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Busy Thanksgiving weekend for ACPD amid car thefts and gun crimes

Police car speeding to a call at night (staff photo)

(Updated on 11/30/22) The carjacking and pursuit we reported yesterday was far from the only car theft in Arlington over the long Thanksgiving holiday.

It was a busy few days for police, who handled a half dozen other vehicle thefts, as well as a pair of attempted carjackings in the Colonial Village area. One series of thefts claimed five vehicles in parts of residential North Arlington between Thanksgiving afternoon and the morning of Black Friday.

More from the latest ACPD crime report:

GRAND LARCENY AUTO, 2022-11230126/2022-11230160, 2800 block of Washington Boulevard/N. Jackson Street at Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 2:55 p.m. on November 23, police were dispatched to the report of an attempted larceny from auto. Upon arrival, it was determined the victim witnessed the unknown male suspect rummaging through his vehicle. When the victim approached, the suspect began to flee the scene on foot. The victim followed the suspect during which the suspect brandished a knife and fled the area. At approximately 3:20 p.m., police were dispatched to an additional call in the 2800 block of Washington Boulevard for a suspect matching the description of the previous incident who had stolen a running, unoccupied vehicle. The vehicle was later located unoccupied in the 2200 block of 19th Court N. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 30 years old, 5’6-5’7, with long curly hair, wearing a black jacket, white t-shirt, dark colored pants and a dark colored baseball hat. The investigation is ongoing.

GRAND LARCENY AUTO/LARCENY FROM AUTO (Series), 2022-11250027/2022-11250029/2022-11250035/2022-11250043/2022-11260096, 5300 block of 27th Street N., 5000 block of 36th Street N., 2300 block of N. Nottingham Street, 6000 block of 27th Street N., 6000 block of 28th Street N. At approximately 7:54 a.m. on November 25, police were dispatched to the late report of a grand larceny auto. During the course of the investigation, it was determined between approximately 2:30 p.m. on November 24 and 7:45 a.m. on November 25, five vehicles were reported stolen from the area. The stolen vehicles are described as a 2017 Toyota Rav4, Gray, MA License Plate: 50DC38, 2020 Kia Telluride, Gray, VA License Plate: VXY4222, 2017 Honda Odyssey, Black, VA License Plate: 1265SC, 2021 Range Rover Sport, Blue, VA License Plate: UGF2051. Additionally, one vehicle in the area was rummaged through and cash and sunglasses were stolen. There is no suspect description. The investigation is ongoing.

ATTEMPTED CARJACKING, 2022-11260179, 1700 block of N. Uhle Street. At approximately 6:37 p.m. on November 26, police were dispatched to the report of an attempted carjacking. Upon arrival, it was determined Victim One was inside her parked vehicle when the suspect approached, opened the door and ordered her to exit. Victim One exited the vehicle and the suspect entered but Victim One still had the keys. The suspect then fled the scene and approached Victim Two who had just parked in the 2100 block of Key Boulevard. The suspect grabbed the victim’s arm and demanded her keys. When she refused, he fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported and no items were reported stolen. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5’6, 30 years old, skinny build, wearing a knit cap, black jacket and black/gray jeans. The investigation is ongoing.

Also in the crime report were some gun crimes, including an apparent road rage gun brandishing on I-395 and an armed robbery north of Columbia Pike.

BRANDISHING, 2022-11250031, SB I-395 at Glebe Road. At approximately 8:33 a.m. on November 25, police were dispatched to the report of a brandishing. Upon arrival, it was determined the female victim was driving in the area when the male driver of another vehicle began yelling at the victim and allegedly displayed a firearm before exiting the highway. The victim safely exited the highway and contacted dispatch. No injuries were reported. During the course of the investigation, the suspect driver was identified and a warrant for Brandishing was obtained. The investigation is ongoing.

ROBBERY, 2022-11250018, 500 block of S. Walter Reed Drive. At approximately 4:36 a.m. on November 25, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined the victim was walking in the area of 7th Street S. and S. Walter reed Drive when two unknown male suspects approached the victim, threatened him with what he believed to be a firearm and demanded his personal belongings. The suspects fled the scene with the victim’s wallet and cell phone. Responding officers canvassed the area for the suspects yielding negative results. No injuries were reported. Suspect One is described as a Black male wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. Suspect Two is described an unknown race male wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. The investigation is ongoing.

Arlington police stayed busy Monday, with incidents that included the reports of the theft of eyeglasses from two Ballston optometry stores — LensCrafters and MyEyeDr. Officers were able to quickly apprehend a suspect at the Ballston Metro station.

From an ACPD crime report:

GRAND LARCENY, 2022-11280187, 4100 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 3:31 p.m. on November 28, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect entered a business and stole multiple pairs of eyeglasses before fleeing the scene on foot. Responding officers located the suspect in the Ballston Metro and took him into custody without incident. During a search of his person incident to arrest, eyeglasses were recovered and one pair was determined to be damaged. Eric Harmon, 56, of Washington D.C., was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny, Destruction of Property and Larceny with Intent to Sell. While conducting the investigation, employees of a business in the 4200 block of Wilson Boulevard reported a late theft of eyeglasses on September 21. The investigation into the September 21 incident is ongoing.