Maple Beer & Wine burglarized in Bethesda

Maple Beer & Wine at 8125 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda is one of the latest victims of the sustained crime wave impacting Montgomery County since 2020. The store was burglarized in the early hours of January 17, 2025, Montgomery County police say. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry at the store. Police say money was taken by the four alleged burglars.

Three of the four suspects are described by police as Black males, aged late teens to early 20s. They do not have a description of the fourth suspect at this time. If you can identify any of the alleged burglars, or have any other information that could help detectives close this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Public Storage units burglarized in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at Public Storage at 5329 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda on December 23, 2024. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry into multiple storage units in the building. It is believed the units were broken into between 8:55 PM the night before, and 4:00 AM that morning. Property was taken from the units that were burglarized. If you have any information about this incident, 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.

Police arrest alleged burglar of 3 Bethesda businesses

Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect in the November 25, 2024 burglary of three businesses in downtown Bethesda. Jakeem Pope, 24, of Washington, D.C. allegedly began the burglary spree around 9:47 PM. The businesses impacted were Ege Market, Olazzo, and The ONE Street Company; property was taken from Ege Market and The ONE Street Company, and evidence of forced entry was found at both of those establishments.

Pope has been charged with two counts of felony 2nd-degree burglary, one count of attempted 4th-degree burglary, and failure to identify himself. According to Maryland court records, he is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for December 20 in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.  

Smoothie King broken into in Bethesda

Four suspects broke into the Smoothie King at 4710 Bethesda Avenue on October 30, 2024. Around 5:05 AM, the four forced their way into the building. They proceeded to steal money and flee, Montgomery County police say. Police describe the suspects only as four Black males, who are also believed to have hit the Montgomery County government liquor store at the nearby Shoppes of Bethesda forty minutes earlier. If you can help identify these suspects, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Nighttime break-in at Bethesda smoke shop

Downtown Bethesda's smoke shops continue to be a prime target for criminals in both the daytime and the nighttime. The nighttime was the right time for one burglar who rolled up on Smoke Island at 7913 Norfolk Avenue with an entourage in a white SUV at 2:30 AM Saturday, September 14, 2024. This wasn't the first appearance by the suspect that morning, however. The ski-masked suspect first cased the store seven minutes earlier, before returning in the vehicle with passengers who remained inside the SUV.

Using an unspecified object, Montgomery County police say, the male suspect smashed the front door to gain entry to the store. Stealing unspecified property from inside the store, the suspect fled in the SUV. Detectives have released surveillance video of the incident, and are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the suspect. 

One of the Woodmont Triangle's new rat-resistant trash cans makes a cameo appearance, and the suspect slows the getaway driver's escape when part of his haul gets caught in the rear passenger door of the SUV, and is dragged scraping along the pavement alongside the vehicle as it turns onto Cordell Avenue heading east.

Police describe the suspect as a male of unknown race, wearing a black ski mask, a black sweater, gray pants and black shoes. He was carrying a green "sling bag." If you have any information about this incident, or can identify the suspect, you are asked to call police at 1-866-411-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Montgomery County liquor store broken into in downtown Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a burglar alarm at the Montgomery County Government-operated liquor store in downtown Bethesda early yesterday morning, October 30, 2024. The alarm was triggered at Montgomery County Liquor & Wine at 4920 Hampden Lane at the Shoppes of Bethesda at 4:20 AM Wednesday. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the store. A nearby restaurant in the 4700 block of Bethesda Avenue was broken into 45 minutes later.

Rash of commercial burglaries in Friendship Heights

A series of commercial burglaries unfolded over two nights in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase earlier this month, Montgomery County police report. One suspect was arrested, but the others remain at large. In the early morning hours of September 10, 2024, burglars broke into Saks Fifth Avenue and T-Mobile, and attempted to break into GAP. Early the next morning, one or more burglars broke into Bloomingdales. 

It must be noted that the burglaries occurred around the same time that looting took place at multiple businesses in Northwest Washington, D.C., following a Metropolitan Police Department officer-involved shooting in that jurisdiction. But none of the media accounts I have seen so far included the Friendship Heights incidents on our side of the border as being related.

Merchandise was taken from all three of the burglarized businesses. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at all three. Mandel Greene, 27, of Washington, D.C. was arrested in connection with the Saks Fifth Avenue burglary. He has been charged with felony 2nd-degree burglary, and felony theft. Greene posted bond and was released the next day, according to Maryland court records. 

A preliminary hearing in the Saks case has been scheduled for October 4 in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville. Suspects in the T-Mobile burglary are described only as two Black males, and the unsuccessful GAP burglars are described simply as one Black male, and one of unknown description. If you have any information to assist police in tracking down any of the suspects, call (301) 279-8000.

Home invasion in East Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a home invasion in East Bethesda on September 10, 2024. The break-in was reported in the 4500 block of Middleton Lane at 1:52 PM. A male suspect damaged a screen door, and then kicked the locked back door of the home until it gave way, destroying the door frame and damaging part of the wall. The man fled after an occupant of the home began shouting and called police.

