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Bellevue Security Patrol Neighborhood Crime and Suspicious Activity Update (A compendium of activity relayed through the Community voice mailbox and security patrol members)
Feb. 28, 2002: Female stalker (as reported last fall) returned to neighborhood. She drives older blue Olds or Buick. License: YSS-9102. Spotted in Claremont/Greycourt blocks. Outstanding warrant exists for this woman.
March 1: Blue Volvo station wagon at 1511 Avondale Ave. was stolen. License: AOTEROA
March 2:
Garage at 1622 (or 1626?) broken into; witnessed by homeowner, who yelled at thief. Did not get description. Hand tools stolen.
>4022 Monticello: Resident found garage had been broken into; table saw stolen.
>Also report of another garage in Monticello/Nottoway vicinity that had been tampered with.
March 3: Van at 4012 Mount Vernon was vandalized; $700 worth of tools, including circular saw stolen.
March 3/4: Homeowner at 4022 Monticello reported second break-in to his garage. This time, thief cleaned out just about everything—from large tools to boxes of screws.
March 5: 810 Westwood Ave.; garage broken into. Homeowner saw thief leave in blue Volvo wagon. Got plate; called police who matched it to stolen Volvo from Avondale. A team of detectives assigned to the break-ins over the weekend began searching for suspect and spotted him in Volvo. A chase led to Monument/Meadow in the Fan. Suspect crashed car and tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended and arrested. Suspect is Earl Mullins, age 38, of 3600 Chamberlayne Ave. He was charged with auto theft, breaking and entering, grand larceny, parole violation and felony attempt to elude. Investigation continues to determine if he is linked to the other shed/garage break-ins.
Volvo owners were able to retrieve car, which was only slightly damaged.
Jan. 30: Homeowner at 1409 Avondale reported that his garage had been broken into and a leaf blower stolen. Entry was through window.
Feb. 8: Team C Patrol captain reported witnessing a suspected drug deal take place around 5 p.m. on Monticello, near the corner of Avondale. Three vehicles pulled off the road and two of the drivers briefly got into the third car. One emerged carrying a small bag. The patrol captain went into her back yard and copied down the license plates and descriptions. When the suspects became aware they were being watched, they made a hasty exit.
Black Ford Explorer, plate: ZTG-5578, driven by large-build, African American male, with braids.
Red Honda, partial license plate: ZCF....
Silver 2-door car, plate: XYZ-4624
Dec. 16, 2001 - Jan. 12, 2002
The period of Dec. 16- Jan 12 was extraordinarily quiet. The patrol did not have any incidents reported. That is not to say nothing occurred, it's just that nothing was reported to the patrol directly.
Oct. 21-Dec. 15, 2001
Oct. 22: Truck broken into at 1521 Greycourt Ave. CD player, etc. taken. Homeowner also noted his house was tampered with Friday night previous. Police responded; fingerprints taken.
Oct. 27: CVS robbed early afternoon. Robber was black male, thin moustache. Displayed a weapon and fled on foot. Police responded. No one apprehended.
Nov. 6: First Union Bank on Brook/Azalea robbed at 11:30 am.
Dec. 1: A neighbor at 1511 Greycourt was mugged around 8 pm as she exited her car in front of her house. Mugger was black male, 20-30 yrs. old, riding a bicycle. He knocked her down and stole her purse.
Dec. 5: Between 9-10:30 a.m., an attempted home break-in occurred at 1300 Amherst Ave. The perpetrator broke a glass pane in a backdoor and appeared to suffer injury, as blood was evident on the door. Perhaps the injury scared the burglar off, because entry was not gained. Police called and they took report.
Dec. 13: Blue Chevy van was stolen from 4012 Chevy Chase sometime between 9 pm and 7 am the next morning. Police report filed.
Dec. 15: Caller to community voice mail box reported spotting a black male on bike riding aimlessly up MacArthur Ave. around 10:30 pm. Caller was suspicious given earlier incidents with crimes committed by black males on bikes.
Sept. 24-Oct. 20, 2001
Oct. 1: Neighbor at 4312 Fauquier reported that her postman had spotted 3 male teens (2 Caucasian and 1 Black) peeping through her mail slot in the front door. Postman also had observed the teens looking in the mailbox at another home. Police were called.
Oct. 4: Parked car on Newport was broken into (rear window smashed) and CD player stolen. Car belonged to neighbor on 1400 block of Greycourt.
