Second District Crime Stats: Property Crimes Down; Robberies, Assaults Up

More robberies and assaults have been reported in Mongomery County police's 2nd District through September than through the first three quarters of last year, according to recent crime statistics.

However, property crimes—including residential burglaries, car thefts and thefts from autos—are on the decline, according to statistics provided by 2nd District commander Capt. David Falcinelli.

The 2nd District includes Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and portions of southern Rockville and Kensington.

During the first three quarters of 2012, 47 robberies have been reported in the 2nd District. That's up 30.6 percent from 36 robberies during the same months in 2011, according to the crime summary.

A number of those cases were due to a spike earlier in the year and that arrests had been made in many of the cases, Falcinelli wrote.

Arrests have been made in several robberies reported this year in the Capital Crescent Trail tunnel beneath Wisconsin Avenue. An said Angela Cruz, a county police spokeswoman. No arrests had been made in that case so far.

Aggravated assaults were up by more than 100 percent, from 15 in 2011 to 31 in 2012.

"While the aggravated assaults remain a concern, many of these crimes are committed by known suspects (domestic situations and bar fights)," Falcinelli wrote in a crime update released Thursday. "For this category, we like to focus our investigative efforts on the small percentage that are stranger on stranger assaults."

Recently, a woman was assaulted while she was jogging on the Capital Crescent Trail. No arrests have been made so far in that case, said Officer Rebecca Innocenti, a county police spokeswoman.

Park Police have stepped up patrols on more than half of the trail since the assault.

Residential burglaries are down more than 40 percent—from 303 to 176—and stolen vehicle cases are also down more than 40 percent, from 159 to 93. Commerical and school burglaries were down by 28 percent and thefts from autos were down more than 20 percent, according to the statistics.

Falcinelli attributed the drop in property crimes to "everyone doing a little extra to protect themselves, their families and property."

However, he cautioned that residents should remain vigilant.

"While the property crime numbers have improved since last year, there is no reason to get comfortable with your efforts or ours," Falcinelli wrote. "Recently, there have been a number of residential burglaries occurring across the district. Some are a result of transient criminals utilizing a false story to gain entry to a home (i.e. 'We are here to check the water meters and then they distract the homeowner and steal or '

"Some are occurring when residents leave their home for a short period during the day and the burglars force entry or enter through unlocked doors and windows," Falcinelli wrote. "In these cases, it is most likely a stranger in the neighborhood watching for movement in and out of homes so it is critically important that you call us ASAP anytime you encounter a suspicious situation or person."

See the table above for more crime statistics.

Related Content:

• Update: Arrest Made in Attempted Robbery Case in Capital Crescent Tunnel
• Attempted Robbery Reported In Bethesda-Elm Garage
• Woman Assaulted on Capital Crescent Trail
• Park Police Step Up Patrols Following Capital Crescent Trail Assault
• Burglars Target Bethesda Homes During Daytime Hours

What crime trends are you noticing in your neighborhood? Tell us in the comments.