Sheriff's Office Reminds Residents to Lock Vehicles after String of Car Larcenies

During the overnight hours of Sunday, Oct. 11, unknown subject(s) in Leesburg entered eight vehicles along Drummond Place, Malloch Place, Meadowood Court, Potomac Station Drive and Cardston Place. Items removed included GPS units, CDs, a satellite radio unit, sunglasses, cash and a digital camera. Some of the items were recovered in the area of the larcenies.

Most of the vehicles were left unlocked and there were no signs of forced entry into any of the cars.

The week prior, approximately twelve cars were broken into in the Waterford area between 10 p.m. on Oct. 6 and 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 6. Items removed included a firearm, a wedding ring, cash, cell phones, sunglasses, portable DVD players and five GPS units. Total losses and damages from this case are estimated at $18,200. All of the vehicles were allegedly unlocked.

In another incident, a car, which appeared to have been in an accident and abandoned in a field along Old Waterford Road, was determined to have been stolen. The keys had been left inside the unlocked car on Browns Lane in Paeonian Springs. The Sheriff’s Office suspects that the auto theft is related to the series of larcenies from cars.

“Larcenies from vehicles are often a crime of opportunity,” said Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson. “Locking your vehicle and removing or concealing high dollar items will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim,” Simpson added. Simpson reminded residents to park in well lit areas, activate their alarm system or use anti-theft devices and immediately report any suspicious activity to the Loudoun Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone who has information regarding these thefts is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous they are asked to contact Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.