Neighbor reported 2 males (1 Black, 1 Caucasian) in painter’s outfits looking at houses from alley. Seemed suspicious activity at 7:30 p.m. and, therefore, nearly dark.
4100 block of Crestwood: Caucasian male (40-50) with wild hair, old clothes, riding an old bicycle was spotted stealing garden tool and lawn equipment from homeowner on 1500 block of Bellevue Ave at 6:45 pm. Police called, but no one apprehended. A man matching this description has been spotted in the neighborhood on other occasions.
Oct. 7: Homeowner at 4300 Fauquier called report that a black male, wearing all black clothing, including a ski mask (not pulled down) stopped in front of the homeowner’s car and placed his hand on the door handle. When the light came on, the suspect saw the homeowner sitting on his porch looking at him and he then ran. Police called. No arrest made.
Oct. 10: Attempted break-in at 1:40 a.m. at Dot’s Back Inn. Someone threw a crate into the window, setting off the alarm. Entry was not gained. Police responded.
Oct. 12: 4300 block of Fauquier: Homeowner was sitting in his living room at 1:15 a.m. and watching TV. A black male, wearing a white T-shirt, knocked on the living room window and said, “Open the door.” Homeowner ran upstairs and called 911. Police responded, but no one caught. About 10 minutes later, an attempted home break-in was reported in the 4100 block of Fauquier.
Oct. 12 CVS mugging. Here is a note from a neighbor in Rosedale:
> > Janet Scagnelli
> > 1607 Wilmington Ave.
> > Richmond, VA 23227
> > September 20, 2001
> >
> > To the manager of CVS on Bellevue Ave.,
> >
> > I was mugged in your store on September 12, 2001 at around 4pm. I am writing to you because I have issues with the entire incident as it was handled in your store.
> >
> > First of all, you've been a target for robberies in the past. Why don't you have a security guard like other CVS stores? I was in the process of paying at the only cashier and putting my wallet back in my purse when the thief grabbed my purse off my shoulder and dragged me towards the door. My 2 year old son, who was very clingy that day, had been sitting on the counter while I had been leaning into him. I finally let go of my purse, got up, and went back to comfort my screaming son. I found my glasses that had been thrown aside.
> > The women behind the counter did not offer any help. I asked to use a phone to call my husband. The only person who stepped forward to help was the woman from the dry cleaner's next door. I actually assumed she worked there. She offered her phone, I expected the cashier to hand me the phone which was right there and I had to go next door instead.
> > Before I went I had to sign my credit card slip. The same woman had to tell the CVS people to call the police. Shouldn't everyone in the store know what to do if a mugging occurs? And it was the woman from the dry cleaner's who gave me a bandage for my bleeding arm that I hadn't even noticed. She also found my car keys inside the door when I panicked that they were missing.
> > I remember 2 CVS employees coming back in the store after trying to follow the thief. I don't remember any CVS employees talking to me, except when my husband called back on their phone. I felt like I was making the employees uncomfortable by being there. I waited outside for the police. Is this how you treat victims in your store?
> >
> > I realize in the light of the tragedies of the day before, Sept. 11, a mugging may be a minor thing. But I feel that the neighborhood should be aware of the lack of security in your store. When my family moved to this neighborhood, we switched to your store to support our local shopkeepers, but we will not be coming back there again until we feel safe. I am sending a copy of this letter to the neighborhood civic associations and their newsletter editors so others can make an informed choice.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Janet ScagnelliNOTE added on October 28: There was another stickup at the CVS on Saturday, Oct. 27. Stay tuned for details.
Oct. 15: Neighbor at 1302 Nottoway left his home at 11 a.m. just in time to witness 3 black male teens (appx. 14 yrs. of age) smash out the homeowner’s Jeep window with a baseball bat. This crime occurred in full view of several witnesses. The kids, sharing 2 black bicycles, retreated to nearby Lamont and seemed to wait to see what would happen. The homeowner jumped in his truck and pursued the kids as he called police on his cell phone. The two kids that were sharing bike peeled off down Greycourt (a one-way street). The other one, which the homeowner followed, sped across Laburnum (nearly getting hit in traffic) and made his way into Ginter Park Methodist Church parking lot, knocking down another kid on foot. By then lots of folks were yelling at the culprit who made his way into the Chamberlayne area and the homeowner gave up pursuit.
The following day, Oct. 16, the homeowner was again home at lunch and went out just in time to see the same 3 kids back on his street, still carrying the baseball bat. This time they were looking into a Suburban. The homeowner once again gave pursuit, but did not catch them. Police were called once again, but did not respond in person.
