Thieves in white car checking door handles in southwest Bethesda neighborhoods

A resident of Sumner reported that a group of people were walking the streets of that neighborhood around 4:30 AM last Friday morning checking car door handles, and rummaging through vehicles that were unlocked. They were being followed all the way by a white car, which the resident's doorbell camera documented, and which they have shared with police. The group was also spotted by another resident in the Springfield neighborhood, across Massachusetts Avenue, a favorite corridor of auto thieves.

Make sure your car doors are locked, and all valuables removed from the interior. Never leave your keys or key fob in the glove compartment or ignition. Report any suspicious activity to police at 301-279-8000, or 911 if it is an emergency.

Thief strikes in Westgate area of Bethesda again

Thieves rifling through cars, and testing door handles, are still active in the Westgate area of the Massachusetts Avenue corridor in Bethesda in recent days. Items were reported stolen from a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in the 4900 block of Earlston Drive yesterday morning. The theft is believed to have taken place sometime between 5:00 PM Tuesday and 10:00 AM Wednesday morning.

CHEVY CHASE VEHICLE BREAK-INS, SEXUAL OFFENSE REPORTED IN GROSVENOR - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Two more vehicle break-ins were reported Friday, this time in separate Chevy Chase neighborhoods adjacent to downtown Bethesda. And an unspecified "sexual offense" was reported the same day in Grosvenor, possibly in an apartment building, according to crime data.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on January 3:

Theft. 7800 block Wisconsin Avenue (downtown Bethesda).

Theft. 7800 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 7500 block Tarrytown Road (Chevy Chase, just outside downtown Bethesda).

Vehicle burglary. 6400 block Ruffin Road (Chevy Chase West neighborhood).

Theft. 5200 block Pooks Hill Road.

Assault/"Other Sexual Offense." 10200 block Grosvenor Place, data suggests incident occurred in an apartment.

Liquor arrest. Vicinity of I-270 and Rockledge Boulevard.

Theft. Sears at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. Macy's at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

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.