News Releases

For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 14, 2012

Over the past few weeks, neighborhoods south of River Road between Goldsboro Road and Little Falls Parkway have experienced an increase in thefts from vehicles. Since June 1, there have been 40 incidents involving 45 vehicles that have been reported. In response to these incidents, 2nd District officers were deployed to the targeted neighborhoods in an attempt to identify any possible suspects.

Early this morning, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the officers assigned to these areas observed a suspicious vehicle in a neighborhood off of Massachusetts Avenue. Officers began surveillance of this vehicle and its occupants and developed reason to stop the vehicle. Once the vehicle was stopped, officers discovered property in the vehicle believed to be stolen in previous incidents as well as evidence linking the suspects to the vehicles that had been stolen in the area. All four occupants of the vehicle were arrested

Two of those arrested are 17-year-old juvenile males from Silver Spring. Also arrested was Kiele Martin, age 19, of Hyattsville and Tiara Groom, age 20, of Bladensburg. The two juveniles and Martin and Groom were each charged with one count of possession of burglar's tools with the intent to break and enter a motor vehicle and were released on their own recognizance. Additional charges are pending.

While these suspects are believed to be responsible for most of the recent incidents in these neighborhoods, residents are still reminded to secure all vehicles, garages, and residences at all times to prevent possible thefts.

Commander Falcinelli, Captain of the Second District, has written a letter (click here)to residents about these recent crimes and arrests. He asks that residents read the letter and share the crime prevention information with neighbors.