On Wed., Oct. 17, the homeowner reported that his neighbors reported seeming whom they believe to be the same 3 kids back on the street. This time the kids were removing glass bottles from recycling bins and smashing them into the street. It does not appear police were called.
[Since these incidents, the police have responded to the Bellevue Security Patrol’s request for attention to this matter and special operations are under way.]
Aug. 26-Sept. 23, 2001
August 26: Breaking and entry to auto was reported on 1300 Amherst. Car damaged but nothing stolen. Police responded.
August 27: Resident in 1600 block of Nottoway saw black male looking into her window. Called police who responded quickly and searched the area. Police said it could be a peeping Tom or someone who thought house was empty, planning a B&E.
August 30: Car B&E on 1300 block of Avondale. Car damaged. Report filed with police.
Aug. 32-Sept. 1: Attempted B&E at Dot’s Back Inn. Window broken, but entry not gained before police arrived.
Sept. 10: Woman in 1600 block of Claremont called patrol to report that she is being stalked by a white woman, 5’7”, 215 lbs., gray hair and middle age. Drives a very old Buick or Oldsmobile with license plates: YSS-9102 (Va.) Resident has warrants issued against the stalker. Patrollers and community were notified to call police immediately if woman is spotted in neighborhood.
Sept. 16: Stalker sighting. Police alerted.
Sept. 22: Neighbor called to report intruders in her backyard on Sept. 21 around midnight. Two black males had jumped a fence to gain entry to the yard. Dog alerted homeowners who called police and also yelled at intruders. The suspects were thought to be interested in vehicles in the back yard/alley, and made their escape at a rather leisurely pace. Police were having busy night and took 20 minutes to arrive. In the meantime, husband got in car and spotted one of the intruders heading south on Brook Rd. on foot, turning left onto Walton in the direction of Chamberlayne. Suspects were black males of indeterminate age. One had a small afro; the other appeared to have dredlocks.
Police alerted homeowners that their yard was dark and hedge-filled—a good environment for intruders to lurk. Homeowners are installing motion light sensors.
July 30-August 25, 2001
August 11: Three police cars responded to reported mugging near MacArthur Apts. Unconfirmed.
August 18: Neighbor reported seeing 5 to 6 young black males (ages 10-12) running down Avondale Ave. with a large white object in their hands. Police were called; did not find boys still in neighborhood.
Neighbor in 1600 block Nottoway reported graffiti sprayed on her alley-facing garage door and also her trash cash. Patrol captain advised her to call police to record the incident.
August 19: Attempted car break-in reported on 3900 Fauquier Ave. Car was severely damaged, but not gotten into. Damage was found after the fact. Police were called and responded.
August 20: Neighborhood Watch chairman called to report a domestic situation at 1232 Warren Ave. Estranged husband is violating court order and hanging around in the neighborhood. Patrollers were advised of the situation, but advised not to become entangled in a domestic situation. Should the man be spotted, they were to call police. Man is white male, 170 lb., 5’10” , dark curly hair, driving gray Honda with rear bumper damage.
Neighborhood block captain for 1500 Greycourt called to report that skateboarders were using picnic table at Holton school as a ramp. He warned the kids off.
August 21: Block captain on 4200 Brook Rd. called to report a suspicious white male in a parked car watching her and her child. Man pretended to be asleep. She called police, who responded quickly, but the man drove away before police arrived. Description: White male, long straight dark hair, white visor, appx. 30-40 years in age. Driving late-model Silver Toyota Corolla with VA plate: YNZ-2568 or YNZ-2658.
July 1-July 29, 2001
Quiet month, so it seems:
July 9: Attempted burglary at corner of Warren and Brook Road. Police arrived in time to catch perpetrator.
June 2-July 1, 2001
June 2: 1217 Greycourt Ave: Car broken into on Sat. night, around 10 pm. Nothing taken, home owner reported to police.
4100 Crestwood: attempted car-breakin. Owner called police.
June 6: Neighbor on 3800 block of Fauquier Ave. saw man enter neighbor’s yard and appear to go toward shed. Upon seeing his was being watched, the intruder returned to his white Jeep in the alley and drove away. Police were called.
June 7: 1231 Warren Ave. Unknown person entered garage and stole power tools and fishing rods. Incident was reported to police.
June 16: Neighbor called patrol to report siting a young, light-skinned black male walking his red bicycle through neighborhood looking at house.
