Crime & Safety

Biggest Crime Stories of 2011

The kidnappings at Wheaton Plaza, a stabbing outside the Wheaton Metro Station, and 40,000 pennies stolen from New Creation Church.

As 2011 draws to a close, we have compiled a list of the biggest crime stories in Wheaton this year:

1. The in late November looms large in recent memory. In the span of five days, the suspect forced each of the three men to drive him around to area ATMs and withdraw cash. Police arrested a man from Landover Nov. 30.

2. A 17-year-old girl was arrested in connection with a stabbing in early December at Northwood High School that left a Montgomery Blair High School student

3. Oct. 11 outside the Wheaton Metro Station by a passenger. Another passenger had complained that the suspect was touching himself inappropriately, which led to a confrontation between the driver and the suspect. Police caught up with the suspect a few blocks away.

4. A burglar broke into New Creation Church in early January and  among other things, which were part of a fundraising initiative to raise awareness about child poverty. The next day, someone hiding in the church’s bathroom assaulted the minister for the Hispanic congregation that meets in the church.

5. A Wheaton Mall security guard was arrested in June and He said he used his job to recruit young women.

6. A Beltsville man was charged in September with , including the Sept. 2 robbery of the BB&T Bank at 11501 Georgia Avenue.

7. An occurred in the parking lot at the Northgate Plaza shopping center in March. Police said the officer first unsuccessfully fired his Taser at the suspect, who was approaching him with a large jug in what police say was a threatening manner.

8. Police received reports of a one-night crime spree in early June: within one mile of each other.

9. A behind him--his cell phone, charging. Police used it to locate the suspect and arrest him in late January.

10. Police arrested a 45-year-old man for the at the Unique Bazaar thrift store on Veirs Mill Road in August. The suspect was identified through tips from the public, after the police released a photo taken from the store's surveillance system.


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