger-side damage - was last seen speeding towards the District on Massachusetts around 10:30 AM Friday, August 24.

Skinner's account of Jodi Grant's injuries suggests they are more serious than the public was made aware of Friday.   Grant will require several surgeries, and has neck and back fractures.  She is expected to eventually make a full recovery, however.

When I heard about this incident Friday, I immediately thought of the portable speed camera that is located just south of the crash site, near Massachusetts and Cromwell Drive.  If the minivan had been speeding away from the scene, the camera should have a clear photo of the tag.  I contacted the police, and yesterday received word that my tip was passed on to the investigating officers.

Hopefully, the camera got it, but if the minivan had not accelerated to 47 MPH by that point, there won't be a picture.

This is a terrible situation all around.  Accidents can happen to anyone, but to flee the scene with someone in the roadway is unconscionable.

Pass on the minivan description - vague as it is - and let's hope someone happened to witness this, or knows some helpful information to break the case.

If you contact police, the case number is #12041932.

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE SPEED CAMERA MAY HOLD CLUE IN BETHESDA HIT AND RUN

Montgomery County Police are searching for a late-model, dark blue minivan with right side damage, after it struck a bicyclist at Massachusetts Avenue and Cromwell Drive in Bethesda, and fled the scene.

But it's possible police may have a photo of the minivan's tag, if it was speeding when it was last seen heading south towards the District on Massachusetts.

There is a portable speed camera that would have snapped a photo of the minivan, if that was the case.

The accident occurred after 10 AM this morning, and police would like to speak to anyone who witnesses the incident.

Let's hope they check that camera!