Also on Saturday, neighbor on 4200 block of Fauquier caught two “neighborhood kids” taking stuff from his vehicle. One blond kid; one dark-skinned kid. Police were called.
June 20: Patrol captain called traffic dept. Lt. Grey to report dark blue Ford Aerostar van speeding in alley behind MacArthur apartments (4000 block). License ZAP 7488. Driver mouthed off before going into Dot’s Back.
City contacted on June 20 to remove overgrowth in alley behind MacArthur businesses. City responded the next day and trimmed everything back.
June 21: Female neighbor returning home early morning hours noted a black male, khaki pants, no shirt duck down between cars. Neighbor continued driving past her house and called police who responded and escorted her into her home and checked area. No one found.
Neighbor reported lost fawn-colored greyhound, recently adopted. Goes by name “Flora.” The dog was abused prior to being adopted and will not bark. Terrified of everything and everyone. Be on lookout. Don’t approach dog as it will run away. Just call Gary Thompson at 358-6327.
May 7-June 2, 2001:
May 12: Neighbor at 1600 block of Nottoway was parking vehicle as she came in from work at 3:30 a.m. She was approached by black male (average ht, wt.) of about 15 to 20 years of age. He demanded her wallet through window of car and showed what appeared to be a weapon. The neighbor drove away and called police. No arrest reported.
May 13: Patrol captain received phone message from neighbor at 4012 Chevy Chase St. stating that she saw 4 black youths (12 to 16 yrs. old) on bicycles riding back and forth aimlessly in the alley between Hermitage and Chevy Chase. They were asked to leave, as it was known they did not live in vicinity. (Police not called.)
May 16: Neighbor called to report a red truck had torn her fence down in the alley. No further information available.
May 21: Neighbor reported that he was walking down Greycourt around 8:30 pm and was approached by 2 young black men who were selling subscriptions to the newspaper. He said no and kept walking. About 30 minutes we received a report of 2 young black men who knocked on a door on Bellevue Ave. and said they were selling newspaper subscriptions. The neighbor said no and they solicitors left. It’s most likely that the young men were not actually selling subscriptions.
May 25: A resident of 1600 block of Bellevue awoke around 10 pm and found a black male, about age 40, coming out of her back bedroom. He was carrying a flashlight and threatened to hit her, and she asked him to please not hurt her. He then fled. The intruder entered the house through a back kitchen window with the help of an accomplice. Police responded quickly, but no arrests made. The neighbor was unharmed.
Week of April 9-14:
A neighbor at 1618 Claremont reported forced entry through basement door. Police were called. Nothing apparently stolen.
A neighbor on Chevy Chase called patrol and police to report that her car’s gas tank had been siphoned and back gate tampered with.
A resident reported to the voice mail box that her neighbor was verbally abused in front of the CVS on Bellevue by an unknown person driving a black Cherokee, plate AOX-984. This incident began when the Cherokee ran a red light.
Patrol captain spotted a black male, white T-shirt with brown pants, running up to doors in 4300 block of Fauquier, knocking, staying about 5 seconds then leaving. Patrol captain followed and got license plate and reported to police.
Week of April 15-21: All quiet
Week of April 22-28:
4/26: Neighbor at 1410 Greycourt reported that 2 black males (one 5’ 4” and one 5’ 7” with big hair and long white T-shirt) stole a purse, credit cards and keys from a workman’s truck parked in the alley. Truck was unlocked. Police were called (though they seemed to have a hard time placing where Greycourt Ave. was located). Purse recovered but keys were not.
Week of April 29-May 6:
4/30: Neighbor at 3250 Fauquier reported to police that home was burglarized sometime between April 26-29th. Entry was through side window. Jewelry stolen.
5/1: Patrol was instrumental in returning lost dog to owner, thanks to voice mail box and team members on patrol.
5/2: Patrol team member arrived home to 1232 Warren Ave. at 9:30 pm to discover 3 black middle school-age boys breaking into a rear kitchen window. The smallest child was halfway through the window. The boys ran and the team member pursued them for a block or so, giving up as they crossed Brook Road. Our patrol member had yelled for help as he ran and neighbors responded, one calling the police; the other joining the chase. Nothing was taken from the house. Police dusted the window for prints and confiscated a bicycle one boy left behind.
Neighbor had left home before dark and had forgotten to turn on back porch lights. Had he done so, he felt the light would have been a deterrent.
