Montgomery County police advised Bethesda residents to lock their doors and windows and educate children on the proper use of burglar panic alarms Wednesday after several nighttime burglaries in which residents’ cars were also stolen.
“They’re unusual in that they happened when owners were at home, sleeping,” said police spokeswoman Sonia Pruitt.
Many residential burglaries happen when homeowners are away at work, police sources said.
On April 8, 2nd District officers responded to a home in the 8000 block of Glendale Road in Chevy Chase for the report of a burglary that had occurred sometime between 1:30 and 6:30 a.m.
The victims, a 24-year-old man and his 21-year-old girlfriend, awoke to discover that property was taken as they slept, as was a 1999 dark green Volkswagen Passat with Maryland tags, 4APX08.
On April 9, officers responded to a home in the 3500 block of Perry Avenue in Kensington. The homeowner, a 33-year-old woman, reported that while the family slept, it was burglarized.
Again the suspect or suspects took property, as well as a white 2001 GMC Yukon SUV with MD tags, M620506.
Police do not know how the houses were entered, and do not have evidence linking the two burglaries, Pruitt said. It’s possible other burglaries in which cars were not stolen may be linked to the two car-theft incidents.
Safety suggestions
Because of the brazen nature of these burglaries and thefts, police are offering the following tips:
» Check to make sure that all doors and lower-level windows are locked at night. This includes garage doors and windows.
» If there is an alarm, turn it on. Make sure family members know how to use the panic alarm.
» Teach all children by age 3 how to dial 9-1-1. Besides their name, they should know their home phone number and address as they get older.
» Do not leave valuables inside parked cars overnight.
» Contact police if you notice any suspicious activity in the neighborhood.
