A rise in residential burglaries and thefts occurred in Wood Acres family homes in early December, prompting swift action by Montgomery County Police. Officers connected the crimes and quickly arrested and charged multiple suspects.
The incidents occurred over several days in Wood Acres neighborhoods near Sangamore Road and Massachusetts Avenue, southeast of Goldsboro Road. They included residential burglaries, intrusions and auto thefts that occurred overnight and early in the morning.
Police reported that the burglars targeted houses they believed were unoccupied, aiming to steal household items or cars. In some cases, they entered homes while residents were inside but caused no physical harm.
Lieutenant Elkin, Deputy Commander of the 2nd District of Montgomery County Police, said residential burglaries remain a constant concern for county police.
“Our goal is for there not to be any burglaries, but realistically, they do occur,” Elkin said. “Residential burglaries are always something that we contend with and we seek to combat. The police, the community, we all play a role in this crime prevention.”
Before these crimes, a Niche poll revealed that 64% of Bethesda residents rated their area as “very safe” with “no safety concerns,” while 36% described the area as “pretty safe” with some safety concerns but a general sense of security.
Whitman Swim and Dive athletes wake up at 4 a.m. for morning swim practice. While picking up her friend from practice, junior Zoe Marlin witnessed a burglary in progress. She described seeing a masked individual run out of a house, enter a van and drive away quickly.
“I thought I was crazy, and I was thinking, ‘no way this would happen in a Bethesda neighborhood at 4:30 in the morning,” Marlin said. “We kind of just looked at each other in shock to make sure we were both seeing the same thing.”
According to real estate experts from The Lise Howe Group, Wood Acres is known to be an ideal neighborhood for families searching for a peaceful living due to its quiet and safe qualities and low crime rates.
Several Whitman students and their families, including senior Kelsey Allen, have been victims of suspicious activity in these neighborhoods. Allen said she has experienced unusual activity in her area but feels safe if she takes cautious measures.
“There’s been this one car that comes by my house, backs into my driveway twice a week, and then will leave after five minutes,” Allen said. “I feel unsafe, but as long as I stay inside and lock my doors, I feel fine.”