Two occupants of another East Bethesda home were seriously injured during a home invasion last month, when they were beaten by the suspect who had broken into their house. The suspect in that case has been arrested and charged. Police have not yet released a description of the suspect in the September 10 home invasion. If you have any information about the Middleton Lane incident, or can help identify and locate the suspect, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Downtown Bethesda construction site burglarized

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a construction site in downtown Bethesda early Thursday morning, September 12, 2024. The burglary was reported at a construction site in the 4700 block of Montgomery Lane at 7:13 AM. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry to the site. No word yet on what, if anything, might have been stolen by the burglar(s). 

Moby Dick House of Kabob burglarized in Bethesda

A burglar victimized Moby Dick House of Kabob at 7023 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda on August 26, 2024. According to Montgomery County police, a suspect entered the Persian restaurant outside of business hours around 6:00 AM. Officers responding to the scene found no evidence of forced entry, meaning that the burglar either had a key or entered through an unlocked door or window. The suspect stole unspecified merchandise and fled.

Police describe the suspect only as a Black male of unknown age. No surveillance camera images have been released at this time. If you have any information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Self-storage unit broken into in North Bethesda

Montgomery County police are investigating a burglary incident at Extra Space Storage at 11850 Parklawn Drive in North Bethesda. Police are not sure when the burglary occurred, but the crime was discovered at noon on July 14, 2024. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry to one of the storage units at the facility. Unspecified property was stolen from inside the unit.

If you have any information about this incident, or can identify any suspects involved, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Strosniders Hardware burglarized in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at Strosniders Hardware at 6930 Arlington Road in the Bradley Shopping Center in downtown Bethesda in the "early morning hours" of July 3, 2024. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry to the store. The burglars escaped with an unspecified amount of cash.

Police describe the suspects only as "two males." If you have any information about this incident, or can identify either of the suspects, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Radnor Elementary School in Bethesda burglarized again

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at the Radnor Elementary School building at 7000 Radnor Road in Bethesda on June 29, 2024. At least two suspects entered the school at 3:20 PM that afternoon. Officers responding to the scene found no evidence of forced entry, and could not identify anything as having been stolen from the building.

However, police were successful in catching the alleged burglars. Two juveniles were arrested: A 17-year-old male from Bethesda, and a 17-year-old female of Cabin John. The case will be handled through the juvenile justice system.

Vacant Chevy Chase school broken into for third time this year

The vacant former Rollingwood Elementary School at 3200 Woodbine Street in Chevy Chase continues to be a magnet for burglars. It was broken into for the third time this year on May 25 at 8:44 PM. Previous illegal entries into the Montgomery County Public Schools-owned building that drew a police response occurred on February 18 and February 25. The empty school was leased by Rochambeau French International School until 2022, and has been vacant since. 

Neighbors have continued to express concerns about typical exploits by local teenagers in the school building, including vandalism and drug use. However, the alleged February 18 burglar who stole property from the building was a 37-year-old man from Owings Mills. He is still facing felony 2nd-degree burglary charges, with his next Montgomery County Circuit Court hearing scheduled for June 7.

It's intriguing that, given the supposed fiscal woes of multi-billion-dollar-budget MCPS, they can mysteriously afford to pay $49,153 a month rent for their new offices, rather than stay in - or move to - a vacant building they already own. Chevy Chase is a much glitzier address than Rockville, for a school board with an avowed taste for the high life on the taxpayer's dime. Perhaps the venerable Rollingwood ES just wasn't spiffy enough for them.

Jewelry store broken into at Bethesda Row

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a jewelry store at Bethesda Row Sunday morning, May 12, 2024. The burglary was reported at a store in the 7100 block of Bethesda Lane at 5:09 AM. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry at the business. Pampillonia Jewelers is located on that block. 

Downtown Bethesda development firm broken into

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a downtown Bethesda real estate development firm on the afternoon of April 17, 2024. The burglary was reported at Urban Atlantic at 7735 Old Georgetown Road at 2:40 PM. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry. However, nothing was reported stolen during the incident. Police describe the suspect as a Black male of unknown age. If you have any information about this incident, or can identify the suspect, you are asked to call police at (301) 279-8000.

Attempted burglary at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase leads to arrest

Montgomery County police responded to a burglar alarm at Saks Fifth Avenue at 5555 Wisconsin Avenue in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase in the early morning hours of April 17, 2024. The responding officer caught a suspect allegedly attempting to force his way into the building. 

Samuel Bucey, 39, of Washington, D.C. was arrested at the scene. He has been charged with 2nd-degree attempted burglary, and malicious destruction of property valued at over $1000. Bucey was initially held without bond, but Judge Eugene Wolfe set bond at $2500 on April 18. Bucey posted bond on April 30, and was released yesterday. A trial is scheduled for June 3 in Montgomery County District Court in Rockville.

Security Public Storage broken into again in Bethesda

Security Public Storage at 5223 River Road in Bethesda has been burglarized for the second time in as many months. The latest break-in was reported early Wednesday afternoon, April 24, 2024 at 12:53 PM. Last month, a break-in was reported at the facility on March 2. 

Early morning break-in at Kenwood Place condos in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at the Kenwood Place condominiums at 5301 Westbard Circle in Bethesda on the morning of March 31, 2024. The burglary was reported at 6:32 AM that morning. Officers arriving at the scene found evidence of forced entry. However, police say that there is so far no evidence that anything was stolen from the building. A witness could only describe the suspect to police as being male in gender.