5/4: A neighbor on East Seminary Road called the patrol community voice mail box to report that her neighbor across the street had been stabbed and mugged at the Ukrop’s shopping center on Brook Road, after dark on May 3. The neighbor was closer to the Wachovia Bank end of the parking lot, reportedly setting up a telescope. He was approached by a large black male wearing a bandana, who immediately stabbed the neighbor and then took his wallet, before fleeing.
The wounded man set off his car alarm, but no one, including the officer at Ukrop’s responded. So he made his way to the grocery store, where he received assistance. The injury, though serious, was not life threatening. Henrico police responded.
March 11- April 8, 2001
3-12 and 3-13: Two patrol teams reported seeing 2 cars parked side by side at Azalea Mall two nights running. One car empty; one with at least 2 people in it. No obvious crime, but it attracted enough attention that police were called. No feedback yet from police.
3-16: Neighbor in 1600 block of Westbrook called community voice mailbox to report burglary of jewelry box and antique coins. No forced entry; apparently entry was through unlocked side door while resident was away for the evening. Police were called and they said they were suspicious of an unknown man on bike in the neighborhood. Neighborhood watch alerted.
3-19: Neighborhood watch captain notified patrol of house break-in on corner of Brook and Graycourt. Incident occurred during the day. Jewelry and other items taken. Rear door reportedly kicked in. Police were called.
3-30: House break-in reported on 1200 block of Lorraine. Entry by side door. Two watches reported stolen. Police called.
February 2001
2-1: Team A patrol member received call from neighbor with a report of car break-in in the 1300 block of Amherst Ave., as well as truck break-in just down the street. Crimes noted at 8 am. Unable to get validation of these crimes from police. Neighborhood Watch/phone tree activated.
2-1: Neighbor reported 2 black adolescent males and 1 white male (short with dark hair) walking on Clinton Ave looking into cars at 2-3 am. Neighbor stayed on porch until they left. No call was placed to police. Neighborhood Watch/phone tree activated. 3rd precinct Sgt. Randell also notified after the fact.
2-3: Neighbor walking dog at 13 Acres school spotted white male on red bike (man dressed in black leather jacket, blue jeans; dark hair and balding; 5’8”; early 40s). The man kept looking into white house facing Hermitage Road. Residents appeared home as lights were on. Police were not called at the time, but owners of white house notified. Patrol captain called police after the fact. Neighborhood Watch advised.
2-15: Neighborhood Watch chairman Libby Clark notified patrol to update Community voice mailbox with the following info: Group of young people knocking on doors trying to sell magazine subscription. Off of Monticello Ave, one young female was spotted by a neighbor knocking at house where no one was home. The young woman then opened a package that had been left at front door and took the coat that was inside. Police were called. Police indicated that it was likely a scam operation. Police reminded neighbors to ask solicitors to see their license to solicit in Richmond. If they can’t produce one, they can be arrested. Neighborhood phone tree activated over this event.
Later that same day, another neighbor reported the same group of youths. This time they were observed getting out of a red and gray older model Suburban (Pennsylvania plates: DNG-8791)
Late February: Elderly neighbor on Fauquier Ave. fell victim to sidewalk repair scam. Wrote check for $275 in advance to white, chubby male with 703 area code business card. He took the money and disappeared without completing the work. Police called. Neighborhood Watch notified and Community voice mail box updated.
Black male on Princeton Ave. during middle of workday observed knocking on doors. Although neatly dressed with jacket slung over shoulder, man carried no sales materials or briefcase. Neighbors home alone didn’t answer door. Incident was reported to a Patrol Captain.
January 2001
1-19: Attempted B&E through rear screen door at 1301 Amherst between 6-7:30 am. Resident reported incident to police.
1-21: Panhandler on 1200 block of Windsor asking for money.
1-23: Short, black male seeking work door-to-door at 10:30 pm. Claimed to have already cleaned gutter and wanted payment. No gutters had been cleaned. Police were called.
1-23: Neighbor on Nottoway/Chevy Chase was awakened @ 2:30 am by noise of six to seven young black males standing in street. Police were called, but resident declined any police follow-up.
1-29: Neighbor at McArthur apartments concerned about old maroon car with no inspection or city sticker and mismatched license plates. Car owner lives at apartments, but vehicle was reported to police. Police appreciated call, noting that mismatched plates is cause for concern.
1-31: Jeep Wagoneer in 1300 block of Bellevue Ave. was broken into. Backpack stolen; it contained pilot’s logbook (very valuable to owner). Police called.
Last updated 03/09/02
Please send questions or comments to John Butcher